Seder 82: Ezekiel 44---Envisioning a Holy Priesthood

 In the vision recorded in Ezekiel 40-48, Ezekiel is shown a picture of twelve tribes brought back to the Promised Land, with God dwelling in the midst of his people and true worship conducted at a new temple.  

The Aaronic priesthood serving at this temple is described in Ezekiel 44:15-31.  The holiness of these descendants of Zadok is emphasized, with specific mention that they follow instructions for priests laid out in the book of Leviticus.  They would

• carefully "distinguish between the holy and the common" (Lv 10:10; Eze 44:19).  
• not engage in pagan mourning rituals (Eze 44:20; Lv 10:6; 21:5, 10).  
• not drink on duty (Eze 44:21; Lv 10:9).
• observe marriage restrictions for priests, even for high priests  (Eze 44:22; Lv 21:7,14).
• faithfully carry out teaching responsibilities (Eze 44:23; Lv 10:11).
• make judicial rulings to settle disputes (Eze 44:24; Dt 17:7; 19:17; 21:5).
• follow priestly restrictions on mourning and deal appropriately with corpse impurity (Eze 44:25-26; Lev 21:1-3).  

One difference between the vision and previous practice was that these priests would serve strictly in white linen garments (verses 16-18).  Apparently the high priest would not wear the colorful royal garments described in Exodus 28, but would follow the restrictions used on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16).  Perhaps these details are intended to emphasize the humility of these priests.  

There are some differences between practices described in the Torah and those pictured in the vision.  The clothing in Ezekiel 44:16-18 is one of them.  Another is the burnt offering for a new moon---two bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs in Nu 28:11; and one bull, six sheep, and one ram in Ezekiel 46:6-7.  

Apparently the early rabbis puzzled over such differences.  The Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 13b) mentions a sage named Hananiah ben Hezekiah who saved the book of Ezekiel's status in the canon by laboring to explain the differences between the practices in the vision and those laid out in the Pentateuch.  I personally am not troubled by these differences, which seem minor.  A new temple can come with some new customs.  

Seder 82: Ezekiel 44-45: Who is "the Prince" in Ezekiel's Vision?

 In Ezekiel's vision in chapters 40-48, one figure mentioned several times is "the prince" (nasi in Hebrew).  This is a righteous human leader who will sponsor worship at the Temple described in the vision.  Too often in ancient Israel's history there was corrupt leadership, but Ezekiel looks forward to a time when there would be godly leaders (Eze 45:8-12).  

It seems reasonable to view the prince as a type of the Messiah; on the other hand, the vision also seems to distinguish the prince from the Messiah of Christianity.  For one thing, the prince will provide purification offerings for himself and the people--Eze 45:22---while Christ requires no such offerings (Heb 7:27-28).  Moreover, the priest is someone who may have physical descendants---Eze 46:16.

Seder 82: Lev 10:8-20---Aftermath of the Deaths of Nadab and Abihu

 After the deaths of his sons Nadab and Abihu, Aaron received instruction from God:

"Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die" (Lev 10:9).

God also explained the reason for this rule:  "You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses (vv 10-11).  The priests would need to be in complete control of their faculties to make important distinctions and teach effectively.  

Aaron would have important decisions to make, starting right away, and the sacrifices had to carried out correctly.  Moses was initially upset with Aaron for not properly completing the purification offering for the people that day.  A portion was to be eaten by the priests, symbolizing the transfer of sins from the people to the priests and completing an atonement process for the people.  But  the offering  had been allowed to burn up on the altar  (v 16).   

Aaron explained to Moses that it wouldn't have been proper for them to eat their portion that day.  How could they participate in the people's atonement when they were to some extent to blame for what had happened with Nadab and Abihu?  That offering was for them as well, so it would not have been proper for them to eat a portion from it (as in 4:1-12).  Alternatively, how could they eat their portion if  they could not do so with joy?  They were not visibly mourning, but they could pretend that nothing had happened.  After hearing Aaron's explanation, Moses concurred (v 20).  

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on Dec 11, 2021, Kyle Kettering brought out both the blessings and the dangers associated with alcohol.  As a "kingdom of priests" ourselves, we are to make sound decisions about these things, including being flexible and accommodating about our individual approaches to the use of alcohol.

Seder 82: Psalm 4---David Prays Confidently and Counsels his Enemies

Psalm 4 seems to be an evening prayer (see verse 8).  The psalmist has apparently been facing the slander of enemies.  He is confident that God will answer his prayer for help, having experienced God's help in the past.  

Like almost all of the psalms in Book 1 of the psalter, Psalm 4 is classified as a psalm of David, and the content of the psalm is consistent with Davidic authorship.  The slander of the psalmist's enemies has "turned his honor into shame" (v 2), something that happened at various times in David's life.  

The psalmist has some good advice for those enemies.  Since God will come to his aid (v 3), their plots against him are futile.  Rather than attack God's anointed (and therefore God himself), they should repent sincerely and seek God's forgiveness (vv 4-5).  

Verse 4 begins, "Be angry, and do not sin" (ESV).  A footnote in the ESV says "be agitated" rather than "be angry".  Van Gemeren gives the alternate translation, "Tremble with fear and stop sinning."  David would like his accusers to work out their problems with God privately rather than attack him publicly. 

In Eph 4:26 Paul also advises,  "Be angry and do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down on your anger."  In verse 31 he adds, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice."  He wants believers to promote peace and not let anger lead them to sin, much as David was recommending to his accusers.

David was concerned that many Israelites were frustrated about how things were going.  He prayed that God would make his blessings evident.  He thanked God for the blessing of joy, something no enemy could take from him, and went to sleep at peace with God and the world.