Ezekiel

Ezekiel 46: God orders worship and protects inheritance

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God's order for worship and inheritance, let us ask Him to govern both our praise and our use of possessions. Pray for still hearts, His presence with this family and eyes to see Christ in His Word.

They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women and the children also rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far away.

Nehemiah 12:43

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to honor Your worship and justice, and show us Jesus, whose death brings repentant sinners near to You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God appoints the inner east gate's opening for Sabbaths and new moons, when prince and people worship before Him. The prince's offerings, movements and freewill gifts follow God's commands, and daily offerings continue every morning. Gifts of inheritance remain with sons, while gifts to servants return at the year of liberty. The prince must provide for his sons from his own land and must not dispossess the people. Ezekiel is then shown places where priests prepare holy offerings without carrying them into the outer court. Kitchens in its four corners provide for preparing the people's sacrifices.

As you read Ezekiel 46, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God orders His people’s worship and protects their inheritance from a ruler’s greed.

The inner east gate's opening on Sabbaths and new moons gives the people's worship an appointed pattern. The prince stands at its threshold while priests prepare his offerings, so even the ruler approaches under God's direction. At the feasts he enters and leaves with the people, sharing their place as worshipers before the LORD. Daily offerings join these special gatherings, making worship a continuing responsibility as well as a feast observance. Gifts to sons remain family inheritance, while a servant's gift returns in the year of liberty. That return protects the prince's household inheritance, and the next command also protects the people's possession from his greed. He must provide for his sons from his own land, so royal generosity cannot become an excuse to dispossess others. Priests prepare holy offerings inside so that carrying them into the outer court does not sanctify the people. Separate kitchens for the people's sacrifices complete this provision, keeping the preparation of food under the distinctions God appoints.

How does Ezekiel 46 show us that God orders His people’s worship and protects their inheritance from a ruler’s greed?

God appoints worship for ruler and people.

The prince worships at the threshold while priests prepare his offerings (verses 1 to 15). He joins the people at the feasts. Daily offerings continue morning by morning under God's command.

God protects the people's inheritance.

Gifts to sons and servants have different lasting terms (verses 16 to 18). The prince must provide from his own possession. He may not take the people's land and scatter them from their inheritance.

God provides places for preparing offerings.

Priests prepare holy offerings in appointed rooms (verses 19 and 20). They must not carry them out to sanctify the people. Separate kitchens serve the people's sacrifices in the court's four corners. God provides for preparing both kinds of offering.

Memorize

You shall prepare a lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering to Yahweh daily: morning by morning you shall prepare it.

Ezekiel 46:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I take what belongs to others? Have I come to Jesus for forgiveness?

The prince must give from his own possession, “that my people not be scattered every man from his possession”. The ruler's gifts must honor the people's inheritance. His worship also follows the order God gives, with priests serving and daily offerings continuing. Power and possessions remain accountable to the Lord who receives worship.

Jesus gave Himself to redeem His people and bring them near to God. He died for them, bearing their sins and enduring the punishment due to their guilt. His completed sacrifice has fully secured their peace, and the work that saves them needs nothing added. He rose from the dead and lives to receive the praise of those He rescued.

Please turn from your sin and trust the risen Jesus. He promises forgiveness to every person who comes to Him in faith. Bring Him the wrong you have done through selfish use of power or possessions. The risen Savior receives repentant sinners and teaches His redeemed people to honor God in worship and daily dealings.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus died and rose to redeem guilty people and bring them near to God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for ordering worship and protecting His people's inheritance, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

A voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!”

Revelation 19:5

Father, thank You for ordering worship and protecting people from the greed of those with power. Forgive our selfish use of possessions, and help each one repent and trust Jesus. Please give us reverent hearts that praise You and deal justly with what belongs to others. Amen.