I’ve been excited about Ezekiel lately, and have manually edited all the old devotions, including navigation at the bottom of each post. I’ve also added a separate page to my website to help you get to the right passage.

Looking back, there was a lot that I was happy with, as well as some stuff I was surprised to have written. If Ezekiel interests you, please feel free to give these devotions a try.

A few months after I finished with Ezekiel, I migrated from Typepad to a self-hosted WordPress account and expanded the focus of the site to include: God, books, and life outside.

It’s been over a year since I’ve finished blogging on Ezekiel, but when I review the statistics of post hits, Ezekiel still regularly tops the list. This past week there’s been a lot of interest in Ezekiel 34:23-31 for some reason I can’t figure out!

When I migrated to WordPress, the formatting of my Typepad posts became a mish-mash of jumbled span elements and chopped-up paragraphs. Consequently, these posts are quite awkward to read. Since there’s still interest in them, I’ve started to edit these old posts to update the formatting and fix any errors I find along the way. This is not a rewrite, just an update.

I’ve already fixed up Ezekiel 34:23-31, and will continue with the other 145 posts as time allows.

Thanks for your continued interest!

1. You’re not alone in your struggles—you’re in good company.
2. God has never left you, despite all appearances to the contrary.

Thanks to Pastor John Dell who gave me the opportunity to lead worship and to speak at Calvary Community Church in the small town of Tilbury, Ontario this morning.

He’s Still There

This blog is titled, “Meditations on Ezekiel”. Now that we’re through the text, I won’t be adding any more content. I’ll leave the blog running for a while so people can access the archives. There’s a 150 or so devotions worth of content.

For the future, keep an eye on stephenbarkley.com. Right now, it redirects to this blog. However, I plan on setting up a more general blog with more diverse content from multiple authors.

On last thing. If you’ve journeyed through the text of Ezekiel for the last couple years, you might want to set aside some time to read through the book one more time rather quickly. You’ll be amazed how it all fits together.

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the
month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were
opened, and I saw visions of God. (Ezekiel 1:1, NRSV)

Thanks for joining me on the ride.

In Christ,
Steve.

< Ezekiel 48:35 | Unending Presence

At the end of the ages
the Son himself spoke to us
through himself.
— Cyril of Alexandria

Endings are significant. Let me share a few of my favourite:

• He asks all, but He gives all. (Thomas R. Kelly, “The Light Within”, A Testament of Devotion)
• This book is written in the hope that this generation may turn from that greatest of wickedness, the placing of any created thing in the place of the Creator, and that this generation may get its feet out of the paths of death and may live. (Francis A. Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?)
• But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in. (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)
• I saw at once how it was. They thought he was dead. I knew that he had gone to the back of the north wind. (George MacDonald, At the Back of the North Wind)
• The jagged line dividing the sacred and the secular becomes very dim indeed, for we know that nothing is outside the realm of God’s purview and loving care. (Richard Foster, Streams of Living Water)

Good endings have a way of revisiting the themes present in the book while looking forward to some sort of life once the book is placed down.

Here’s Ezekiel’s ending:

And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD is There. (48:35 NRSV)

. . .

It ends with a name. One of the largest books in the Hebrew Bible—all 48 chapter’s worth—are effectively summed up in one name: “The LORD is There”.

You can understand the flow of Ezekiel by following the location of God’s presence. God appeared to Ezekiel in chapter one, when he was in Babylon. A little later, we learned that God is in Babylon with Ezekiel because he left his own Temple when it finally fell to the Babylonians. After an onslaught of judgment scenes, we read about the glorious prophetic return of God to his Temple.

Now, at the end of Ezekiel, all this is summed up in a name. The defining characteristic of the new city that God’s people will inhabit is this: God’s there. Also important are the words that precede the name: “from that time on”. There will never be a time when God is not present in his temple.

Thus, the backward and forward perspective of a good closing sentence is fulfilled. The talk about God’s presence reminds us about his journey into exile and the prophetic return. The phrase preceding the name urges us to look to the time when God’s presence will never again leave his temple.

. . .

That time is now.

To be a little more precise, God reentered his temple (effectively ending exile, thank you Mr. Wright) at Pentecost. But to be sure—that reality exists now.

This is the main application of the entire book of Ezekiel for the believer. The world-wide community of Christians make up God’s Temple. God entered that temple at Pentecost. Now, whenever anyone joins his body by trusting in his Son, he fills them too.

Think about it—my own flesh and blood live is infused with the presence of the God who is seated on a throne carried by Cherubim. What a humbling glory!

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

< Ezekiel 48:30-34 | The Return

Thank You! >

The homecoming of Israel
bespeaks the healing of all creation.
— Walter Brueggemann (Isaiah 1-39)

Dorothy had it right: there’s no place like home. I find that no matter how great a vacation is, there’s a satisfying feeling when you walk through the door to your own home. This is even true when I go camping. I spend four or five months getting excited about a trip. Then, a day from the end of the journey, all I can think about is a hot shower, Chinese buffet, and crashing in my own bed.  Maybe you have felt the same way.

Now imagine being exiled from your home for a lifetime. How strong would your desire to arrive at home be? This is the hope God placed before his people at the end of Ezekiel.

. . .

If the word exile sends chills and shivers down the spine of any Jewish person, the word return is its polar opposite. Israel was exiled from their land in judgment, they will return to it in restoration. This is the culmination of the book of Ezekiel, and the ultimate hope for God’s first nation.

The simple, formulaic verses we’re looking at today are able to sum up a number of themes that have been woven throughout the book of Ezekiel as a whole.

1. Israel will return in unity:
   We looked at this remarkable concept back in 37:14-21 when Ezekiel wrote the names of the divided kingdom on two sticks, then prophetically joined them together. Let’s revisit this. After the reign of Solomon, Israel split into two nations. The southern nation was called Judah, and the northern kingdom was called Israel. Israel was more wicked than Judah, so they were destroyed first. A while later, Judah was taken into captivity in Babylon—the setting for the book of Ezekiel.  In the minds of the exiles that Ezekiel was talking to, that northern nation was a non-entity! Still, when God spoke prophetically about the city the exiles would return to, he included all the tribes—not just the tribes that made up the southern kingdom of Judah! God always desires unity.
2. Israel will return in equality:
   The picture God gives Ezekiel of this restored city is a perfect square with three gates on each of the four sides. Like earlier in chapter 48 when God was redistributing the land equally, here each tribe had an equal gate to the city. No one group of people was better than any other group.
3. Israel will return in peace:
   Cities were walled in that era for safety reasons. Strong walls with a minimal number of gates were the norm for establishing a safe and prosperous city. God’s restored city will have twelve gates. This many gates would seriously defeat the purpose of having walls in the first place—there were twelve different places that needed extra defense. The reason for the abundance of gates, of course, is that there will be no need for walled security. God’s people will return in peace. Yahweh himself will be their security.
4. Israel will return in original favour:
   The distribution of the tribal gates include a certain peculiar detail if you look at them carefully. Usually Joseph is replaced in the tribal lists by his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, while Levi is removed because they are priests who are to be content with God himself. In this list, Ephraim and Manasseh are replaced by Joseph, and the Levites have a gate of their own. The reasons for this are not too clear, but I see a couple possibilities.  First, you get the sense that God is returning to his original covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The years of disobedience—from faithlessness in the desert to lawlessness in Canaan—are forgotten as God remembers his original covenant with the Patriarchs. The second possibility is admittedly a long-shot. Could it be that this is a prophetic foreshadowing of the day when we have one High Priest and the services of the Levites and Zadokites are unnecessary?  Of course, this couldn’t have been on Ezekiel’s mind, but could it have been anticipated by the Spirit that compelled Ezekiel to write?

. . .

Lord God, thank you for your blessing. Thank you for your shalom. Thank you for not giving up on your people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

< Ezekiel 48:15-22 | Pilgrimage

Ezekiel 48:35 | Unending Presence >

I am a pilgrim and a stranger
Traveling through this wearisome land
I’ve got a home in that yonder city, good Lord
And it’s not, not made by hand
— Traditional

Have you ever tried to find a hotel room only to find out there’s a major event going on in the same city? It’s an awful situation to be in. All you, the weary traveler, wants is a bed for the night—but there’s no room in the inn(s).

When the sacred land in the center of Israel is allocated, God is careful to make room for such travelers. In a culture where pilgrimages were normal, adequate room for visitors became a priority during the various feasts throughout the year.

. . .

Once the Levites and Zadokites have their space, the rest of the reserve—that portion that was lifted up to God—is allocated.

Here are a few things I found interesting about the layout of the land:

1. The Prince (whoever that enigmatic figure is) gets land on the outskirts of the reserve. The center of God’s portion of the land is occupied by the Levites and Zadokites. In Ezekiel’s time, there was no understanding of a separation between church and politics—they were one. Still, in the way God allocates land, he gave primacy to religious functions over political functions.
2. There is a city with space around it for agriculture in near the centre of the land. In a land where pilgrimage to the Temple is so important, the city would serve the vital function of giving people a place to stay for Passover or other feasts. Hospitality—how foreigners are treated—is important to God.
3. There are three levels of holiness. Everyone was welcome in the city. Moving from the city to the Temple you would cross through the Levite’s land, which was more sacred than the city. From there you go to the Zadokite’s land with the Temple in it—the most holy place. God welcomes everyone, but at this point in salvation-history, he is cautious lest the light of his holiness pierce through the dark lives of the unconsecrated.

. . .

The question for us is: how do we look after pilgrims in our land? I’m not suggesting people make a spiritual journey down to “Chemical Valley” in Southwestern Ontario. I do think it’s important to identify those around us who are new to our area and who need someone to show them hospitality and the love of God.

. . .

Lord God, help me to see those who need hospitality during their journey.

< Ezekiel 48:8-14 | Lift Up

Ezekiel 48:30-34 | The Return >

If we believed that the existence of the world is rooted in mystery and in sanctity,
then we would have a different economy.
— Wendell Berry (Citizenship Papers)

Our Canadian Federal government’s in a good financial position right now. Jim Flaherty, the current finance minister, is almost giddy announcing tax cuts. The dreaded 7% GST that was reduced to 6% last year now stands at 5%. And Canadians rejoice.

There’s one thing we seem to forget. That surplus is our money. We fund the government! If the government is dropping taxes because of a budget surplus, it’s because they’ve taken too much of our money in the first place!

That mindset—the idea of someone receiving back what they already own—is central in this passage of Ezekiel. The irony is rich. This passage is stuck in the middle of a bunch of verses we looked at last week, that describe God doling out his land to the twelve tribes.

Here, in the middle of those allotment verses, God is allotted a portion of land that—in reality—is already his.

. . .

Here’s what the text says (emphasis mine):

Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion that you shall set apart . . . (v. 8, NRSV).

The portion that you shall set apart for the LORD . . . (v. 9, NRSV).

The word that the NRSV translates “set apart” literally means to “lift up”. It is an offering. In the middle of receiving God’s generous allotment of land, Israel was to pause to offer the central portion of the land back to God. This is the land that will house Jerusalem, and the temple that Ezekiel had already foresaw.

This is the land where the priests will live. Like in earlier passages, Ezekiel separates the priests into general Levites and the more specific Zadokites who remained faithful before the exile. Next week we’ll look at specifically how Yahweh’s land is divided.

Until then, the application remains: how good are we at giving back the things that already belong to him?

. . .

Generous God, you’ve given us so many opportunities to reflect your generosity in this world. Help us to seize them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

< Ezekiel 47:1-7; 23-29 | Divided Equally

Ezekiel 48:15-22 | Pilgrimage >

Paul is the first person in the history of world literature
to argue that all human beings are equal.
— Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis)

I love looking at ancient maps. Maps of the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes are particularly instructive. They are very accurate along the water front, only to degenerate as the land stretches out. The reason for this is obvious: people were familiar with waterways before land. The trade routes were more important than distant settlements.

If you look at property maps of the St. Lawrence/Great Lake system now, you’ll see their continuing importance. Everyone is attracted to waterfront property.

This last chapter of Ezekiel can seem a bit anti-climactic. (However, if you were an exile hearing about re-inheriting your land things might seem different!) The verses we’re looking at today are extremely repetitive—with three minor exceptions, every tribe is listed identically. But the point of these verses is lies in their monotony.

. . .

The natural topography of Israel runs north to south. The Mediterranean Sea is a north-south border. The Jordan river (from Galilee to the Dead Sea) is a north-south border. If you take a look with Google Earth, you’ll see how obvious the north-south orientation of the land is.

When God restated his plans for the twelve tribes to resettle the land, he listed them in their traditional order, giving each tribe a strip of land that ran from east to west. Everyone received their allotment of ocean-front property.  Everyone received the same amount of land. Everything was to be equal.

The old distribution of the tribes was far from equal. A quick look at the map page at the back of your Bible will demonstrate this. Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had land east of the Jordan River. Judah had a big hunk of prime real estate. In God’s ideal resettlement plans, things become equal.

. . .

Regardless of your thoughts on the prophetic future of Israel, you have to admit (with Paul) that Gentiles have been grafted onto the vine of God’s people. In addition to that, the land is expanded. Matthew makes it clear. Near the centre of his Gospel, Jesus sent the twelve apostles out to the lost sheep of Israel (the Jews). At the end of the gospel, he sent them out to every nation. Next came Acts along with the entire Gentile explosion.

What does that equality principle mean for us today? Could it mean that the people that have been marginalized—the people who are not able to afford land deserve an equal portion along with the rest of us? Could it mean that affordable housing could be a religious issue?

. . .

Generous God, help us to live that bold new eternal live that you’ve given us. Give us the courage to be radically generous. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

< Ezekiel 47:15-23 | Allotted Inheritance

Ezekiel 48:8-14 | Lift Up >

You can’t love people collectively.
— Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Salt of the Earth)

I don’t play the lottery. I don’t have any biblical justification for my views (other than the implications of stewardship); I just don’t need another way to lose my money!

One of the things I’ve heard people complain about is the taxation level on lottery winnings.

“Congratulations! You’ve won $1,000,000 dollars! (Now give $250,000 to the government)”.

I wonder how the exiles took the bombshell Ezekiel dropped in vv. 22-23?

. . .

Verses 15-20 are awkward to read, because we don’t understand where many of the places referenced were actually located. By deducing what we don’t know from what we do, God was offering Israel roughly the same land they had occupied in the past. They would return to the place from where they were exiled. Good news.

Although we can’t accurately chart on a map the various places mentioned, you can be sure that the ear of every exile would be straining to hear these names. Each mention would be a burst of life in the heart of a refugee.

Daniel Block makes the interesting point that although the English language seems to describe boundaries, the Hebrew language describes the place in between the lines. Where someone lived was far more important than the abstract line that defined the border of her property.

. . .

Then Ezekiel drops the bomb:

You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who reside among you and have begotten children among you.  They shall be to you as citizens of Israel; with you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe aliens reside, there you shall assign them their inheritance. (vv. 22-23, NRSV, emphasis mine)

God gave them their land with strings attached. They were to dole it out generously to whoever decided to become a part of Israel. In the Mosaic covenant, foreigners were allowed to live within Israel when they committed themselves to Yahweh—but they were never to own land. This is novel and unprecedentedly gracious.

That revelation struck me in a few different ways.

1. God is generous, and he wants his people to be generous. How are we doing?
2. I’m thankful that as a Gentile (a non-Jew), God has accepted me “as citizens” of his people. Paul used a horticultural metaphor: grafted into the vine.
3. What does it have to say to the leaders of Israel in our current political climate? Is there an implicit rebuke of modern Zionism?
4. What does it have to say about the West’s increasingly stringing immigration laws and terrorism paranoia? Does it rebuke the Minutemen?

. . .

Lord, give us the grace to consider others more highly than ourselves.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

< Ezekiel 47:13-14 | Surprise Inheritance

Ezekiel 48:1-7; 23-29 | Divided Equally >