Have you noticed a decline or an inability for people to listen to an argument contrary to their own opinion? Whether it’s schools, churches, governments, or families there is a noticeable spirit of rebellion growing against authority. Most recently, at the 2026 State of the Union, we had half of a political party not show up in defiance to a President. A first in our history.
Why is this type of disrespect happening? I would like to suggest a new era, where people put themselves above all others while shutting their ears. Is there some sort of root cause at the bottom of this cultural spectacle?
Pew Research Center, a leading data-gathering authority, found in 1958 that 78% of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing almost always or most of the time. But due to corruption being exposed, Americans have moved to trusting their government no higher than 30% since 2007. Pew tells us the corruption and disintegration of families, the allowance of human trafficking, and the allowance of child abuse in schools has helped cause this shift in trust.
To protect ourselves, our impulse is to stop listening to anyone other than ourselves. The fears we have generated is causing us to put ear plugs towards anything that affect our created reality. In short, if love grows cold or if trust has been broken, walls can be easily built.
Many of us remember a time in the Hebrew Roots movement where study was good. We attended and supported every speaker who had something new to share. And like good Bereans we studied along beside them, gleaning nuggets of truth along the way. Is this still the case? I wonder if our love for growing in Messiah has grown cold.
Over time some have developed a personal quest to prop up personal knowledge without seeking counsel, wisdom, and the fear of Yah. If we are not open to critical analysis, do you think there is a risk of propping up little “g” gods in ourselves rather than entering a royal priesthood?
This week, we are asked to read Ezekiel 43, where we learn of God’s glory returning to the temple and its altar being restored. His authority will rule. So, what can we learn from Ezekiel 43?
7 He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.
10 “Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider its perfection “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: These will be the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings and splashing blood against the altar when it is built: 19 You are to give a young bull as a sin offering to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who come near to minister before me, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
In this text “Son of man” is stated three times. So, what is the importance within the text.
- Yah will establish a kingdom and that Israel will not defile His name again. How has His Name been defiled? It says it in the text, “prostitution offerings for their kings.” This means Israel put kingdoms of men over Yah’s Kingdom. They sought the authority of men.
- Israel needs to recognize their sin before being perfected.
- Only the Priesthood of Zadok will come near to Yahweh. Why?
In this week’s study of “You shall command.” We also read about how the spiritual authority is bestowed upon those put in leadership in Exodus 29 & 30. What does this look like?
44 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula.” (Ex. 30)
In reflection of what I am trying to say, I would like to ask a very fundamental question. In your quest to worship Yahweh, who’s spiritual authority will you submit to?
In finding out more about the Zadok Priesthood in Scripture, I found that this particular group of priests did not mix the government of man with the government of Yahweh. Like Phinehas who stood against the god of the Midianites, Zadok stood against a priesthood who sought majority approval. Zadok quietly stood with King David by anointing Solomon, Yah’s chosen.
Ezekiel’s prophecy is very clear when it comes to the millennial Kingdom. The priesthood who will come near to Yeshua will be those who worship a Kingdom that is not aligned to the governments of man, for we “cannot serve God and mammon.”
An anointed priest seeks only the oil of Yahweh and no other. And it is only Yahweh who consecrates or sets His priesthood aside from all others.
Be blessed this Sabbath,
Rollyn