Monday, March 16, 2020

THE PRINCE

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 46-48

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

The view of Jericho from half-way up the Mount of Temptation. Jericho is located at the junction of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and is 1,200 feet below Sea Level. It is an oasis in an otherwise harsh wilderness, because of fresh water springs which give abundant life. Ezekiel prophesies that this area will flourish during the time of the final Temple (yet future), because of a new river of water which will flow from Jerusalem into the valley of what we now know as the Dead Sea. Imagine a river flowing along the valley seen on the right of Reynold’s photograph (Ezekiel 47:8-9).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verses: Ezekiel 47:22, 48:35

…you will divide it [the land]…for yourselves and for the strangers who sojourn among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native born…All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE!

 

Ezekiel 46 tells us five times of “The Prince!” Isaiah calls Him “Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6) and during His reign as Messiah King, there will be total peace. Here and now He brings “peace on earth” (the message to the shepherds at the birth of Jesus), and read about how He brings peace to the troubled soul in the present (Ephesians 2:13-18).

Ezekiel 47 describes the final Temple to be built in Jerusalem, serving the whole world during the final 1,000 years before the new heaven and the new earth, of which Peter writes (we move over to Second Peter in tomorrow’s reading).

Ezekiel 48 describes the distribution of land and includes the “stranger” (non-Jew). The departments of immigration in our various countries could learn God’s plan for caring for everyone whom He cares for equally. Seven times in today’s reading we read of lands that “belong to the Prince.” We have something in Canada called “Crown Land.” In theory it belongs to Queen Elizabeth 2 (translate that as government). We may have temporary title to land, but the real owner of all is “The Prince!”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, You were so concerned with every detail of the Temple construction and use. Surely You are even more concerned with the temple in whom You dwell in this age. Paul taught that I am Your temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Be in charge of this human temple, I pray! I ask You this in the Name of the One “In Whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:8-10), Jesus Christ (Messiah). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

My wife, Norma-Jean, has told me several times that she expects Israel to build a wall between the Dome of the Rock (a Muslim shrine on the Temple mount for the last 1,300 years) and the actual location of the Temple Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, so that a new Temple can be built. She has actually paced out the space. She claims there’s room there for a Temple to be built beside the mosque. Maybe? That land is a fuse waiting for someone to ignite it, launching what could be World War III. The Eastern Gate in Jerusalem’s wall, blocked up by the Muslims, leads directly into the core of what once was the Temple.

My sons (who help me with this blog) and I walked from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is 2,500 feet above Sea Level and the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below. I imagined the rush of the waters spoken of in Ezekiel 47, coursing down the valleys beside the road (someone captured on video a rush of water down to the Dead Sea after a rain in the Judean hills…click here). My imagination and ability to use words which paint a picture is not nearly as descriptive as those of Ezekiel. Today is the last reading for now in Ezekiel.

Yours for communicating, in as many ways as possible, the Gospel message,

David

P.S. This blocked-up Eastern Gate (below) in the wall of Jerusalem would have opened in a direct line with the entrance to the central area of the Temple at the time of Jesus. The ancient Eastern Gate, through which Jesus passed on Palm Sunday, was discovered by Jim Fleming, a professor at the college in Jerusalem where my daughter, Ellen Shaheen, was a student. It’s just below this section of the wall. Ezekiel said that the Prince would enter through the “gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east” (Ezekiel 46:1-2).

 

9 thoughts on “Monday, March 16, 2020

  1. Amazing history and link to the rushing water. Lost for words, this morning in amazement of God in everything and His timing. May you be well today, fellow saints in the Lord.

    For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
    2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

    Beautiful & Uplifting Gospel Hymns -AlanJackson
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxLbO_1OuF0

    • P.S. I clicked on the google map link to today’s photo, which was amazing to scroll around the whole area to see the rest of the land.

  2. My Refuge and My Fortress

    He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
    I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
    For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
    He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
    You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
    nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
    A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
    You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.
    Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
    no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.
    For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
    On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
    You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
    “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
    When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
    With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

    Psalm 91 (ESV)

  3. Perfect Psalm to read and pray and meditate on Beverlee, thank you.
    Rejoicing with you Get, on the wonderful news about your brother!! There is nothing more beautiful than that. Thanking the Lord for answered prayers!! He is so good.
    Doreen, how special it was for you to have been able to be a tour guide for the first replica.
    Blessings to all today!

Leave a Reply to Ger Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.