How does Ezekiel 43:24 reflect God's holiness and expectations for His people? Honoring the Setting of Ezekiel 43:24 • Ezekiel is witnessing the future, purified temple where “the glory of the LORD” has returned (43:1–5). • Verse 24 falls in the middle of instructions for consecrating the altar (43:18–27). • These details underscore that worship in God’s house is never casual; it is meticulously ordered by Him. Key Words and Their Weight • “Present them before the LORD” – offerings are brought into His immediate presence; nothing unclean can stand there (Leviticus 10:3). • “The priests are to sprinkle salt on them” – salt is a covenant symbol of permanence and purity (Leviticus 2:13; Numbers 18:19). • “Offer them as a burnt offering” – the whole animal is consumed, picturing total surrender (Leviticus 1:9). God’s Holiness Reflected • Absolute Purity: Salt prevents corruption, picturing God’s flawless character (Psalm 12:6). • Total Devotion: The burnt offering is wholly given, showing God deserves everything, not leftovers (Malachi 1:7–8). • Mediated Access: Only priests handle the sacrifice, emphasizing that sinful people need a God-appointed mediator—ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 7:25–27). Divine Expectations for His People • Whole-Life Surrender – “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). • Moral Preservation – Like salt, believers preserve truth and resist decay in society (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50). • Covenant Faithfulness – God keeps His “covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19); He expects steadfast loyalty in return (Deuteronomy 7:9). • Reverent Worship – Details matter; careless worship displeases Him (Leviticus 10:1–2; 1 Corinthians 11:27–30). Practical Takeaways 1. Guard what you bring to God—confess sin and come clean (1 John 1:9). 2. Give Him everything, not the margins of time, energy, or resources (Proverbs 3:9). 3. Let your words and actions be “seasoned with salt” to edify and preserve (Colossians 4:6). 4. Remember that Christ, the final sacrifice, fulfills what the altar foreshadowed; live in grateful obedience (1 Peter 1:18–19). |
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