Ezekiel 44:15-19: a reflection

15“‘“But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. They shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord GOD. 16“They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my instruction. 17“‘“It will be that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments. No wool shall come on them while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. 18They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and shall have linen trousers on their waists. They shall not clothe themselves with anything that makes them sweat. 19When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister and lay them in the holy rooms. They shall put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments.

In the vision of the restored temple, God singles out for the privilege of drawing near to minister to him those priests, the sons of Zadok, who had remained faithful when others went astray. The Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, God says, they shall come near to me to minister to me. When most had gone astray, these had kept their charge, remained faithful; and now, in the restoration, they are honored with nearness to God, drawing near to minister to him. Their faithfulness in a time of general unfaithfulness is remembered and rewarded with the privilege of nearness. This shows that faithfulness when others go astray is remembered and honored by God. Faithfulness amid general unfaithfulness is honored by God. Those who kept faithful when others strayed are drawn near. God remembers who stayed faithful when others went astray. Faithfulness in a faithless time is not forgotten by God.

Notice what God honors here: faithfulness maintained when others went astray. The sons of Zadok are singled out precisely because, when the children of Israel went astray from God, they kept the charge of the sanctuary, remained faithful, did not follow the general drift into unfaithfulness. And for this, in the restoration, they are given the honor of drawing near to God to minister to him. Their faithfulness in a faithless time was not forgotten; God remembered it and honored it. This encourages us to remain faithful even when many around us go astray. It can be hard to stay faithful when unfaithfulness is common, when many are drifting from God, when keeping the charge sets us apart from the crowd. But God sees and remembers those who remain faithful when others go astray, and honors such faithfulness. Our faithfulness in a faithless time is not wasted or forgotten; God remembers it and will honor it, drawing us near. Faithfulness maintained when others stray is seen and honored by God. God remembers those who kept faithful in a faithless time. Stay faithful even when others go astray; God does not forget it. Faithfulness in a drifting time is honored by God with nearness.

That is worth taking to heart, for God remembers and honors faithfulness maintained when others go astray, as he honored the sons of Zadok who kept their charge while Israel strayed. We can find it hard to stay faithful when unfaithfulness is common and many are drifting from God, and be tempted to follow the crowd; but the sons of Zadok kept faithful when others went astray, and God honored them with nearness to himself. God remembers faithfulness in a faithless time. Stay faithful even when others go astray, trusting that God sees and remembers and will honor it. Stay faithful even when many around you go astray, trusting that God remembers and honors faithfulness maintained in a faithless time, as in the vision of the restored temple God singled out the sons of Zadok, who had kept the charge of his sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from him, giving them the honor of drawing near to minister to him; for it can be hard to stay faithful when unfaithfulness is common, when many are drifting from God and keeping the charge sets us apart from the crowd, but God sees and remembers those who remain faithful when others go astray, and their faithfulness in a faithless time is not wasted or forgotten but honored by him, so that we do well to stay faithful even when others go astray, trusting that God remembers such faithfulness and will honor it, drawing us near to himself.

Lord, in the vision of the restored temple, you single out for the privilege of drawing near to minister to you those priests, the sons of Zadok, who had remained faithful when others went astray. The Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, you say, they shall come near to me to minister to me. When most had gone astray, these had kept their charge, remained faithful; and now, in the restoration, they are honored with nearness to you. Their faithfulness in a time of general unfaithfulness is remembered and rewarded. Show me what you honor here: faithfulness maintained when others went astray. The sons of Zadok are singled out precisely because, when the children of Israel went astray from you, they kept the charge of the sanctuary, did not follow the general drift into unfaithfulness. And for this, in the restoration, they are given the honor of drawing near to you. Their faithfulness in a faithless time was not forgotten; you remembered it and honored it. This encourages me to remain faithful even when many around me go astray. It can be hard to stay faithful when unfaithfulness is common, when many are drifting from you, when keeping the charge sets me apart from the crowd. But you see and remember those who remain faithful when others go astray, and honor such faithfulness. My faithfulness in a faithless time is not wasted or forgotten. Take that to my heart, for you remember and honor faithfulness maintained when others go astray. When many around me go astray and I am tempted to follow the crowd, help me stay faithful, Lord, trusting that you see and remember and will honor faithfulness maintained in a faithless time, as you honored the sons of Zadok with nearness to yourself.