There’s a lot in Ezekiel that I don’t get. And it’s not just trying to make sense of Ezekiel’s description of things he sees which are beyond description. Even some of the things clearly described are still mysterious shadows within his prophecy.

Case in point? Ezekiel’s description of a future temple in chapters 40 through 44. Nothing much left to the imagination here. It’s a concrete description of a massive building project, with spec’s laid out to the inch. But the question arises, what is it referring to? Is it to be understood figuratively or literally? Is it something that should have been built in the past, exists in symbolic form in the present, or is yet to be built in the future? Or does it point to something which exists beyond the future, something which describes something in the eternal? Even though I have my thoughts, like I said, there’s a lot I don’t really know for sure.

But something I do know. That when I get to the specifics of what the priesthood is doing in Ezekiel’s vision of the temple, I’m reading, at least in part, my job description as a follower of Jesus.

As you come to Him, a living stone ​— ​rejected by people but chosen and honored by God ​— ​you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

(1Peter 2:4-9 CSB)

A holy priesthood. A royal priesthood. A priesthood, holy and royal. That’s who we be.

And so, when I read in Ezekiel’s vision about what the priests are doing as part of their priesthood, I find myself taking note of what I should be doing as part of this priesthood. This is what the LORD God says (Ezekiel 44:9a):

They will approach Me to serve Me (44:15)

They may enter My sanctuary and approach My table to serve Me (44:16a)

They will keep My mandate (44:16b)

They are to teach My people (44:23)

They will officiate as judges (44:24a)

They are to observe My laws and statutes (44:24b)

That’s what the priests in Ezekiel’s vision were to do. And in there is instruction as to what we priests in Jesus are to do.

We approach and we serve. We enter the holy of holies, we find our place at the table. We seek to discharge our priestly orders. We teach what we know and we exercise authority within our ranks. We follow in obedience.

There’s some to do’s there. Ours is “to do” them. Only through His enabling. Only by His grace.

But what grabs me this morning is what God reminds the prophet of about the bottom-line benefit of being a priest. It wouldn’t be in the treasures they stored up nor in the goods they possessed. It wouldn’t be found in anything they achieved or in any rank they secured in their world’s economy. Nope, their inheritance would be something far greater, something far more everlasting.

“This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.”

(Ezekiel 44:28 CSB)

I am their inheritance. I am their possession.

By some wondrous condescension of the Creator, by some unfathomable gifting of Himself, He has said that not only am I His, but He will be mine.

Now that I get. Well, at least in part (1Cor. 13:12). But soon face to face. Known today to a certain degree, but one day to be experienced to the nth degree. Seen in the shadows of Ezekiel’s prophetic mystery. To be fully known in the light of Christ’s return.

He is mine.

Oh, what unfathomable grace! To God be the glory!