Ezekiel 42:1-20

There is a time and a place for everything.  The description of the temple given Ezekiel illustrates this truth.  Ezekiel describes the inner court with the chambers for the priests as well as the outer court that separates the temple area from the general public.  There are many questions that arise about this temple that is being described.  It seems to be a description of the millennial temple that is still yet to come.  However, it seems strange that there would be sacrifices offered in a temple after the first coming and the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Perhaps these sacrifices are offered as memorials and serve to remind the people who will be living in a very righteous society that that the wages of sin is death.  These things will be made much clearer when we arrive at that place and time.

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE INNER CHAMPERS: Ezekiel describes once again the three story chambers that are in the inner portion of the temple.  He then moves to the back of those chambers to the area of the priest’s chambers where they would eat their portion of the sacrifices and put on and off their sacred clothing.  There is a place designated for this activity and a separation created for this purpose.  The priests have a sacred duty to perform as they minister before the Lord.  The Lord will make provision for this ministry just as He makes provision for all that He asks men to do.


THE DIVISION OF THE OUTER COURT: The outer court is the wall around the temple area which measures 500 cubits on each side.  The purpose of this outer wall will be to create a division between the area that is dedicated to formal worship and the normal activities of day to day life.  There is a sense in which there is no distinction between the secular and the sacred.  However, there is another sense in which there are places and times set apart for formal worship.  Reverence is quickly becoming a lost part of our culture as we seem to place a high value on everything casual.  I believe we need to find a proper balance on these issues as we strive to live in light of the fact that there is a time and a place for everything. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more