[:en]SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 44
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites” (Ezekiel 44:9)
“In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges and decide it according to my ordiananes. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed feasts, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy” (Ezekiel 44:24)
“I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession. They will at the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings; and everything in Israel devoted to the Lord will belong to them. The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. The priests must not eat anything, bird or animal, found dead or torn by wild animals” (Ezekiel 44:28-31)
THE PRINCE, THE LEVITES AND PRIESTS
God gave Ezekiel instruction to the Levites and the priests concerning how they are to serve God in His sanctuary. Those who faithfully carried out the duties are allowed to enter the sanctuary to offer sacrifices and minister before God in performing His service.
RULES FOR THE PRIESTS (vs. 15-31)
- They are to minister and offer sacrifices of fat and blood.
- They alone are to enter His sanctuary and perform His service.
- They are to wear linen clothes, liene turbans and liene undergarments upon entering the gates of the inner court.
- They are to take off the clothes and leave them in the sacred rooms when they are going out.
- They must not shave their heads bu they have to keep the hair of their heads trimmed.
- They are not allowed to drink wine when they enter the inner court.
- They must not marry widows or divorced women. They may marry only virgins Israelite descent or widows of priests.
- They are to teach the people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
- They are to serve as judges and decide it according to His ordinances.
- They are to keep His laws and decrees for all appointed feasts and to keep the Sabbath holy.
- They must not defile themselves by going near a dead person.
- In case they defile themselves, they must wait 7 days and offer sin offering before they can ministered.
- They will have no possession because God is their possession.
- Everything in Israel that are devoted to the Lord belongs to them.
- They must not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild animals.
It is a privilege to minister for the Lord. But unfaithfulness in service can lead to loss of privileges . The priests had to be careful what they wore, what they ate and drank and how they looked. This also applies to the people who service God today. We must practise discernment in our walk and talk.[:]