Sons of Zadok

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And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office

Exodus 28:1 KJV

And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the Lord to minister unto him.

Ezekiel 40:46 KJV

A Levite, as per the law, Zadok was a priest during the reign of King David. His office was marked by loyalty, consecration and righteousness. In fact, translated from the original Hebrew, the name means ‘righteous.’ The priests were God’s spokesmen, His voice; just like Aaron was for his brother Moses. They had charge of the altar and were to come near to the lord to minister unto Him. From the beginning, God desired a priesthood who would minister to Him.

Unfortunately, whenever there was a spiritual depression in the Kingdom, there was always a comparable decline in the priesthood. It is just such a decline that the Lord addresses in the book of Ezekiel, Chapter 44:

And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.

Ezekiel 44:6-7 KJV

Israel’s rebellion was manifest by the fact that strangers and the uncircumcised in heart and flesh were in the sanctuary, and obviously comfortable there. Their unbelief was polluting the house of God. Today, we have its equal: when we preach a watered-down gospel that is no good news at all; when real preaching is replaced by eloquent excellence of speech; and when prophets of God are replaced by motivational speakers. We brag on our numbers and budgetary prowess and celebrate ‘success/adequate numbers’ to the point where the means justifies the ends. Until the house of God is no longer a place of prayer and discipleship but a conglomerate of classrooms, entertainment and activity.

In America today, we have its equal:

• We preach a watered-down gospel that is no good news at all

• Real preaching is replaced by eloquent excellence of speech

• Prophets of God are replaced by motivational speakers

• We brag on our numbers and budgetary prowess

• Celebrate ‘success’ to the point where the means ‘marketing the gospel’ justifies the ends ‘adequate numbers’

We have come to a point where the house of God is no longer a place of prayer and discipleship but a conglomerate of classrooms, entertainment and activity. For when checking off numbers of converted souls becomes the focus and not ministering to Him, then our congregations become infiltrated by the religious lost. Many church members of today have become at best - seekers and at worst - individuals uplifted by a message, but not disciples for Christ. In this day of megachurches and multiple services it is easy for individuals to be lost in the crowd, and carried on by liturgy and teachings, while never embracing the surrender to Christ that leads to salvation.

What of the ministers? Those who stand before these crowds promising a happy life now, and a ticket to heaven after living for yourself and asking God to bless it all? What a shock when these ostensible believers awake to hellfire instead of hallelujahs! I fear that these ministers will hear the words the Lord commanded Ezekiel to speak:

Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

Ezekiel 13:22 KJV

It is common today to scoff at ‘fire and brimstone’ preaching; it seems that people prefer a teaching that itches their ears (II Timothy 4:3). Nevertheless, it is still the duty of every worker for Christ to make sure that his hearers sit under the conviction of the Holy Ghost and allow their hearts to be circumcised. A remnant of believers today are made sad by the shallow preaching that they are made to swallow, while the wicked are strengthened by feel-good preaching and promises of life to those who are not truly saved. Thus Ezekiel 13 & 44 are fulfilled.

And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.

Ezekiel 44:8 KJV

True ministry will distinguish the clean from the unclean and includes the responsibility to take charge of the Lord’s holy things. Under the new covenant, the holy things are not the altar of the utensils for its service. The cross, consecration, worship and the Word: these are God’s holy things that we are to keep charge of today.

…ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.

All through the Word, both the Old and New Testaments, God’s men were called by God and God alone. When the focus turns from ministering to the Lord to ministering to the people, a whole tier of ecclesiastical appointments and management suddenly becomes necessary.

Suddenly, we need Senior Pastors, Junior Pastors, Family Pastors, Teen Pastors, Children’s Pastors, Worship Pastors, Single’s Pastors and Parking Lot Pastors. One wonders if the words from Jeremiah are fitting here:

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jeremiah 12:10 KJV

Could it be that the humanism of the world has infiltrated the church to such an extent that we now place man above God Himself? Has the church fallen into idolatry, worshiping the creature more than the creator?

And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

Ezekiel 44:10 KJV

In addressing their rebellion, here and in the following verses, the Lord’s response is altogether surprising and sobering.

Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.

Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear their iniquity.

And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.

But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.

Ezekiel 44:11-14 KJV

The Lord states that surely they will bear their iniquity. Yet He does not remove them from their office. “Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary…And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me…” The Lord’s judgment is to allow them to remain as priests and to continue ministering to His house and unto the people. Since the outer house is what they focused on, they would still minister unto it: watching over its budgets and programs. They would continue to hold their titles, maintain their positions, perform duties and minister unto the people, yet they would not minister unto the Lord.

In our day, when ministry is magnified the way that it is: helping people feel better about themselves is the watchword. Christianity is presented more as a lifestyle than life itself. It may be hard for us to grasp the gravity and severity of this judgment. These men were to be left in a lifeless ministry; no longer ministering unto the Lord Himself, no longer meeting Him in sweet communion, or desiring to know His heart and ministering to His needs. Theirs was to be a ministry of ministering to people and not unto the Lord. But it was not so with the sons of Zadok:

But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God: They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.

Ezekiel 44:15-16 KJV

These sons of Zadok remained faithful through all of Israel’s compromise. Their focus had remained true - to minister unto the Lord and to watch over the holy things. They knew His house was to be a spiritual building made up of true believers. They shunned the shallow and turned from the short cuts. They were rewarded with God’s invitation: “they shall come near to me to minister unto me.” While the worldly-minded priests approach the people and minister to them, these brothers are approaching God’s throne and ministering unto Him. “They shall stand before me to offer unto the fat and the blood.” While others seek the crowds and affirmations of success, these men are rewarded with the audience of God; offering the fat, which represents the blessing and the blood, the sacrifice of God.

“They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me.” While compromising congregations enjoy their entertaining services in the outer courts, sons of Zadok are entering into the holy of holies and coming near to the table of the Lord. It is one thing to serve at the table, to value service above communion and to constantly be on the go for the Lord. It is quite another, to sit at the table of the Lord and sup with Him as the apostles did at the first supper. Perhaps to have the privilege to lay our head upon His breast as did the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 12:33). This is the epicenter of all true service for the Lord - communion with Him. For then, and only then, can come communication to His people.

What an alarm and marvel it would be, if the next time American preachers took to the pulpits they began their sermons by announcing to all that this was not about them, that their needs/wants/dreams all paled in the light of the divine desires of God. Would that mean that the people are worthless and unimportant? On the contrary! Our worth was valued by the blood of Jesus and our importance sealed in His predestination. As Christians we need not constantly seek for validation and uplifting of our self esteem, as the world does. The preeminence of Christ and our identification with Him is all the validation we need. Sadly, much of modern Christianity has not embraced this truth, hence much pulpit time is spent reassuring pew-warmers of their significance instead of proclaiming the great and glorious significance and esteem of Christ. Into which, all things past, present and future will flow.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MINISTER TO HIM?

Every true believer desires to serve the Lord, however service must not be elevated above communion with the Lord. Service has its place and should always flow from the place of relationship.

Moses was called from the backside of the wilderness where I am sure he spent many hours in communion with the Lord. David’s songs sing, less of his great exploits for God, but more of his love for and relationship with Him. Paul was fasting and praying with the brothers in Antioch when the Holy Spirit broke in and said “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2). These men were not seeking out ministry; they were seeking Him.

Joshua ministered unto Moses and when Paul traveled, he had brothers with him who ministered unto him. These men helped Moses and Paul accomplish what the Lord had called them to do, anticipating their needs. In the same way, we are to minister unto the Lord, not setting any agenda fueled by our own ambitions. We are to approach the Lord in the worshipful anticipation that He will reveal His heart unto us, so that we can assist and bring about His purposes in the earth.

In today’s spiritual economy, when we speak of a minister, we often envision someone who performs marriage ceremonies, lies at funerals and tries to life-coach people into a more successful lifestyle. Nothing could be further from the true definition. Indeed, God’s people will be spoken to, His sheep will be fed and cared for, but with His divine design in view. Paul spoke of His ministering unto the church in terms of laboring, as in childbirth, until Christ was formed in the Galatians. When our heart is surrendered to Jesus and therefore we walk in a continual communion with Him, we will minister to the Body of Christ as a natural outflow of that relationship; as such, in ministering to His Body, we are ministering to Him. Then there is not a distinction between ministering directly to the Lord and ministering to His Body, for they are one and the same. There can be no room for ambition, just simple servanthood unto the Lord.

The only ambition the Christian should have is to have no ambition other than knowing Christ. This is why there is so much striving in human effort associated with ministry, and therefore many who are ‘burnt-out.’ When our ministry is not based on communion with the Lord, we run dry and we wear ourselves out trying to pump from our own wells.

And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

Ezekiel 44:17 KJV

The sons of Zadok were instructed to put off their own garments and to be clothed in linen garments. For woolen garments cause sweat and there was to be no sweat brought into the sanctuary of the Lord. Their ministry was to be marked not by what they could achieve but by what God could do. When we find ourselves struggling and striving, when the pressure from ministry is distancing families and straining marriages, then a different kind of ministry has come in. They were instructed to not go near any dead bodies: life was to mark their whole ministry. Rules, regulations and religious rituals would not guide these men, but it would be life and Life itself that would guide them. They were instructed to drink no wine when they entered into the inner court, for worldly ways would not do for these men. They would not drink from the wine of the PR men, promotional strategies or entertainment incentives; theirs was an inner court ministry.

And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

Ezekiel 44:28 KJV

These men were not allotted an inheritance, for Christ Himself was their inheritance. That is not to say that these men walked in feigned poverty. God made provision for His priests in the law. A portion of the sacrifices was theirs and the tithe helped support them; they looked for no inheritance on this earth, for He was their inheritance. Ministering unto Him was not a profession, it was a passion, a privilege and their very purpose. In light of the sons of Zadok, how conflicting our millionaire preachers are today!

And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

Ezekiel 44:23 KJV

When ministers walk in this Zadok path, they then teach the people the difference between the unholy and the holy. They have discernment and cause those they minister unto to discern between what is clean and what is unclean. How we need this Zadok priesthood today. Today, we cannot tell the difference between: what is pure and what is not pure; what is worldly and godly. We often interpret talent, charisma and personality as anointing, failing to differentiate between unction and sanctimonious effort.

When the Lord first appointed Aaron and his sons to be priests, His intentions were for that Levitical priesthood to be carried out His way and with His heart. Even though Israel’s history is marked again and again by a decline in the priesthood, there has always remained this remnant - the Zadoks. As believers, we are all priests unto the Lord. You and I can choose to run with the compromised crowd and settle for ministerial success or we can choose the Zadok path. Lord, may their numbers increase!

Brothers and sisters, let us lay aside our concepts of ministry, our ambitions, all our dreams and let us minister to Jesus. Let us focus on His needs and desires and we will find a rest and a ministry flowing from us to others, that will be marked by grace and power. As you minister from that place you will find an ever-present current of His life sustaining you. Dear God, grant us grace, humility and the Zadok lineage. Amen.