Ezekiel's Vision of the Messianic Temple
David The Messianic Prince (Ezekiel 44:3)
Dr Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl
The Prince Offers Sin Offerings for Himself
The Messianic Prince here will be called 'David'. You will see in the last four chapters of Ezekiel that there are OBVIOUS reasons why this "Prince" is not a reference for any Person called Jesus.. For starters, this "Prince" will be making sin offerings for himself in (Ezekiel 45:22), and he'll be married and have many sons (Psalms 45).
No Proof That the Messiah Will Be Sinless
If the “Prince” were the person called Jesus, then the Messianic Prince would need NO cleansing from sin, for we've been told that the man called Jesus was sinless. But, there's no evidence to prove the Prince is sinless or that he'd have God as his literal father.
The Prince Will Have Many Sons
Then, in Ezekiel 46:16, we see that the Prince will have many "sons" to whom the Prince may pass on an inheritance. This is also mentioned in the Psalms (Psalms 45:1-18).
Who is the Prince?
"So, who's the Prince?". Ezekiel tells us earlier that it will be a person called 'David'. (See Ezekiel 34:23-24, and then Ezekiel 37:24-25), there he is again 'David'.
The Coming Messianic King David
You'll see in the following chapters that this Prince is entirely human, he is called 'David'.
There are many scholars hold to the notion that the mention of David as a Messianic leader is actually a reference to a descendant of 'David', which these texts highlight.
Apparently Ezekiel's prophecy envisioned a descendant of 'David' as a civil leader under the authority of God.
Most commentators gloss over the clear references to 'David', and these issues that are raised here regarding the "Prince" and pay the subject little attention.
Consider the following passages of scripture describing the rule of the Prince called 'David' during the Messianic Reign:
(Hosea 3:5)
Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Yahweh their God, and 'David' their King; and shall fear Yahweh and his goodness in the latter days.
(Jeremiah 30:9)
They shall serve Yahweh their God, and 'David' their King, whom I will RAISE UP unto them.
(Ezekiel 34:23-24)
And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant 'David'; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I Yahweh will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I Yahweh have spoken it.
(Ezekiel 37:24-25)
And 'David' my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant 'David' shall be their PRINCE FOREVER.
(Ezekiel 44:3)
He'll eat bread before face of God in the Messianic Temple.
Dr Paul MacDonald RN MA Dipl ©
Israel Institute of Biblical Studies
