“When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead. When they enter, the prince shall enter with them, and when they go out, he shall go out.
Of the 48 chapters and 1,273 verses of Ezekiel these two verses seem odd to select for a short blog entry. But the prophet Ezekiel, in this section, is recording a vision that God told him to write. He is the writer but God is the author. God decided to tell Ezekiel how he wanted worshippers in this future Temple to enter and to leave. We know from the New Testament that all Scripture is profitable for us:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Realizing that these words from Paul to Pastor Timothy are true, we must apply them to Ezekiels enter-exit words, above. Perhaps we can learn the following from this passage. Or, at least, make some applications to our lives.
1. This certainly reinforces that God is the God of order and not confusion.
1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
God created the earth in a particular order. He had an order that the nation of Israel should camp. He had an order when He told Moses how to construct the first Tabernacle. God is orderly. This future Temple would also have order. The world is living in chaos. They thrive in chaos. Satan introduced sin in the garden and with that sin sent the world into chaos. Jesus is coming to restore order.
2. Figuratively perhaps Jesus wants these furniture worshippers to show up to worship and approach God and then move onward in their walk. This entry from one direction left no room for them to return to where they were. They, of course, could return to their homes, but the picture is important for them to realize that when we approach God and leave our burdens at His feet we have no need to return where we were.
3. Perhaps this is a way for God to make sure worshippers greet and engage with other worshippers. Those coming in from the north might be tempted to only worship with those in the north. Those who come in from the south, returning to the south, might cause them to only engage with those who come and return as they do. Jesus wants His family to engage with each other. He does not want us to social buffer with only those we know and have familiarity. Crossing each other caused them to see others who also approached God and worshipped Him. This is an encouraging practice. Our current churches see people sit and engage with those they are familiar with and only those people.
4. One last aspect that God may want to communicate to us as He mentions this entrance-exit, is that once we have worshipped and had communion with God we are to move into new territories and reach new people and see things differently. After worship we are walk through a new door of opportunity. Our worship is not stagnant. We are moving forward, speaking of our communion with God to new peoples, in new places.
Nothing in God’s Word is void of lessons for our lives. He speaks to us and wants us to learn His character and how to worship Him in an orderly way and with divine purpose.
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