Division of the Land
As we move from the temple and the priests and Levites who will
serve within the temple, we come across a fairly plain section speaking about
the division of the land. Since most of
us are not fluent in cubits, let’s translate those dimensions out of their
Hebrew form. 25,000 cubits is a little
under 8.5 miles. 20,000 cubits is a
little over 6.5 miles. If we add it the
5,000 cubits for the people we get a square plot 25,000 cubits on each
side. Therefore, we can see that the
temple area in the vision is to encompass about 55 square miles and the city
proper will encompass just under 80 square miles.
The land is to have a division among it. The area surrounding the temple is to be
given to the priests. The area beside
the priestly area is to be given to the Levites who will be servants in the
temple. The area that is left is to be
given for the city and the workings of the city.
Obviously, once again we can see separation in how this land is
distributed. We can see that God is
using the priests and the Levites to set up a barrier between Himself and the
people. God does intend to be the God of
the people, but this reading continues to assume that the personal relationship
with God through Christ is not in effect.
This passage reads as though the prevailing way that God will relate to
the people is by having the priests and the Levites be His buffer as
representatives. We continue to see that
this chapter is best seen as being interpreted as occurring at a time when the
relationship gained through Christ is unknown to the people.
Moving beyond that continued theme in these ending chapters, there
is something that is fairly potent that we can see about the division of the
land of Jerusalem. Note that 80% of the
division of the land is for religious purposes.
Of the 25,000 x 25,000 cubits city, the temple and land for the servants
of the temple will take up 25,000 x 20,000 cubits. I think God’s point is clear. Jerusalem is to be His holy city. The point of Jerusalem is not to be the
capitol of the Jews. The point of
Jerusalem is to point to God as the author of life, the creator of the world,
and source of truth in this life.
It makes me wonder. I live
on an acre. According to my belief, I am
a part of God’s temple. How much of my
acre and my life is devoted to God? How
much of my life am I devoting to proclaiming God to those around me? Is my acre my kingdom – or God’s?
Just Rule
Having set the priority in Jerusalem as the center for proclaiming
the greatness of God, the Lord now turns to non-religious government. God assigns a portion of the land for the
princes (kings). They will receive their
land in order to rule over the people.
However, there is a clear message here. God tells the princes that He has had enough
of their human rule. He is tired of
people who use unbalanced scales to do business and change money. He is tired of people who skimp and cheat in
order to make a profit. He is tired of
leadership that looks at the people as a means to their own end rather than a
part of the creation that God has made.
We do see that in God’s economy the people support the
prince. They are to give some of their
possessions and flocks to the princes.
However, the princes will bear the burden of making sure that the
sacrifices are done. This is a dramatic
change from the way it was done prior to the exile. Now, the princes of Jerusalem will take the sacrifices
for the people out of their own flocks and herds. Of course, these are flocks and herds that the
princes received from the people to begin with.
So this only seems fair.
However, we can see that it is the governmental leader – the prince
– who will be responsible for making sure that the sacrifices continue in the
temple. The privilege to rule comes with
a heavy duty. It is the job of the
prince to assure that the desires of the Lord are maintained.
Festivals
As we come to the close of this chapter, we see that there is
mention of the festivals. The altar and
the temple will need to be atoned.
Passover will need to be celebrated.
The Feast of the Tabernacles will continue.
God’s point in all of this is that while we do look forward to
life with God, we should remember what God has done for us. God is a gracious and merciful God. We would be wise to not forget and neglect
the remembrance of those facts.
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