Ezekiel 43:1-27
Friday, 11 June 2021
“The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” -Ezekiel 43:5
Ezekiel, a priest and prophet ministers during the darkest days of Judah's history: the seventy-year period of Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel uses prophecies, parables, signs and symbols to dramatize God's message to His exiled people (Introduction to book of Ezekiel-NKJV). In the previous chapters we see how God showed to the prophet the destruction of the holy place of His dwelling due to their abominations and sins. Later God shows him the restoration of Israel. The dry bones are gathered into an army of God and shows the rebuilding of His sanctuary among His people. In today's text, we read how His glory comes into this new temple and inhabits there—a place of His eternal presence among His people (Ezekiel 43:7).
A Temple Without God's Presence Is Of No Value
Up to this chapter we see the temple being built and established, but here we see it is being consecrated with His divine presence. God's glory enters the Temple from the east and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And he goes on to explain the ways to consecrate the temple and the various offerings required in the sanctuary.
Temple Of God Through Ages
Initially in the days of Moses, the Tabernacle was established in the wilderness journey and consecrated (Exodus 40: 34-35). Later after the occupancy of the promised land of Canaan, King Solomon built the first temple and consecrated it (1Kings 8:10-11; 2Chron.5:13-14; 2Chron. 7:1-3). This was destroyed by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. After 70 years of the Babylonian captivity, the temple was re-built through the efforts of Ezra, Joshua & Zerubbabel during the times of Haggai and Zechariah the prophets. During the time of Jesus even though this temple was there in Jerusalem, but the real presence of God tabernacled in Jesus Christ Himself. “And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.”(John 1:4) This is made more evident by Jesus speaking to the leaders of the Jerusalem temple: “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” (John 2:19-21) Now in the church age we, God’s children are His temple. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1Cor. 3:16) “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,” (1Cor. 6:19)
Significance of our existence: We need to really understand the significance of our present existence on this earth as His temple, which is consecrated to God through the blood of Jesus Christ, to carry His glory into all the nations. The divine rule of the Temple is: “This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.” (Ezekiel 43:12)
Prayer: Dear Father, help me to keep this Temple of Yours, holy and consecrated to carry Your divine glory around in this world, wherever You place me. In Jesus name, Amen.