Ezekiel 40:44-49: a reflection

44Outside of the inner gate were rooms for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate. They faced toward the south. One at the side of the east gate faced toward the north. 45He said to me, “This room, which faces toward the south, is for the priests who perform the duty of the house. 46The room which faces toward the north is for the priests who perform the duty of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to the LORD to minister to him.” 47He measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, square. The altar was before the house. 48Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side. The width of the gate was three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side. 49The length of the porch was twenty cubits and the width eleven cubits, even by the steps by which they went up to it. There were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.

As Ezekiel is shown around the temple in his vision, he is brought to the chambers of the priests, and told their purpose. These are the priests who perform the duty of the house and of the altar, the sons of Zadok, who, the text says, come near to the LORD to minister to him. Their high calling is described in those words: to come near to the LORD, and to minister to him. Their service was not first about the people, but about God himself; they drew near to minister to the LORD.

Notice the direction of the priests' ministry: to the LORD. We might think of the priests mainly as serving the people, helping worshipers; but here their calling is described as coming near to God to minister to him. Their service was directed Godward; they drew near to God's own presence, to serve and honor him. Worship, at its heart, was ministering to God, not merely receiving from him or serving others.

That reorients how we think about worship. We often approach worship asking what we will get from it, how it will help us or move us; and God does give to us in worship. But the deeper truth is that worship is ministering to God, coming near to him to honor, serve, and delight him, not first for what we receive but for his sake. When you worship, remember that you are coming near to God to minister to him, to give him honor and love, not only to receive. Draw near to God as one who ministers to him; make your worship an offering to him, for his sake, and find that in ministering to God, you are brought near to the One who is himself your joy.

Lord, in Ezekiel's vision, the priests' high calling was described as coming near to you to minister to you; their service was directed Godward, drawing near to your presence to serve and honor you. Reorient how I think about worship. I often approach worship asking what I will get from it, how it will help or move me; and you do give to me in worship. But the deeper truth is that worship is ministering to you, coming near to honor, serve, and delight you, not first for what I receive but for your sake. When I worship, help me remember that I am coming near to you to minister to you, to give you honor and love, not only to receive. Help me draw near to you as one who ministers to you, and make my worship an offering to you, for your sake. And in ministering to you, bring me near to you, who are yourself my joy.