Ezekiel: For His Gloryഉദാഹരണം

In today’s chapter, Ezekiel returns to where he began the tour to consider the function of the temple complex (vv. 15–20). But before that, he views the priest’s chambers (vv. 1–14). 

As Ezekiel leaves the temple building he is shown the chambers. These three-level buildings are on the north and south of the inner court complex. They function as a boundary area, reserved for activities that need to be contained for the sake of holiness. Holy offerings are to be placed and consumed in the rooms (v. 13). Eating offerings met the physical needs of the priests because they owned no land to produce crops (44:28–30). Priests are to leave their sacred clothes in these rooms so that they do not bring the holy items into contact with the profane in the outer court (v. 14). 

Ezekiel then returns to the eastern gate of the outer wall, where he began the tour (vv. 15–20; cf. 40:6). The overall dimensions of the temple are a perfect square (250m x 250m). The ideal length and shape hints at a greater level of holiness than the tabernacle, in which only the Most Holy Place was square-shaped. The overall size of the temple compound is also much larger than Solomon’s temple. 

It is unlikely that the temple was meant to be rebuilt according to the description in Ezekiel 40–42. Indeed, those who returned to the land after the exile didn’t build according to Ezekiel’s vision. Nonetheless, since the temple was central to Israelite identity, it would have been a great comfort and encouragement for them to know that God would still be with them and that He would safeguard holiness in the future.

Reflection

The temple foreshadows Jesus, who is God’s temple in a person (John 2:18– 22). Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit so that we are temples individually and as a church (e.g. 1 Cor. 6:19–20; Eph. 2:19–22). Praise God for His presence dwelling in each of us! And we live with the hope of a square-shaped heavenly Jerusalem (Rev. 21:16), where there will be no need for a temple because God and the Lamb will dwell with us directly (Rev. 21:22).