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Ezekiel 46:11-12 Daily, weekly and monthly communion celebration - Day 286

Good morning beloved in the Lord,

As I was writing this devotional this morning, I started to think about how Paul addresses believers as "saints".  In Christ, this is who we are.  We have absolute confidence in the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross.  Our relationship or communion with God is assured.  The activities in the new temple give us a picture of this.

Blessings,

Jeff

Observations:

Sacrifices at Sabbaths and new moons will continue to be celebrated in the new temple.

The prince is at the center of these frequent sacrifices. The priests offer the sacrifices but the prince is the one who provides the animals, grain and oil.

These sacrifices are not related to atoning for sin.  So their continuation after the crucifixion is not as problematic.  However, I think it is interesting that Sabbath and new moon observations were one of the failures in pre and post-exile Judah.  Failure to keep the fourth commandment by trading appears in many of the prophets.

ESV Study Bible note: These access points to the holy and the Holy One, in Ezekiel's thinking, are laden with significance for the communal life of sustained communion with God. Ezekiel 46:1.  In the new temple, communion with God is still regulated in that the people and the prince come and to in a very specific manner.

Implications

Once the covering of sin, propitiation, satisfaction of God's wrath against sin is dealt with, the communion with God becomes a joyful and obedient celebration.  As Hebrews tells us, In the tabernacle and Solomon's temple the blood of animals could not purge the conscience.  Lack of assurance that God was actually satisfied by these earlier sacrifices makes communion with Him difficult.  Once salvation is secured by the blood of Christ, there is nothing I can do that makes God love me any more or any less.  And diligent celebration is the appropriate response.

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