Shut the Front Door

One Year Bible: November 23

Ezekiel 45:13-46:24

“Shut the Front Door”

One of the most watched shows in our home is anything with Guy Fieri in it! Our daughter loves “All things Food!” We are fans of Guy’s Grocery Games, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. We love to travel with our tastebuds!

One of Guy’s most famous sayings ever is, “Shut the Front Door!”

Now, in “Guy Dictionary” what this means is “I Can’t Even”...

This compliment is reserved for times when he is truly stunned by how tasty, insane, or outrageous the food is before him.

Today’s story is definitely a literal and spiritual “Shut the Front Door” moment. You will soon see what I mean by this…

Do you remember how at the end of yesterday’s message we ended with God sealing the East Gate? He said, “This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered it, therefore it shall be shut.” (Ez. 44: 1-2)

God’s presence had sanctified this gate and it was closed until the prince enters through it, but who will this prince be and when will this occur?

“It is for the PRINCE; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD: he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.” (44:1-3)

Our first guess might be that it is Jesus, but there is more to the story…

In Ezekiel 45:22 we are given more details about this prince. They help us see a more complete picture. The prince will offer a sin offering for himself (45:22), have children (46:16), and possess an allotment of land in Israel (46:18). None of these descriptions point to Christ.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “If the prince gives a gift of land to one of his sons as his inheritance, it will belong to him and his descendants forever. But, if the prince gives a gift of land from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant may keep it only until the Year of Jubilee, which comes every fiftieth year. At that time the land WILL RETURN to the prince. But when the prince gives gifts to his sons, those gifts will be permanent.” (46:16-17)

King David. Jubilee. Passover…How do all of these things tie together with the prince?

We have heard over and over about King David and how the Messiah will come out of his lineage and his kingdom will never end, but what does this really mean?

Many a scholar will tell you that God is going to “connect all the dots” for the nation of Israel.

They will see, hear, smell, touch, and understand the entire hidden mystery revealed in Jesus Christ and they may very well have it introduced to them through King David, the prince.

Wouldn't that be an amazing dramatic pause as the East Gate opens?

Here is what we do know about this, “I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince forever.” (34:24)

“My servant David will be king over them… and he will be their prince forever.” (37:24-25)

As David tore off his royal robes and worshipped with all of his might to lead God’s people joyfully into the Temple of God, how amazing would it be for him to lead his people back into the temple once again to see the fulfillment of that worship in Jesus?

There is a lot to contemplate about this possibility as David was considered the TYPE of CHRIST. This means that his life pointed to JESUS and foreshadowed his coming. The amazing conclusion could be the fulfillment of this Foreshadowing.

In any case, Ezekiel’s position after this glorious return of “The Shekinah Glory” was to fall facedown and worship as the Glory of the LORD once again filled this place.

In my younger days, I used to think that I never wanted to be around for the end times as things would be going downhill quickly and evil would be so rampant. Who would want to raise children in those awful days?

But, the longer I live I have changed my tune. Who wants to just die when you can behold the return of “The Shekinah Glory”, watch David dance, see God’s people fall on their knees and their blinders come off. Then again, If I am raptured before all of this I want a front row from the heavenlies.

All I really know is this, “Shut the Front Door” because this fulfillment of prophecy is going to be an “I CAN’T EVEN” describe MILLENNIAL MOMENT!

“When the Spirit of the LORD comes upon my heart I will dance like David danced…Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice. Let the nations say, ‘The LORD reigns!”

(Dance Like David Danced, Joshua Aaron)