All the people of the land will be required to give this special offering to the prince in Israel. – Ezekiel 45:16

Today's Scripture Reading (October 15, 2026): Ezekiel 45

I was reminiscing with some friends about the 1971 Grey Cup (the Canadian Football version of the Super Bowl). In 1971, two of my favorite football teams met for the championship: the Toronto Argonauts and the Calgary Stampeders. Three years earlier, I had moved with my parents from Toronto to Calgary. I was eight when we moved, and I hadn't been interested in football until I arrived in Calgary. By the 1971 season, I lived and breathed the Stampeders.

That year, the Toronto Argonauts were led by rookie quarterback Joe Theismann. Theismann would later become an NFL great with the Washington Redskins, now the Washington Commanders. Toronto was favored to win, but rain made it a low-scoring affair. However, when the final whistle blew, the underdogs from Calgary won the 59th Grey Cup, 14-11. It was only the second time Calgary had won the Canadian Football Championship and the first since 1948. I was eleven years old and in sixth grade at the time. 

What I really remember about the 1971 Grey Cup is what happened after the game. Because Grey Cup winners were uncommon in Calgary, saying the city's sports fans were excited would have been an understatement. I remember the Mayor coming on TV and radio with an exciting announcement. The city was going to welcome our Stampeders home in style, and the Mayor wanted all the kids to gather at the downtown arena, the Stampede Corral, on Monday afternoon to scream for their heroes. It didn't take long for someone to question whether the Mayor had the authority to cancel school, and the school board answered that he did not. Quickly, the school board chairman replaced the Mayor's voice. Classes would not be canceled so the kids could welcome their Stampeders home. Everyone was expected to be in school.

Ezekiel says that the landowners are to give an offering to the prince of Israel (Israel no longer had a king). The prince was to use the money for various sin offerings at the nation's religious festivals. But as I read this passage, the question that jumps out is: why was the money given to the prince? Would it not have been better to give the money directly to the priests who were responsible for making the sacrifice? Surprisingly, I consulted some experts, and they were silent on the reason, only confirming that the money was not to be given to the priests.

So, let me offer this as my humble suggestion. If the religious feasts were to become a reality, they would not happen simply because the religious structure decreed them. They would also require political support. And perhaps the best way for that to happen was to divide responsibility between the two forces in people's lives: the political would collect the offering and prepare everything for the sacrifice. In contrast, the priests would minister at the altar, properly offering the sacrifice to God. The political and religious fronts would work in unity, making the religious feast not just a possibility but a reality in the life of the new nation. In this way, there would be no embarrassing conflicts between the two forces of religious life in Judah.

Maybe that is the reason, or maybe not, but back when I was eleven, it would have been nice to have the two forces in my life, the School Board and the Mayor, on the same page. Eventually, a compromise was reached. The schools would be open, but no one would take attendance. With that knowledge firmly in hand, the eleven-year-old me headed for the Corral to welcome the Calgary Stampeders home. 

Just one more note. The Prince of Israel could also be called the Messiah of Israel. When Jesus arrived, he became prophet, priest, and King. The New Testament places major emphasis on only one of those roles: King. Jesus was the Prince of Israel and heir to David's throne. Just as the landowners during the rebuilding of Judah brought offerings to the Prince, we now bring our sacrifices to our King. 

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 46

 

Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary. – Ezekiel 44:8

Today's Scripture Reading (October 14, 2026): Ezekiel 44

One leadership practice I have tried to live by is never asking anyone to do anything I am unwilling to do myself. As a business owner, it meant taking on menial tasks every once in a while. No one wanted to see me overhauling an engine, but I could at least do an oil change or vacuum a trunk. In pastoral ministry, that sometimes means getting involved in areas where I am out of my depth and outside my comfort zone. Often, it has meant doing something someone else could do better, but that was seldom the point; I just needed to be willing to do it.

The reality is that life presents us with things we simply need to do. They are placed in front of us, waiting for us to pick them up. As we chase after success, however you might define it, these often seem to be the make-or-break moments, tests that life gives us that will have significant effects on our lives.

God's complaint to Ezekiel was that his priests were leaving the tasks he had assigned them to others. People who didn't understand what they were doing were caring for the holy things because the priests felt those tasks weren't the job God had given them. The priests concluded that some tasks were beneath their status and importance. God seems to disagree.

We aren't supposed to do everything. However, wisdom begins with knowing what God has uniquely placed before us. It probably starts with the things only we can do because of the knowledge we have or the place God has put us. A good leadership trait is being willing to do anything, but we can't neglect the things God has purposely given us that no one else can do. Have you identified those things in your life? Are you willing to do them, or are you looking for someone else to take that responsibility? It is your decision, but God has a preference, and there are some things you need to do for his Gospel to move forward.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 45

The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east. – Ezekiel 43:4

Today's Scripture Reading (October 13, 2026): Ezekiel 43

At the beginning of the nation of Israel, Moses was given a set of laws. The law was much more than a list of ten "Thou Shalt Nots." It was also more than just a long list of often culturally specific cultic rules. It contained the instructions for a place of worship: a tent called the tabernacle. The instructions for this tabernacle were very specific. It set out rules not only for the tent, but also for how it was to be laid out and the furniture that was to exist inside the tabernacle. When Israel finished building the tabernacle, the Bible says the "glory of the Lord" entered it. "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Exodus 40:34-35). For the rest of the time in the desert, whenever Israel stopped, God's cloud descended, and God's glory filled the tabernacle.

Fast forward to the building of the first temple. I am not convinced God ever wanted the temple built, but once it was finished, God accepted it as the sacrifice of his people. Once again, the glory of God fills the temple. "When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple" (1 Kings 8:10-11).

However, Israel rebelled, and the nation eventually fell. The northern Kingdom was the first to go, taken into captivity by the Assyrians. But the southern Kingdom went next, and its people were carried into captivity by the Babylonians; the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and the temple that the glory of God had once inhabited was totally leveled. Now, there was no glory, no temple, and no Jerusalem. Everything that made Israel special was gone.

As Ezekiel dreams of a new Temple, he also dreams of the glory of God entering the temple; that this temple too would be accepted by God. The glory of God would enter from the east, possibly with the rising of the morning sun. In Ezekiel's dream of this temple, a huge part of it was that God's glory would dwell there once again.

The next Temple to be built was not the one that Ezekiel dreamt of, but a second, lesser temple. But when it is completed, one thing is missing: there is no story of God's glory filling the temple, at least not for a while.

When the glory of God returns to the second temple, it returns as an eight-day-old baby. Jesus is born, and on the eighth day, according to the Law of Moses, the baby Jesus is taken to the temple for dedication. A priest named Simeon lifted the boy in his arms and declared in him the glory of God; the glory of the second temple. "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32). The glory had finally returned.

So, if we imagine the glory of the third temple, the one that Ezekiel dreamed of, it follows that the glory of that temple has to be the returning of Christ. Ezekiel speaks of the glory of God that comes through the eastern gate, and hundreds of years later Matthew would tell of witnesses to the glory of God that comes in the form of Magi from the east, and eventually of the glory of God in the second coming of Christ, once again in the east. "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:27). The glory of God will return, and this time His glory will return to stay.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 44

Then he said to me, "The north and south rooms facing the temple courtyard are the priests' rooms, where the priests who approach the Lord will eat the most holy offerings. There they will put the most holy offerings—the grain offerings, the sin offerings and the guilt offerings—for the place is holy. – Ezekiel 42:13

Today's Scripture Reading (October 12, 2026): Ezekiel 42

It is one of my favorite quotes of all time. No, it is not from the Bible. It is from "Star Trek – The Original Series." I know, quite a letdown. The episode aired on December 15, 1966, during the first season of the series, and the episode was titled "Balance of Terror." Captain James T. Kirk's ship, "The Enterprise," was sent to investigate the destruction of some Federation outposts. They discovered a Romulan Bird-of-Prey with a cloaking device that was attacking Federation outposts. The Romulans, along with the Klingons, were the ever-present bad guys in that first Star Trek series.

The Enterprise is outgunned, and the Bird-of-Prey has a cloaking device that lets it vanish at will. The battle is fierce, but Kirk and his crew are on the wrong end of it. Near the end of the story, after a ferocious battle between the two ships, both ships hang in space. Kirk has the Enterprise systems shut down, pretending to be dead, in an attempt to lure the Romulan ship closer so it can take a shot. Tension is high, and Dr. McCoy visits his captain with an important message: the aforementioned quote.

In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million, million galaxies like this. And in all of that... and perhaps more, only one of each of us. [pause] Don't destroy the one named Kirk.

                                        Dr. Leonard McCoy

                                        Balance of Terror (Star Trek, The Original Series)

I believe Leonard McCoy is right. Think about it. There are almost eight billion people on the planet. I don't know what is out there, but even if there are three million Earth-like planets in our galaxy and three million, million galaxies like ours, there is still only one like you. We are a unique people. No one in this world is quite like you or quite like me. And that is a good thing. The fabric of this world is made up of us. Rather than feeling lost in this world, we need to recognize what we add to its tapestry.

As Ezekiel continues through his vision of the ideal temple, he comes to the rooms set aside for the priests. It was to these rooms that the offerings were brought. What has been placed before God is holy, and because it is holy, it must be treated differently. It is set apart for God.

We sometimes forget that God is still asking us for an offering, but the offering He wants is our lives. Does He want our tithe? Yes, but that is only the beginning of the offering He asks of us. He wants what is unique and special about us, left on His altar. He wants to make us holy. What was once only a description of items and offerings entrusted to the priests is now a description of our unique lives.

Ezekiel might have written about rooms that could be measured, but Jesus uses the illustration of the church as His body. Jesus speaks of lives that can be measured and set apart for Him. And that includes you and me. We are called to so much more than just belief; we are called to be offerings, holy and set apart for God, because in all of creation, there is only one of you and me.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 43

Happy Birthday, Mom.

Each cherub had two faces: the face of a human being toward the palm tree on one side and the face of a lion toward the palm tree on the other. They were carved all around the whole temple. – Ezekiel 41:18b-19

Today's Scripture Reading (October 11, 2026): Ezekiel 41

Rudyard Kipling wrote

If you can walk with the crowd and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run- Yours is the earth and everything that's in it, And-which is more-you'll be a man my son.

If: A Father's Advice to His Son

The phrase "walk with kings, nor lose the common touch" seems to have captured our imagination. It has become the standard by which we judge people we encounter. We seem to want to connect with people who have the power to change our world yet have never lost sight of what it is like to walk among ordinary people. We have no time for the elitist who has lost touch with the common person. However, we want to follow the person in power who identifies with most of humanity, wherever they dare to lead.

Ezekiel once again has a vision of cherubim. This time, they are carved on the temple walls. The cherubim have two faces. One is the face of a man, and the other is the face of a lion. These faces are not accidental. These angels of the temple minister to man's plight, but to do so they must understand the problem; they must intimately know what it is to be weak and in need. They are the bearers of the gospel message to man. However, identifying and understanding man is not enough; the angels must also go boldly and with courage. They need to identify with man, but not fear him.

So the angels come equipped with two faces and two natures. That these cherubim face the palm trees indicates that, while they identify with humankind and come with courage, they also come with sincere hearts and honest conversations, with their eyes fixed on God's final victory, which was yet to come.

For the exiles, this was a message of hope: the God of Israel and this Temple still had his people's concerns on his heart, and he would still bring victory to Israel. He understood what they were going through and was already on his way, with courage and the power to change what was.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 42

I saw a wall completely surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring rod in the man's hand was six long cubits, each of which was a cubit and a handbreadth. He measured the wall; it was one measuring rod thick and one rod high. – Ezekiel 40:5

Today's Scripture Reading (October 10, 2026): Ezekiel 40

I have a dream house. My dream house has two levels. The basement opens to a private, treed yard at the back of the property. At one end of the house is a massive library that spans both stories. The library, of course, would hold my current book collection (I know, I have to deal with my addiction), plus some significant additions: books and collections I don't own but would like to have. And in my dream, the whole house is covered with big windows that let in a lot of light.

It is fun to dream about my house, but I am under no illusions that it will ever be built. The house is and will remain a house that lives only in my imagination. It is simply a dream. And, to be honest, the house of my dreams is probably too large to be practical. But during those holiday times when the whole family gathers, a house a little larger than our present home would be an asset. However, I know it is all just a dream.

Ezekiel dedicates the last nine chapters of his prophecy to a dream. The dream is of a temple. When Ezekiel began to dream of this Temple, no temple existed in Jerusalem. Babylon had already destroyed the First Temple (Solomon's Temple), and the Second Temple (Zerubbabel's or Herod's Temple) had not yet been built. The only Temple that existed was the one inside Ezekiel's head. Like many buildings and houses we dream about, this Temple was much grander than the one Solomon built, which was itself significantly larger than the Second Temple that Zerubbabel would build. The description of the outer wall surrounding the Temple area indicates that this dream temple encompassed all of the Temple Mount, not just the portion of the Mount that Solomon's Temple had occupied.

This Temple was vast, yet it was never built. In fact, Ezekiel's Temple is sometimes called the Third Temple, the one some Jews and Christians are waiting for and expect to be built sometime in the future. But it doesn't seem possible that this Temple will ever be built unless it is the one built after Jesus's return. Too many conditions and buildings would have to be removed for the Temple to be constructed. However, it is fun to dream of Ezekiel's Temple, even if, for now, Ezekiel's vast Temple remains nothing more than a dream.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 41

King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! – Daniel 4:1

Today's Scripture Reading (October 9, 2026): Daniel 4

I have to admit that until recently, I believed our politicians had less power than we sometimes think they possess. The reality is that the checks and balances built into the political structure of most democratic nations leave little room for leaders to act. I still believe that when everything in the nation is going well, political leadership likely has less to do with it than many will admit. During tough times, the blame belongs less to our political leaders than their critics are ever willing to admit. However, Donald Trump's presidency has changed my thinking a bit. Political leaders can do things that tank a nation, something I am not sure I really believed before Donald Trump. Of course, even Donald Trump requires the permission of key people and the public to bring the nation down. Writing this in the mid-2020s, I hope we are not watching the demise of the American Empire. That reality probably rests on the political reaction to Donald Trump after his term is through.

What sometimes amazes me is how divergent public opinion is about our political leaders' potential. One sector often considers our leaders saints, while another part of society sees them as demons. Sometimes the obvious has to be stated; usually, they are neither. Could you imagine a book on the Republican Party's (the Grand Old Party) influence on U.S. politics and its impact on world events? The book would include writings by and about the Great Republicans of the past. It would even mention Republicans who didn't shine the way the Grand Old Party wished they had. Overall, the book would be generally positive yet offer a balanced look at Republican politics. However, in the middle of this book about Republican politics is a chapter written by Barack Obama. That chapter would not seem to fit. After all, it was the Republicans who have done the most to demonize the former Democratic President. Maybe the flip side is easier to imagine: a book on Democratic politics with a chapter written by Donald Trump. How insane would either scenario be?

Yet, that is exactly what the fourth chapter of Daniel represents. This chapter is written by someone who is not a Jew and who is actually demonized in many places in the Hebrew Bible. The Babylonian invader, Nebuchadnezzar, wrote the chapter. The same Nebuchadnezzar who was responsible for destroying Jerusalem, demolishing the Temple, and taking the people of Judah away from their homeland into exile. The fourth chapter of the Book of Daniel is one of the most unexpected chapters in literary history.

But the chapter exists. It testifies to the Babylonian king's support for the God of Israel, proving that God can reach into every corner of the earth and that all the people of the earth truly belong to him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 40