Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verse 1
• Now there may be an intricacy here worth just a minute or two. During the Great Tribulation, we read in Revelation 7 that there will be 144,000 Jews “sealed” as servants of God and verses 5 – 8 detail 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. However, Dan is not mentioned. Instead, Joseph’s son Manasseh appears to take his place. Why?
• Well, first it’s appropriate in one sense as Joseph was given a “double portion” by God in Genesis 48:22. But why omit Dan? We can only speculate because we are not told but many believe it is because Dan was the first of the tribes of Israel to go after, accept and embrace idolatry. (Which are really all the same because the result/destination of all three is the same)
• That’s an interesting offering and certainly acceptable and supportable. And if that’s true, then after the Great Tribulation, notice, Dan is restored. Not only that, as a demonstration of the awesome and amazing grace of God, not only is Dan restored, he is made and put first.
• I will be the first to say that I have failed God far more times than I care to or could ever remember. But I’ll also be the first to say that I know that He put Himself on the cross knowing all of my failures. You need to be fully reconciled to God today. Know why? Because you are… (It’s like Falcon holding Cap’s shield but it’s me holding the heart of God saying, “Feels like it should be someone else’s.” And He replies, “It isn’t. It’s for you.”) Maybe I’ve fallen. Embraced idolatry. Not guarded my own heart and now my heart is a full-on knot needing to be untied or in the process of being untied. Maybe I’m not a good person at all. God still, right now, puts me and He puts you even before Himself. He calls me worthy. He calls me to just come home…that’s awesome.
Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 2 – 8
• Now I think equally as important as the point we just received regarding the tribe of Dan, Judah (and we will find later in the Chapter this about Benjamin as well) is given a portion of the land, look… having the sanctuary in it. Ok why? Some have postulated, and I find this quite acceptable, that Judah and Benjamin are ultimately given honor and privilege in the architecture and plan of God due to their faithfulness. Benjamin and Judah were the only two tribes to remain faithful to David (or the Davidic Dynasty I should say) who was the king, the ruler, by the will and word of God. They, as you may know, formed together the Southern Kingdom or Judah while the rest of the tribes formed the northern Kingdom or Israel when the nation split.
• So, let this be as an encouragement to all people. Because we all fall into these two categories (Dan and/or Judah) in seasons and situations of life. There is on the one hand, the tribe lost (as it were) to idolatry. God welcomes you home. And then there is on the other hand, walking in faith and faithfulness to God will have its reward. He has not forgotten you. You are not forsaken.
• It’s the story of the prodigal son. The son that returns to the father is honored with a feast. A celebration because the son that was once dead to the father has returned and the father’s heart is overjoyed. But how does that story begin? Luke 15:11, “There was a man who had two sons.” That brother never left. Always served his father. And for him, in the same story, he became distraught.
• Luke 15:28-31, “He was angry and would not go in. Therefore, his father came out and pleaded with him. So, he answered and said to his father, “These many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” And he said to him…here’s the answer to that heartache…, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.”
• Here is the God we serve. That if you have been far from Him, there is nothing more that He wants then for you to just come back home. Look, all the way back home… To come all the way home is to leave what is not of home behind. Nothing would please Him more. And look, if you have not been far from God and yet it seems that the bottom is dropping out of everything…He is a God that cares and loves you…so what does He do…He pleads with you by the ministry of the Holy Spirit and reminds you…puts it back into your mind…maybe even now…that He hasn’t left, won’t and hasn’t forsaken you (even though it may seem and feel that way), and all that He has is still yours. (Just like the song “Do It Again,” and I love this as the people sing, “I’m still in your hands, this is my confidence, you’ve never failed me yet!”)
• Thus, Dan….unfaithfulness is forgiven and you are received. And also Judah…faithfulness is honored and you are received. This is the heart of the Father.
Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 9 – 15
• Ok so check this out…dwellings and common-land…the city shall be situated in the center of it. Allow me this exhortation church… No matter what you are into, what you do, where you go, your down time and free time, may I just exhort you to keep the Lord at the center of it? I’m not talking about everything in your life is religious formality. That’s not what I’m talking about at all. And if you know me at all, you know that is not my life nor my heart.
• Jesus laid this out for us in John Chapter 10 Verse 10. He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Paramount in your heart of hearts should be, let it be, make this decision for yourself child…first in position in your heart ought to be the solid rock of Christ and the Word of God. Build everything from there and the thief can do nothing. Living unto the Lord, that is a life of safety, peace, joy and blessing. No matter what comes or does not come.
Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 16 – 19
• Everyone does their part. This is a healthy body. Each of us, not members of the church or this church, but Christians in general, all have a job to cultivate. Now, this phrase in the Hebrew is ultra-interesting and really, it’s not the word cultivate per se, it’s probably translated this way due to contextual proximity to the previous sentence about food. The word used is actually, “serve.”
• The will of God and the job we have as Christians is to first serve the Lord and second, to serve others in the things of the Lord. That’s it. That’s the tool that I am. And when I am not used for that purpose, when I go my own way, which any other way is really to serve myself, then I and my life can get all out of sorts in a hurry.
• I was thinking about this. It takes a long time to build a house. Build a car…whatever…but both can be destroyed in only moments. The thief knows this…we need to protect against this in our lives. How? Serve the Lord. Serve others unto the Lord.
• What is the will of God for you? What are you called to do? How it is that you and I can walk into the life that God has planned for us? Which is definitely the best version of us…?? Serve the Lord. Serve each other. That is exactly the bombshell Jesus came to reveal. Truly the full un-fleeced revelation that was being set up throughout the Old Covenant and entire Old Testament.
• They asked Jesus one day, “What is the meaning of life?” What they literally asked in Matthew 22:36 was, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” But Jesus knew the real question which was, “What is most important? In this entire world, what is the meaning of it and behind it and even for it and me…”
• And in Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Each of us, every Christian. This is the will of God for your life. Get these right and everything will be as the Lord would have them to be in your life. Fall off the rails on these two, and…well, imagine a train at full speed coming off the rails…as the thief, the derailer celebrates your fall…
Ezekiel Chapter 48 Verses 20 – 35
• Ugh! What an amazing way to end this book! What a remarkably comforting way for God to return Ezekiel back to Babylon. God is so good. Ezekiel had heard time and time again from God. God had spoken directly to him. And yet he still was in captivity. And so, the kindness of God…God speaks to him again. And the phrase that God holds him tightest to tell him is comprised of these last four soul strengthening treasures no doubt to Ezekiel himself. “The Lord is There.” Jehovah Sama (pronounced shawm-maw). This is the hope that lies ahead for each of us. The place and condition for each of us that know the Lord and have been born again by the Spirit of God.
• But even now…this is the joy and the stability of the Christian. I love this name. I want the name of the city of me, at the center of who I am both on the inside and on the outside, my heart of hearts, I want it to be this today. “The Lord There.” Why? Because it’s the right thing to do? Perhaps. I get it. But truly, because of who He is and what He has already accomplished for me, and for the solid hope that remains in my future because of Him.
• He has cast my sin as far as the east is from the west. He gives me a second chance and a second try every morning. He renews mercy upon my soul. He renews my strength. He comforts, He consoles, He encourages, He leads, He provides, He gives me hope, He gives me a true north for my compass that left on its own just spins and spins and spins…or worse its like Jack Sparrow’s compass and just points to what I want which most often breaks the entire meaning of life (to love God first and serve others unto the Lord)…He loves me and He is good to me. He is kind to me and desires kindness towards me…
• Yup, take hope suffering saint, this is where we will be…where your faithfulness will be rewarded…honored…put on display as it were…and for the saint suffering loss at your own doing…your unfaithfulness will be forgotten…this is where we are going…but…but…but…this is also where you can be today. Right now.
• Put down the sin. Put it down. Pick up your cross. Pursue the Lord and His will for your life. Put the Lord at the center of it all and walk in agreement with Him, in fellowship with the Lord, and in the power of the Holy Spirit… Tonight, is the name of your heart of hearts, “The Lord is There?” At this moment, we all CAN answer yes. Please come home…