Ezekiel: For His Gloryഉദാഹരണം

Today we find descriptions and measurements of the temple itself. It would have been the exciting climax for at least one person. 

Ezekiel’s vision continues with a description of the temple building (vv. 1–4, 13–15). It is detailed with precise measurements. Like Moses’ tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, the building is divided into two main rooms: the outer sanctuary and the Most Holy Place. An increasing holiness is represented by the decreasing size of the entrances: 7m (main entrance; 40:48) to 5m (larger sanctuary; 41:2) to 3m (entrance to Most Holy Place; 41:3). 

The temple building is paneled with wood and decorated with palm trees and cherubim (vv. 16–20). Once again there are similarities with Solomon’s temple, but it is simpler in decoration. The only furniture in the outer sanctuary is a wooden altar (v. 22) for the Zadokite priests to minister before God (44:16). 

Around the temple building are ninety rooms, thirty on each level (vv. 5–12). Behind the temple to the west are a restricted area and a building (vv. 10, 12). Perhaps this is to protect from a rear approach to the temple. 

The highlight is when the guide shows Ezekiel the Most Holy Place. The prophet doesn’t actually enter it (v. 4). Nonetheless, can you imagine how exciting it would have been for Ezekiel? He had been groomed all his life to be a priest, then whisked away to Babylon before he began his ministry. Without a temple, he couldn’t function as a priest, and indeed he was called to be a prophet. But here he gets to peek inside the Most Holy Place, the place where only the high priest could enter. But someone is missing here. God is not present ... yet.

Reflection

The temple is holiness embodied in a physical structure. Amazingly holiness would be embodied in a person. No one has ever seen God, but Jesus Christ has made Him known in all His glory, all His splendor, and all His holiness (John 1:14–18). Jesus says, ‘The one who has seen me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9).