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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 450

"They shall bear their iniquity"

Text: Ezekiel 44:10

THE LEVITES

The Lord gave clear instructions concerning those who would serve Him. The sons of Aaron would serve as priests. The Levites would assist the priests in their ministry (Numbers 3).

“‘And the Levites who went far from Me,
when Israel went astray,
who strayed away from Me after their idols,
they shall bear their iniquity.
Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary,
as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house;
they shall slay the burnt offering
and the sacrifice for the people,
and they shall stand before them to minister to them.
Because they ministered to them before their idols
and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity,
therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them,’
says the Lord God,
‘that they shall bear their iniquity.
And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest,
nor come near any of My holy things,
nor into the Most Holy Place;
but they shall bear their shame
and their abominations which they have committed.
Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple,
for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it.'”
Ezekiel 44:10-14

1. The unfaithful Levites.

a) Israel went astray and worshipped idols.

b) The Levites were guilty of idolatry too.

c) They caused Israel to fall into idolatry.

d) They will have to bear shame and the consequences of their iniquity.

2. The Lord’s judgment decreed.

a) They will bear the penalty of their iniquity.

b) They will not come to the Lord as “priests”.

c) They will not be allowed to draw near to the holy objects.

d) They will not be allowed in the Most Holy Place.

3. This decree was made with a solemn oath.

a) It came from the Lord directly.

b) God raised His hand in an oath to signify the seriousness of this decree.

4. Would the Levites be allowed to serve at all.

a) Yes!

b) They can become “ministers” (servants).

i) Gatekeepers

ii) Ministers in God’s house (Temple).

iii) They will assist the priests in their work of making offerings.

iv) They can have charge of the Temple and all its physical work details.