Passage Read: Ezekiel 44-47
Meditation Verses: 44:15-16
Thought
The Levites failed in their duties, helping the people worship idols. They were not to take the role of the priest on themselves, but like Jonathan the grandson of Moses, some or many found they could advance to the role of priest with idols or foreign gods. Instead of being just a servant or helper, they could be the head guy. That temptation proved too much for too many of them. But with all this compromise and idol worship going on around them, the sons of Zadok held fast to the Lord. While everyone else was compromising or outright rejecting the Lord, they kept charge of God's house as best they could. They clearly weren't able to keep the storerooms clear of idol worship, but they were apparently able to keep the sanctuary itself clear of abominations. Because of that, they are rewarded with retaining the office of priest in this age, which most likely is the reign of Christ over all the earth.
Application
The sons of Zadok show that it is possible to hold fast to the Lord and remain faithful to His ways and decrees, even while everyone else in and adjacent to your holy profession is abandoning the Lord. The social and "professional" pressure must have been great, with coworkers all around them turning away after the accolades and probably financial rewards of giving in to the desires of the people. But they held fast, and the Lord remembers and rewards. If they could resist by their own determination, then I can resist better with the help of God's Spirit. Though all the world and every preacher and teacher turns away from the truth, I still can and must hold fast to the things of God's Word. As we say, the Scriptures are God's standard for life and godliness, not the "professionals" and "experts." The Scriptures were written to common folk, for them to understand and follow. I don't need degrees and the approval of doctors to understand what God has called me to be and do. I just need to trust His Word, perhaps even in opposition to what the "experts" teach.