Page 261 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XLVI. 255

CHAPTER XLVI.
We have now further particulars as to the public wor­
ship of the millennial day in the sanctuary; and this as
affecting the prince, the people, and the priests, and
with especial prominence given to the sabbaths and the
new moons.
“ Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; The gate of the inner
court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six
working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened,
and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.”
(Ver. 1.) The reason why these two occasions gain so
marked a place now is obvious. Those who are of God
are no longer entering into rest; they have gone in.
The day is come. Sabbath-keeping no longer remains
for the people of God. Glory dwells in the land, and
Israel are there gathered out of the lands, from the east,
and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
They had wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way;
they found no city to dwell in. This is all past—past
for ever. They have been led forth by the right way,
they are come to a city of habitation, yea to His city,
for this is its true and deep and worthy boast: as we
shall hear, Jehovah is there. “ In that day it shall be
said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; to Zion, Let not
thine hands be slack. Jehovah thy God in the midst
of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee
with joy; he will be silent in his love, he will exult
over thee with singing.” The sabbath therefore na­
turally is now made much of. But so is the new moon.
Israel who had long waned and disappeared now renews