Ezekiel 42:13-14 - Then he said to me, "The
north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the LORD
will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy
offerings--the grain offerings, the sin offerings
and the guilt offerings--for the place is holy. Once
the priests enter the holy precincts, they are not to go into the outer court
until they leave behind the garments in which they minister, for
these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they go near the places
that are for the people."
Ezekiel’s vison continues the tour of the Temple by moving
through the inner passageways back to the outer courtyard. There he is shown many rooms that have been
prepared for the priests. These rooms
would not only store the grain offerings ….but provide a place for them to
prepare and eat them. They were also the
place they would store the robes they wore while working in the holy Temple. They
were to change into other clothes to go out to the public places of the city.
We can only imagine what the priests would say in their
private times with God. Perhaps they gave thanks to him once they reached this
private chamber…and used the time to prepare their meals to commune with only
God. I can see them tenderly hanging the robe they wore while working…before
they changed into clothes that were appropriate for walking in the city.
It is a reminder that we should spend careful time in communion
with God in private…but reserve our best to worship him in corporate
venues. We should have a time and place
to visit with God in private…so we can build a relationship with him by prayer
and study. But we should never abandon corporate worship…a time when you blend
with a congregation of other believers to praise and thank him for the many
blessings he has bestowed upon us.
I will add one other thought…that veil to the holiest of
rooms was torn when Christ died for our sins. We all became accountable for
offering our own words of repentance and remorse. The wearing of a priestly
robe is not mentioned as an important issue in the scriptures that record many
of the preachers God called to spread the gospel of his sacrifice on the cross…and
resurrection to save us all. I say that
to support my thought that it is more important to take part in corporate
worship than to worry about what you are wearing. God wants us to build a support around us of
other believers …not turn our time of worship into a fashion show.
Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to come to you
in private to deepen my relationship with you….and also find time to gather
with other believers in public to worship you.
Forgive me for the times that I make my public times of worship a time
to show off the blessings you gave me in ‘things.’ Help me to use both my private and public
times of worship and study to deepen my understanding of you …and learn new
ways that you can use me to help others like your son Jesus. Amen.
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