Ezekiel 47:9

December 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

This is a cool image. Water will flow eastward from below the temple, eventually making its way to the Dead Sea. Currently, people can float on the Dead Sea because of the high mineral content. When Ezekiel 47 is fulfilled, people will not float so easily because it will no longer be the “Dead Sea.” It will be alive! The water will be fresh and filled with living creatures. Waterfront property will suddenly be valuable, not for security but for fishing! Changes are coming, and the source is what is happening in the temple. (I believe Jesus will be sitting in this temple).

Father, help me realize you influence everything for life. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel

Ezekiel 46:9

December 4, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead.” (Ezekiel 46:9)

It feels strange that this is what stood out to me because it FEELS like this isn’t spiritual. What could it matter which gate someone exits from? It may not matter, except for the fact that the Lord said, “Exit straight ahead.”

The issue isn’t really which gate I should go out. The issue is my heart’s willingness to do what the Lord says. This principle applies to gates and to everything else the Lord tells me to do.

Many years ago, my mother was saved and baptized in an independent Baptist church. Some years afterward, she moved to Oklahoma. When she wanted to join a Southern Baptist church, the pastor said she needed to be baptized in one. So she was baptized in that church. I said, “But mom, you were already baptized.” Her answer: “Well, I wanted to be part of that church, so I did what he said I needed to do.”

Now, I still think the pastor was wrong to demand that she be rebaptized. But I appreciate my mother’s heart to do whatever she was told. Similarly, I need to be committed to doing what the Lord says, no matter what I or anyone else thinks about the command.

Father, please help me to grow in my spiritual maturity, so that I respond appropriately and immediately to your commands. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, obedience, Old Testament

Ezekiel 45:10

December 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“You shall have just balances, a just ephah, and a just bath.” (Ezekiel 45:10)

Having accurate scales is important to the Lord in biblical days (Proverbs 11:1) and in the future.

This chapter talks about sacrifices, which is a bit confusing to me since Jesus fulfilled the law. Even if I don’t completely understand what the Bible is talking about, I’m going to receive by faith. I assume that at some point in the future, God will clarify it. If not, I’m okay, too.

What these chapters seem to be describing is a future time when Christ is present, but offerings are made. The best I can understand is that this is during the millennium when Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years. These sacrifices are memorial, similar to the Lord’s Supper today.

Father, help me understand your word. But, please help me trust your word even when I don’t understand it. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, Old Testament, Prophecy

Ezekiel 44:5, 9

December 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“And the Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I shall tell you concerning all the statutes of the temple of the Lord and all its laws. And mark well the entrance to the temple and all the exits from the sanctuary.'” (44:5)

“Thus says the Lord God: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary.” (44:9)

Two things stick out in this chapter. First, the Lord tells Ezekiel to pay close attention: “mark well, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears all that I shall tell you …” I can surely say that I have not always paid close attention to what the Lord said. Sometimes I have had the spirit of “let’s get it done.” At other times, my mind and heart have been distracted. I wish it were different, but this reminder of how God feels about his words allows me to do better going forward.

Second, I can not disregard the mention of foreigners. Notice that foreigners can come into the presence of the Lord. That’s a big deal, particularly for a foreigner like me.

Father, help me to be more focused and committed to hearing your word. And please help me to seek closeness with you. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Ezekiel, obedience, Old Testament, Prophecy

Ezekiel 43:4-7

December 1, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places.” (Ezekiel 43:4-7)

This feels like the punchline of all these measurements. Ultimately, God was revealing to Ezekiel the details of the place he would once again dwell among Israel.

The first thing that stood out to me was that the glory of the Lord will enter from the east. When the glory of the Lord departed the temple, He left toward the east (Ezekiel 10). Similarly, when Jesus ascended to heaven, He took off from the Mt of Olives, the mountain to the east of the Temple. (Acts 1)

The second thing that stands out is that this is the place where God will dwell with Israel FOREVER! Things have come full circle. God dwelt among His people, but they rebelled against Him. He sent them away as punishment. Then, He promised to regather them in their land. Now, He says He will dwell with them forever. That means Israel will be redeemed and restored. This is the group into which we will be grafted in (Romans 9-11)!

Father, thank you for the promise of redemption. Help me live today like I believe I will dwell with you forever. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Prophecy, Restoring Israel
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