Privilege & Duty

 

    There are roles in life that are a privilege to have, but that means that you are obliged to fulfill the duty that it entitles.  The title will give you recognition and a certain amount of grandeur.  However, if you do not uphold what the position requires, then you give it a bad name and make things harder for others to come.  You will loose the respect and trust of the people that you should be serving.

    Once God entered His home, the east gate was shut behind him.  Once it is shut, it will not open again.  Even Jesus had a different entrance to display the privilege and duty of His role.  Ezekiel watched all this happen and he could see God's glory at the north gate.  He fell facedown again, but God had him get up.  God wanted him to watch and listen closely.  Ezekiel's attention needed to be able to relay God's message of standards and requirements to the people.

    Ezekiel was to tell the rebellious people how things are supposed to run and function.  Remind them not to desecrate God's temple again.  The Levites had to bare the consequences of leading God's people astray.  They had a duty in which they did not perform, so now they were no longer God's priest.  They were replaced by the Zadok who performed their duties humbly.  

    God's rules may appear to be strict, but it is clear what God expects from His leaders and people.  God's leaders are required to know what is expected and stay pure and clean.  Next, they are expected to teach the people.  It is a privilege to have that special relationship with God, but it hold a lot of responsibility.  They are to be righteous judges and keep the Sabbath Holy.  They are the example of how to honor and serve God.

Ezekiel 44