Ezekiel 46:1-8: a reflection

1“‘The Lord GOD says: “The gate of the inner court that looks toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. 2The prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate outside, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. 3The people of the land shall worship at the door of that gate before the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the new moons. 4The burnt offering that the prince shall offer to the LORD shall be on the Sabbath day, six lambs without defect and a ram without defect; 5and the meal offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 6On the day of the new moon it shall be a young bull without defect, six lambs, and a ram. They shall be without defect. 7He shall prepare a meal offering: an ephah for the bull, and an ephah for the ram, and for the lambs according as he is able, and a hin of oil to an ephah. 8When the prince enters, he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and he shall go out by its way.

In Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple, the gate of the inner court, shut on the working days, is opened on the Sabbath and the new moon, so that the people may come and worship before the LORD. God appoints set times, opportunities, for the people to draw near and worship; the gate is opened at these appointed times so that they may come. God provides regular, appointed occasions for his people to draw near to him, opening the way at the set times so that they can come and worship.

Notice God's provision of appointed times to draw near and worship. He does not leave his people without opportunity; he opens the gate at set times, the Sabbath and the new moon, so that they may come and worship before him. These are appointed occasions, regular opportunities to draw near, provided by God for his people. The way to worship is opened at these times, an invitation to come; God provides the occasions, and his people are to make use of them, coming to worship when the gate is opened. He gives regular opportunities to draw near.

That is worth taking to heart, for God gives us regular opportunities to draw near and worship, and we are to make use of them. God provides occasions for us to draw near to him, to worship, to seek him, regular opportunities set before us; and we can either make use of them or let them pass, neglecting the chances to draw near. Do not neglect the opportunities God gives you to draw near and worship; make use of them, coming to him when the way is opened, as the people were to come and worship when the gate was opened on the appointed days. Value and use the regular occasions God provides for drawing near to him, rather than letting them slip by neglected; for God opens the way at appointed times, inviting his people to come and worship, and gives us regular opportunities to draw near, which we are to take up gladly rather than neglect.

Lord, in Ezekiel's vision of the restored temple, the gate of the inner court, shut on the working days, is opened on the Sabbath and the new moon, so that the people may come and worship before you. You appoint set times, opportunities, for the people to draw near and worship; the gate is opened at these appointed times so that they may come. You provide regular, appointed occasions for your people to draw near to you. Show me your provision of appointed times to draw near and worship. You do not leave your people without opportunity; you open the gate at set times so that they may come and worship before you. These are appointed occasions, regular opportunities to draw near, provided by you. The way to worship is opened, an invitation to come; you provide the occasions, and your people are to make use of them. Take that to my heart, for you give me regular opportunities to draw near and worship, and I am to make use of them. You provide occasions for me to draw near to you, to worship, to seek you; and I can either make use of them or let them pass. Keep me from neglecting the opportunities you give me to draw near and worship; help me make use of them, coming to you when the way is opened, as the people were to come and worship when the gate was opened. Help me value and use the regular occasions you provide for drawing near to you, Lord, rather than letting them slip by neglected.