Ezekiel: For His GlorySample

We may find the first few chapters of Ezekiel’s final vision (chapters 40–48) a little mind-numbing. Yet we can learn about God’s holiness even in the plan of the temple. 

It was the twenty-fifth year of the exile (v. 1). Twenty-five years is half a jubilee, and the beginning of the year also signified a special time of hope of liberation. The number twenty-five is emphasized in the rest of the chapter also in the measurements (vv. 13, 21, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36). This square number and the square measurements in the temple point to symmetry, an idealized geometry. The ideal nature of the vision is also underscored by the description of the city of Jerusalem atop a ‘very high mountain’ (v. 2). 

Ezekiel’s supernatural guide begins the tour at the outer wall. The wall is thick as well as high. On each of the east, north, and south sides the walls have massive gates with gatehouses (vv. 6–16, 20–23, 24–27). The wall and gates separate the holy (within the temple area) from the common (cf. 42:20). 

Within the temple compound, there are also graded areas of holiness. Just inside the outer wall is the outer court (vv. 17–19). Its increased holiness is indicated by it being seven steps higher than the ground outside (vv. 22, 26). The breadth of the outer court (50m; v. 19) provides a buffer zone around the holier area of the inner court and temple. 

The inner court is yet another step up in holiness. Three gates allow access into the inner court (vv. 28–37), and at each gate, it takes eight steps up to reach it from the outer court (vv. 31, 34, 38). There are rooms and facilities for priests to wash and slaughter sacrifices (vv. 38–47). There are also chambers for Zadokites, those exclusively involved in serving God (vv. 44–47). Reaching the vestibule of the temple requires ascending another ten steps (v. 49).

Reflection

The design of the temple compound portrayed the idea of increased holiness and restricted access the closer one moved to the temple itself at the center. Through Christ we now have unrestricted access to God, so let us draw near to Him "with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:19–22).