the sons of zadok

the sons of zadok.

before today, if you'd asked me who the sons of zadok were, i'd probably have made a guess that they were an angry german band.

but ... they're not!  and they're awesome.  they showed me something so cool today.

in ezekiel 44, God gives ezekiel a vision of the temple - how it should be.  the israelites had turned away from God and were worshiping idols and false gods.  even the priest-family, the levites, had taken up this practice, and made offerings to the gods of child sacrifice and prostitution and others.

all except the sons of zadok.

so in God's revelation of the temple-to-be, he honoured the sons of zadok with the best priestly role ... they were the only ones allowed close to him. 

and he told ezekiel what their payment would be.  'this shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in israel: I am their possession.' (44:28).

which could seem like a lacklustre reward to someone who doesn't know Him.  (really?  no house?  no gold?  no lands?  no prestige? don't they deserve more?  they were the only faithful ones!)

but ...

they got to be in God's presence.  what's that like?

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

(psalm 16:11)

life.  joy.  pleasure.  none of the ugliness and stress that comes from maintaining land, hoarding gold, living up to a certain level of prestige.  no struggling with the temptation to worship oneself or put me first ...

dwelling in God's presence is as close as we get to eden - where his presence walked with adam and eve.  his presence makes his enemies fall, but graces his followers with strength and joy.  his presence is our delight, our daily hope and most ardent longing.

oh sons of zadok, you blessed servants.  you knew the value of remaining faithful, and the reward that waits!