Priests Before the Lord

In Ezekiel 44, there are two kinds of priests: priests for the people and priests before the Lord. Of these latter, there are very few now, just as there were then, while there are masses of priests for the people.

In verses 9-14 it is written about those who could not enter in person, although permitted to minister to the “house” and the “people”. “Levites” were set apart for the service of God, yet, strange to say, there were “Levites” with “idols” in the heart and in their lives. “Levites” who still followed from afar. “Levites,” still “uncircumcised in heart,” not yet cleansed from the love and desire of sin. “Levites,” still “uncircumcised in flesh,” which spiritually means that the knife had never yet been applied to their own earthly, carnal life.

They still lived in sin and took pleasure in it. “Levites,” yet unable to stand alone with God when the tide of worldliness or popular opinion of the masses hailed them.

What a picture of many Christians today. “Workers” though they be, they may not, cannot, “do the office of a priest” (v. 13) and minister unto the Lord “in the most holy place.” Busy, energetic, devoted, active in ministry to the “people” and “house,” “they shall not come near to Me,” says the Lord.

“Workers” with idols in their hearts. “Workers” seeing afar off. Energetic “Workers,” in carnal enthusiasm. “Workers” accepting accolade from the world while fearing to stand alone with God.

The priests who may enter the “inner court”

By contrast, in verse 15 the Levites who were priests were not only set apart for service, but cleansed, clothed and anointed for ministry in the inner court. Of these anointed ones who had been faithful when Israel went astray from the Lord, God says: “They shall: Come near to Me; Minister to Me; Stand before Me; Offer to Me.” V. 15. They shall “enter into My Sanctuary . . . they shall come near to My table to minister unto Me.”

And how are these cleansed, anointed ones to approach their God? Clothed (head and body) with linen garments, v. 17-18. “Fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Rev. 19:8. “My majesty . . . upon you.” (Ezek. 16:14).

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Clothed with Christ Himself they enter in. “No wool shall come upon them, while they minister . . . within.” Wool, typifying the carnal, earthly, natural life. This must be reckoned crucified upon the Cross, that the soul may enter clothed in the divine life of the Risen Lord.

It is with Christ that I come before You, my God! There I remain—not I, but Christ in me is the one who stands before You!

The outward life of those who minister “within”

The ministry to the Lord means a hidden life. “When they go forth . . . to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered.” (V. 19). To outside people an ordinary life, in ordinary clothes, with ordinary language. No outside labelling of inside privileges! No peculiarity to call attention. Surely this, at least, is one thought given us in verses 19 and 20! Have we not missed God’s pattern of the hidden life and lived far too much “to be seen of men.” Jesus says in in Matt. 6:17-18, “When you fast, anoint your head . . .” Was this not the life of Jesus? Was there anything particular about His essence as a person other than His fruits that bore the marks of everything He had experienced with His Father, namely His humility, His calm, His words of grace, meekness, silence, dignity, authority, power, and His life of ministry to others?

Again, in verse 21 we read, “Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.” No fleshly excitement or stimulus can be permitted there. “In the most holy place” there can be nought but the deep hush and calm of the Eternal God.

The Lord Jesus moved among men with calm dignity.

“Recollected in God,” the old saints would call it. Never hurried, even when the crowd would have hurried Him along. He had time always to do the next thing that was well pleasing to His Father’s Will.

In order to “minister to the Lord” we see also that God demands the utmost purity in adherence to the law. (V. 22). Cleansed, clothed, anointed, stilled, obedient. “In the day that he goes into the sanctuary . . . he shall offer his sin-offering, says the Lord.” (V. 27).

Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place . . . let us draw near . . .” (Heb. 10:19-22).

The results of the ministry in the “inner court”

God is all in all, v. 28. I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession. Nothing now but God. We must let go, even of Lawful things, yes, even things given of God, must be given up for God Himself. Others in Israel may lawfully have these things, but those who enter “within” and minister in the inner court, find God their All in all.

“No possession in Israel,” (not Egypt, the world, but Israel). Others might glory in what they had from God; these glory in having all in God Himself.

“I am . . . your exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1).

Knowing the mind of God.

“They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and profane,” (v. 23), the difference between what is of God and what is of man.

Surely in these last days, when Satan is transforming himself into an angel of light, we need this clear vision to discover his counterfeits and his devices. “They shall teach My people . . . and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”

Someone once said: ‘the Spirit in you will make Christ real to you, the Spirit upon you makes Him real to others.” This is just the fruits of the inner life. How many who know much of the Spirit labour in vain to make others ‘see what they see.’

A deeper revelation of God’s purpose for His children, not only Christ in them but them having a “hidden life with Christ in God” made real in the Holy Spirit, would enable them to discern between good and evil.

The mind of Christ Manifested

“In controversy they shall stand in judgment.” (V. 24). They see from God’s standpoint; they are not influenced by bias or by what the eye sees, and the ear hears. As they hear in their inner man, “they judge,” and their judgment is just because they do not seek their own will, but that of the Father. John 5:30.

Feeding upon the food provided by God (v. 29-30), beholding the glory, and being “changed . . . from glory to glory . . . by the Spirit of the Lord,” is it any wonder it is said of these who thus “minister to the Lord” in “the most holy place,” that they “cause the blessing to rest in your house.” (V. 30).