Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will live among them forever. – Ezekiel 43:9
God takes possession of His temple. | WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Ezekiel having given us a view of the glorious temple, now moves to describe God taking possession of the temple. God promises His continued presence with His people on the condition that they repent. Their repentance meant that they turn from their idols, abandon their idolatrous practices and worship God in the way He commands.
The repentance of the people of Israel was to come from their shame of looking back and recognizing their pattern of sin (v10). And as God describes the pattern for this temple, it reflects the mercy God has in store for them, despite their utter unworthiness. This understanding should cause them to be ashamed of their conduct.
God’s unending goodness is all ours. All He asks is for us to repent. We are to turn away from our sins and return to Him. Charles Spurgeon says ‘repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved.’
The whole church under the new covenant today has the privilege of access to God (Hebrews 10:19). And for the same reason, not just the priests, but every believer now is obliged and called to press toward the perfection of holiness. We are to be holy, for He who called us is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Does looking back over your life and pattern of sin cause you to repent?
Lord, give me a humble and repentant heart, I pray.
Extended Reading — Ezekiel 42-43
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