And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.' Sermons
I. THERE IS MISPLACED REVERENCE. 1. When men revere worldly greatness and splendor. 2. When men revere idols and deities, which are nothing but the work of their own hands and the invention of their own minds. II. THERE IS JUSTIFIABLE AND BECOMING REVERENCE. Such was that felt and manifested by Ezekiel in the presence of the glory of the Lord. 1. The nature of man is capable of true and profound reverence. There is groveling and degrading homage offered to men or to supposed supernatural powers - homage not worthy to be designated reverence. But man has the capacity of honoring the noblest and the best; and this is among the sublimest capacities of his nature. 2. The attributes, the character, of God deserve such reverence. The more the Eternal is studied, as manifested in his works and in his Word, the mere will it be felt that he is the one fit Object of reverential regard and worship. The admonition of the angel addressed to the seer of the Apocalypse was just and is universally applicable, "Worship God!" III. THERE IS APPROPRIATE EXPRESSION OF TRUE VENERATION AND ADORATION. A natural manifestation of reverence is that accorded in the text: "I fell upon my face." The attitude of the body and the expression of the countenance are the natural revelation of the deep feelings of awe and veneration. A more articulate expression is the language of prayer and praise, which must indeed always be inadequate, which yet may in all conceivable circumstances be employed by the Church of Christ. All attitudes and all language are vain except as the manifestation of the deep feelings of the heart. Yet it is not possible for men to have a just view of God, to feel aright towards him, without presenting some audible or visible, some manifest expression of such thought and emotion. Man is both soul and body, and the movements, the attitudes, the utterances, of the bodily nature are the expressions of what is intellectual and spiritual. Whilst worship, to be acceptable, must be in spirit and in truth, they who are in the flesh will bow in reverence or kneel in supplication, will pour forth their gratitude in song, and their faith and adoration in petition and in praise. - T.
In that ye have brought into My sanctuary strangers. What is reprobated is not of course allowing foreigners to present sacrifices to Jehovah, which they might do (Leviticus 17:10, 12), but allowing them to officiate in the offering, and in general in the ministry of the sanctuary. This is regarded by the prophet as a profanation of the house, and an infraction of the covenant between Jehovah and Israel. It is the latter from the nature of the case. Israel was the people of the Lord, and His service must be performed by Israel. These heathen were uncircumcised both in flesh and heart; their service was purely mercenary, and without religious reality.(A. B. Davidson, D. D.) People Ezekiel, Israelites, Joel, Levites, ZadokPlaces Holy PlaceTopics Care, Carrying, Charge, Duty, Foreigners, Holy, Keepers, Kept, Performed, Performers, Please, Regard, Sanctuary, YourselvesOutline 1. The east gate assigned only to the prince4. The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary 9. Idolaters incapable of the priests office 15. The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto 17. Ordinances for the priests Dictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 44:7-8Library That the Ruler Relax not his Care for the Things that are Within in his Occupation among the Things that are Without, nor Neglect to ProvideThe ruler should not relax his care for the things that are within in his occupation among the things that are without, nor neglect to provide for the things that are without in his solicitude for the things that are within; lest either, given up to the things that are without, he fall away from his inmost concerns, or, occupied only with the things that are within bestow not on his neighbours outside himself what he owes them. For it is often the case that some, as if forgetting that they have … Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Epistle iv. To Cyriacus, Bishop. Paul's Departure and Crown; Ezekiel Links Ezekiel 44:8 NIVEzekiel 44:8 NLT Ezekiel 44:8 ESV Ezekiel 44:8 NASB Ezekiel 44:8 KJV Ezekiel 44:8 Bible Apps Ezekiel 44:8 Parallel Ezekiel 44:8 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 44:8 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 44:8 French Bible Ezekiel 44:8 German Bible Ezekiel 44:8 Commentaries Bible Hub |