The Glory Returns To The Temple. The Altar. Ezekiel 43:1-27

Transcription

1 1 The Glory Returns To The Temple The Altar Ezekiel 43:1-27

2 2 The Glory Returns To The Temple The Altar Text: Ezekiel 43:1-27, 1. Then he brought me to the gate that faced toward the east. 2. I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east; the sound was like that of rushing water; and the earth radiated his glory. 3. It was like the vision I saw when he came to destroy the city, and the vision I saw by the Kebar River. I threw myself face down. 4. The glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate that faces east. 5. Then a wind lifted me up and brought me to the inner court; I watched the glory of the Lord filling the temple. 6. I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man was standing beside me. 7. He said to me: Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer profane my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their spiritual prostitution or by the pillars of their kings set up when they die. 8. When they placed their threshold by my threshold and their doorpost by my doorpost, with only the wall between me and them, they profaned my holy name by the abominable deeds they committed. So I consumed them in my anger. 9. Now they must put away their spiritual prostitution and the pillars of their kings far from me, and then I will live among them forever.

3 3 10. As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins and measure the pattern. 11. When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its entire design and all its statutes and do them. 12. This is the law of the temple: The entire area on top of the mountain all around will be most holy. Indeed, this is the law of the temple. 13. And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1¾ feet high, and 1¾ feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. This is to be the height of the altar. 14. From the base of the ground to the lower edge is 3½ feet, and the width 1¾ feet; and from the smaller ledge to the larger edge, 7 feet, and the width 1¾ feet; 15. and the altar hearth, 7 feet, and from the altar hearth four horns projecting upward. 16. Now the altar hearth is a perfect square, 21 feet long and 21 feet wide. 17. The ledge is 24½ feet long and 24½ feet wide on four sides; the border around it is 10½ inches, and its surrounding base 1¾ feet. Its steps face east. 18. Then he said to me: Son of man, this is what the sovereign Lord says: These are the statutes of the altar: On the day it is built to offer up burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it, 19. you will give a young bull for a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are descended from Zadok, who approach me to minister to me, declares the sovereign Lord. 20. You will take some of its blood, and place it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around; you will cleanse it and make atonement for it. 21. You will also take the bull for the sin offering, and it will be burned in the appointed place in the temple, outside the sanctuary.

4 4 22. On the second day, you will offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they purified it with the bull. 23. When you have finished purifying it, you will offer an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock. 24. You will present them before the Lord, and the priests will scatter salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. 25. For seven days you will provide every day a goat for a sin offering; a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish, will be provided. 26. For seven days they will make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, so they will consecrate it. 27. When the prescribed period is over, on the eighth day and thereafter the priests will offer up on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; I will accept you, declares the sovereign Lord. (NET) Introduction: I. Coffman summarized this chapter as follows: A. God s glory returns to the Temple (43:1-6). B. God s glory had left the Temple because of the sinfulness of the people and the priests. C. God s glory would dwell in the Temple forever provided Israel remained faithful to him. (43:7-12). D. The altar is described in detail (43:13-17). E. Details are given regarding sacrificial animals and protocol to be followed (43:18-27).

5 5 II. The Pulpit Commentary describes the contents of this chapter as follows:... A. the consecration of the new temple by the entrance of the glory of the God of Israel into it (verses 1-12), and... B. a description of the altar with its dedication to the solemn ritual for which it was in the future to be employed (verses 13-27). Commentary: The Glory Returns to the Temple The Altar Ezekiel 43:1, Then he brought me to the gate that faced toward the east. (NET) I. Then the man brought me to the gate facing east,... A. After having toured the wall surrounding the Temple, the man, divine guide, brought Ezekiel back to the gate facing east. (See Fredenburg.) 1. Ezekiel 42:15-20, Now when he had finished measuring the interior of the temple, he led me out by the gate which faces east and measured all around. He measured the east side with the measuring stick as 875 feet by the measuring stick. He measured the north side as 875 feet by the measuring stick. He measured the south side as 875 feet by the measuring stick. He turned to the west side and measured 875 feet by the measuring stick. He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall around it, 875 feet long and 875 feet wide, to separate the holy and common places. (NET)

6 6 2. The Temple has been shown to be suitable for God s habitation. (See Fredenburg.) a. 1 Kings 8:10-11, Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord s temple. The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord s glory filled his temple. (NET) b. Ezekiel 40:34-35, Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps. Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others (NET) 3. Fredenburg reminded us that Yahweh s glory had departed Solomon s Temple through the east gate. a. Ezekiel 11:22-23, Then the cherubim spread their wings with their wheels alongside them while the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. The glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped over the mountain east of it. (NET) b. Ezekiel 10:18-19, Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (NET) 4. The Pulpit Commentary states, The prophet s guide conducted Ezekiel back to the gate leading into the outer

7 7 court from the east perhaps because this was the principal entrance to the sanctuary, but chiefly because through it God s glory was to pass. Ezekiel 43:2, I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east; the sound was like that of rushing water; and the earth radiated his glory. (NET) I. And I saw the glory (shekinah) of the God of Israel coming from the east. A. The descriptions and meticulous measuring show that this temple is perfectly suitable for its divine occupant whose glory now approaches from the east. (See Hamilton.) B. Ezekiel was privileged to witness the divine glory coming from the east to occupy the Temple which he had just toured, Smith wrote. 1. Ezekiel 1:28, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 3:23, So I got up and went out to the valley, and the glory of the Lord was standing there, just like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I threw myself face down. (NET) C. Yahweh returned from the direction in which he had earlier departed, Fredenburg wrote. 1. Ezekiel 11:22-23, Then the cherubim spread their wings with their wheels alongside them while the glory of

8 8 the God of Israel hovered above them. 23 The glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped over the mountain east of it. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 10:19, The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. (NET) II. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. A. Yahweh s presence causes the land itself to radiate his holiness, Fredenburg wrote. 1. Ezekiel 1:4, 13, As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. (NET) 2. Isaiah 6:3, They called out to one another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth! (NET) 3. Revelation 18:1, After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance. (NET) 4. Exodus 40:34-35, Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

9 9 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (NET) 5. 1 Kings 8:10-11, Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord s temple. 11 The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord s glory filled his temple. (NET) 6. Ezekiel 10:3-4, (The cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) 4 Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord s glory. (NET) 7. Isaiah 55:1, Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! (NET) B. The voice which proceeded from the theophany and resembled the noise of many waters is thought to have been the sound produced by the motion of the wheels and the rustling of the wings of the cherubim, but is better taken to signify the voice of the Almighty himself. 1. Ezekiel 1:2, 4, (On the fifth day of the month it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin s exile As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. (NET)

10 10 2. Ezekiel 10:5, The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the sovereign God when he speaks. (NET) 3. Revelation 1:15, His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. (NET) Ezekiel 43:3, It was like the vision I saw when he came to destroy the city, and the vision I saw by the Kebar River. I threw myself face down. (NET) I. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and... A. Related Scriptures: 1. Ezekiel 4:2, Lay siege to it! Build siege works against it. Erect a siege ramp against it! Post soldiers outside it and station battering rams around it. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 32:18, Son of man, wail over the horde of Egypt. Bring it down; bring her and the daughters of powerful nations down to the lower parts of the earth, along with those who descend to the Pit. (NET) 3. Jeremiah 1:10, Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted. (NET) II. like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and... A. Related references:

11 11 1. Ezekiel 1:1-28, In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision. (On the fifth day of the month it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin s exile the word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the Lord came on him there). As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form, but each had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead. Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and also the face of an eagle. Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. Each moved straight ahead wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings. The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike.

12 12 Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around. When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. When the living beings moved, the wheels moved, and when they stopped moving, the wheels stopped. When they rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up from the ground; the wheels rose up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads. Under the platform their wings were stretched out, each toward the other. Each of the beings also had two wings covering its body. When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings it was like the sound of rushing waters, or the voice of the Almighty, or the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still. Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man. I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking. (NET)

13 13 2. Ezekiel 10:1-22, As I watched, I saw on the platform above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. The Lord said to the man dressed in linen, Go between the wheelwork underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city. He went as I watched. (The cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord s glory. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the sovereign God when he speaks. When the Lord commanded the man dressed in linen, Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim, the man went in and stood by one of the wheels. Then one of the cherubim stretched out his hand toward the fire which was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. (The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.) As I watched, I noticed four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; the wheels gleamed like jasper. As for their appearance, all four of them looked the same, something like a wheel within a wheel. When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow without turning as they moved, along with their entire bodies, their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around. As for their wheels, they were called the wheelwork as I listened. Each of the cherubim had four faces: The first was the face of a cherub, the second

14 14 that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle. The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings I saw at the Kebar River. When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not move from their side. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings. As for the form of their faces, they were the faces whose appearance I had seen at the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead. (NET) 3. Ezekiel 7:1-27, The word of the Lord came to me: You, son of man this is what the sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will release my anger against you; I will judge you according to your behavior, I will hold you accountable for all your abominable practices. My eye will not pity you; I will not spare you. For I will hold you responsible for your behavior, and you will suffer the consequences of your abominable practices. Then you will know that I am the Lord! This is what the sovereign Lord says: A disaster a one-of-a-kind disaster is coming! An end comes the

15 15 end comes! It has awakened against you the end is upon you! Look, it is coming! Doom is coming upon you who live in the land! The time is coming, the day is near. There are sounds of tumult, not shouts of joy, on the mountains. Soon now I will pour out my rage on you; I will fully vent my anger against you. I will judge you according to your behavior. I will hold you accountable for all your abominable practices. My eye will not pity you; I will not spare you. For your behavior I will hold you accountable, and you will suffer the consequences of your abominable practices. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, who is striking you. Look, the day! Look, it is coming! Doom has gone out! The staff has budded, pride has blossomed! Violence has grown into a staff that supports wickedness. Not one of them will be left not from their crowd, not from their wealth, not from their prominence. The time has come; the day has struck! The customer should not rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for divine wrath comes against their whole crowd. The customer will no longer pay the seller while both parties are alive, for the vision against their whole crowd will not be revoked. Each person, for his iniquity, will fail to preserve his life. They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd. The sword is outside; pestilence and famine are inside the house. Whoever is in the open field will die by the sword, and famine and pestilence will consume everyone in the city. Their survivors will escape to the mountains and become like doves of the valleys; all of them will moan each one for his iniquity. All of their hands will hang limp; their knees will be wet with urine. They will wear sackcloth, terror will cover them; shame will be on all their faces, and all of their heads will be shaved bald. They will discard their silver in the streets, and their gold will be treated like

16 16 III. I fell facedown. filth. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord s fury. They will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs because their wealth was the obstacle leading to their iniquity. They rendered the beauty of his ornaments into pride, and with it they made their abominable images their detestable idols. Therefore I will render it filthy to them. I will give it to foreigners as loot, to the world s wicked ones as plunder, and they will desecrate it. I will turn my face away from them and they will desecrate my treasured place. Vandals will enter it and desecrate it. (Make the chain, because the land is full of murder and the city is full of violence.) I will bring the most wicked of the nations and they will take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the arrogance of the strong, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. Terror is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. Disaster after disaster will come, and one rumor after another. They will seek a vision from a prophet; priestly instruction will disappear, along with counsel from the elders. The king will mourn and the prince will be clothed with shuddering; the hands of the people of the land will tremble. Based on their behavior I will deal with them, and by their standard of justice I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the Lord! (NET) A. In awe and wonder, Ezekiel fell facedown before the Lord! B. The God of justice and judgment who overturned and overthrew evil and sinful Israel will be the God of grace and mercy if Israel will but serve him faithfully. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

17 17 Ezekiel 43:4, The glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate that faces east. (NET) I. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. A. Related references: 1. Exodus 40:34-35, Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (NET) 2. 1 Kings 8:10-11, Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the Lord s temple. 11 The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the Lord s glory filled his temple. (NET) Ezekiel 43:5, Then a wind lifted me up and brought me to the inner court; I watched the glory of the Lord filling the temple. (NET) I. Then the Spirit (wind, NET Bible) lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. A. Ezekiel was lifted up by the Spirit which brought him into the inner court. 1. Ezekiel 2:2, As he spoke to me, a wind came into me and stood me on my feet, and I heard the one speaking to me. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 3:14, 24, A wind lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly, my spirit full of fury, and the hand of the LORD rested powerfully on me. Then a wind came

18 18 into me and stood me on my feet. The Lord spoke to me and said, Go shut yourself in your house. (NET) 3. Ezekiel 8:3, He stretched out the form of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a wind lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by means of divine visions, to the door of the inner gate which faces north where the statue which provokes to jealousy was located. (NET) B. The glory of the Lord completely filled the Temple! Yahweh had returned and would in due time welcome his people home. C. It is the duty of all Christians by word and deed to bring the glory of God to every living soul everywhere on earth. Ezekiel 43:6, I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man was standing beside me. (NET) I. While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple. A. This someone was Yahweh himself speaking directly to Ezekiel. (See Fredenburg.) 1. Yahweh will tell Ezekiel what he is to relate to Israel. Ezekiel 43:7, He said to me: Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer profane my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their spiritual prostitution or by the pillars of their kings set up when they die. (NET)

19 19 I. He said: Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. A. First, Yahweh declared that the Temple would become the place of his throne and the place for the soles of his feet. (See Smith.) 1. First, God is saying he is the potentate over his temple and the people around it. (See Fredenburg.) 2. Clarke wrote that the throne refers to God s majesty and the soles of his feet to God s condescension in dwelling among men. a. 1 Chronicles 28:2, King David rose to his feet and said: Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the Lord s covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God. I have made the preparations for building it. (NET) b. Psalm 99:5, Praise the Lord our God! Worship before his footstool! He is holy! (NET) c. Psalm 132:7, Let us go to his dwelling place! Let us worship before his footstool! (NET) d. Isaiah 9:13, The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the Lord who commands armies. (NET) e. Lamentations 2:1, Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger. (NET)

20 20 II. This is where I will live (dwell) among the Israelites forever. A. It was here that God would live among the Israelites forever. 1. Ezekiel 37:26-28, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel. (NET) B. Second, Yahweh declares the new temple is where he will live among the Israelites forever. (See Fredenburg.) 1. This promise is conditional. a. Ezekiel 33:1, The word of the Lord came to me: (NET) C. In the tabernacle and Solomon s temple, the Lord s presence, dwelling was between the cherubim. 1. Exodus 25:22, will meet with you there, and from above the atonement lid, from between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will command you for the Israelites. (NET) 2. 1 Samuel 4:4, So the army sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits between the cherubim. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (NET)

21 Kings 19:15, Hezekiah prayed before the Lord: Lord God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. (NET) 4. Psalm 80:1, O shepherd of Israel, pay attention, you who lead Joseph like a flock of sheep! You who sit enthroned above the winged angels, reveal your splendor! (NET) 5. Isaiah 37:16, O Lord who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. (NET) III. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name neither they nor their kings by their prostitution and the lifeless idols (pillars, NET Bible) of their kings set up (when they die, NET Bible) at their high places. A. The house of Israel would need to be faithful to God always if they were to have God perpetually dwell among them. IV, Third, Yahweh expects Israel to never again defile his holy name. (See Fredenburg.) A. Israel s past sins fall into two categories; that is, prostitution and idolatry. (See Fredenburg.) Ezekiel 43:8, When they placed their threshold by my threshold and their doorpost by my doorpost, with only the wall between me and them, they profaned my holy name by the abominable deeds they committed. So I consumed them in my anger. (NET)

22 22 I. When they placed their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them,... A. Solomon s palace was next to the Temple and liberties were taken with the temple that were totally out of place. (See Fredenburg.) B. The wicked Israelites in previous times had set their idols by the altar of the Lord in the house of God and the Lord consumed Israel in his anger. II. They defiled my holy name by their detestable practices. So I destroyed them in my anger. A. Because of their detestable practices, Yahweh in his anger destroyed Israel. B. Because of our sins, God will destroy us as well!... except we repent. Ezekiel 43:9, Now they must put away their spiritual prostitution and the pillars of their kings far from me, and then I will live among them forever. (NET) I. Now let them put away from me their (spiritual, NET Bible) prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever. A. It must be clearly understood that God s dwelling in the Temple forever was conditioned upon Israel s faithfully obeying the Lord.

23 23 B. Immorality, idolatry, burying their kings on Mount Zion, erecting idols to foreign gods near and in the temple defiled the temple, palace, capital city and the land. C. Only when the people put away all kinds of defilements would the Lord again dwell among them. 1. Purity of life and heart were required for God to live among them. Ezekiel 43:10, As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins and measure the pattern. (NET) I. Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. A. Hamilton wrote, Ezekiel s audience would have been overwhelmed at the size and detail with which the new temple was constructed. The symmetrical perfection of the structures and Yahweh s meticulous attention to order demonstrate a deep desire to woo the people back. B. Smith wrote, The excitement generated by the promise of a new Temple would kindle spiritual fervor in the hearts of those who received this message. C. Certainly Israel was to be ashamed of the sins that sent them into exile, Fredenburg wrote. D. The way back to God s grace for Israel was to cease their abominable, shameful sins and to walk in God s way. 1. This was true then. It is true now.

24 24 E. God s goodness should certainly make us ashamed of our sins! II. Let them consider the plan (measure the pattern, NET Bible),... A. Ancient Israel was to consider God s plan and decide whether they will accept or reject it. B. We must also consider God s plan for our salvation and decide whether we will accept or reject it. C. God gave us all free wills. Are we going to accept or reject God s plan for us? Ezekiel 43:11, When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its entire design and all its statutes and do them. (NET) I. and if they are ashamed of all they have done,... A. Israel s kings had committed all kinds of abominations in the royal palace which was located immediately adjacent to the old temple. Some cults of the dead had used the graves of kings as shrines. (See Smith.) B. Why would ancient Israel not be ashamed of their horrible sins? Why are people of our time not ashamed of our sins? Why do we try to justify horrendous sins? II. make known to them the design of the temple its arrangement, (statutes, NET Bible) its exits and entrances its whole design and all the regulations and laws.

25 25 A. If Israel repented and were truly ashamed of their sins, Ezekiel should convey to them the whole design of the temple and the commandments and statutes by which they were to worship. (See Smith.) B. The temple at this point had never been used, but was in pristine condition. 1. Israel, upon their repentance, was to center their worship in this temple which would be Yahweh s dwelling place and Israel would be his people. a. Ezekiel 34:25, I will make a covenant of peace with them and will rid the land of wild beasts, so that they can live securely in the wilderness and even sleep in the woods. (NET) b. Ezekiel 37:26, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. (NET) c. Ezekiel 33:1, The word of the Lord came to me: (NET) d. Luke 15:11-24, Then Jesus said, A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me. So he divided his assets between them. After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he

26 26 began to be in need. So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses he said, How many of my father s hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! I will get up and go to my father and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. Then his son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again he was lost and is found! So they began to celebrate. (NET) III. Write these down before (in their sight, NET bible) them so that they may be faithful to its design and follow all its regulations. A. The importance of God s written word is here stressed. 1. Where would we be without the Holy Bible? 2. God s written word permanently recorded and explained the regulations that were to govern the temple services. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

27 27 Ezekiel 43:12, This is the law of the temple: The entire area on top of the mountain all around will be most holy. Indeed, this is the law of the temple. (NET) I. This is the law (Torah) of the temple:... A. The worship and sacrifices that were to be presented before the Lord were to be guided by the regulations, laws of the temple. 1. The new temple was to have a new sacrificial system, administrators, and regulations. a. Hebrews 7:12, For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. (NET) B. God s laws, regulations govern our worship and conduct in the church as well. 1. We are not left to worship as we please. II. All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy. A. Smith wrote, The entire Temple mount was to be a virtual holy of holies consecrated as such by the abiding presence of Yahweh himself. B. Nothing secular was ever again to encroach on the Temple and its purity, holiness. III. Such is the law of the temple. A. These laws were mandatory!

28 28 1. Failure to obey God s laws would again result in God s forsaking the temple, destroying the temple and the rejection of the people. B. Fredenburg wrote, Although several matters change with this new covenant of peace, atoning sacrifice is as much an essential part of this renewed relationship as it was under the Mosaic system. C. These regulations were so important that the first and last sentences of this verse repeat this thought: This is the law of the temple. Such is the law of the temple. 1. Leviticus 6:9, 14, Command Aaron and his sons, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar must be kept burning on it. This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron are to present it before the Lord in front of the altar, (NET) 2. Leviticus 7:1, 37, This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering sacrifice, (NET) 3. Leviticus 11:46, This is the law of the land animals, the birds, all the living creatures that move in the water, and all the creatures that swarm on the land, (NET) 4. Leviticus 12:7, The priest is to present it before the Lord and make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean from her flow of blood. This is the law of the one

29 29 who bears a child, for the male or the female child. (NET) The Altar Ezekiel 43:13, And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1¾ feet high, and 1¾ feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. This is to be the height of the altar. (NET) I. These are the measurements of the altar in long cubits, that cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth:... A. In the absence of the ark of the covenant, the altar was the most important piece of furniture in the Temple, Smith wrote. 1. Jeremiah 3:16, In those days, your population will greatly increase in the land. At that time, says the Lord, people will no longer talk about having the ark that contains the Lord s covenant with us. They will not call it to mind, remember it, or miss it. No, that will not be done any more! (NET) 2. Smith observed that the description of this four-tier altar corresponds closely with the bronze altar of Solomon s Temple. 3. Ezekiel 40:47, He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide; the altar was in front of the temple. (NET) B. Renewal of a relationship between a God and his people demanded blood sacrifices on the main altar. (See Fredenburg.) C. The altar was placed in the inner court immediately in front of the temple. (The Pulpit Commentary)

30 30 1. Ezekiel 40:47, Ezekiel 40:47, He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide; the altar was in front of the temple. (NET) II. Its gutter is a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around the edge. A. Fredenburg wrote, In this new temple, the altar is figuratively and structurally the focal point of the relationship. That is why its dimensions are given first in this new set of instructions. B. And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1 ¾ feet high, and 1 ¾ feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. (NET Bible) II. And this is the height of the altar:... A. Solomon s bronze altar was 34 feet square and 17 feet high. (Fredenburg) 1. Ezekiel 41:4, Then he measured its length as 35 feet, and its width as 35 feet, before the outer sanctuary. He said to me, This is the most holy place. (NET) 2. Ezekiel 4:1, And you, son of man, take a brick and set it in front of you. Inscribe a city on it Jerusalem. (NET) B. This altar described by Ezekiel is apparently comparable in size to Solomon s. Around its hollow center filled with dirt, this altar rose like a square three-tiered cake. Its bottom component was seventeen cubits square, with each side two cubits high and a cubit wide. Around its bottom perimeter was a depressed gutter a cubit deep and a cubit wide, with a rim of one span around the edge. This massive gutter collected the blood of the sacrifices as it

31 31 ran off the altar. On top of this seventeen cubit square bottom layer, was a square fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide, with a rim of half a cubit and gutter of a cubit all around. This layer was four cubits high and a cubit wide. The third, uppermost layer was the twelve cubit square altar hearth. This hearth was four cubits high and a cubit wide. At each corner were four horns that projected upward from the hearth, Fredenburg wrote. 1. The purpose of these horns is not known, but the horns on Solomon s altar and in the tabernacle provided temporary protection for certain persons who grabbed them. (See Fredenburg.) a. Exodus 21:12-14, Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death. 13 But if he does not do it with premeditation, but it happens by accident, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die. (NET) b. 1 Kings 1:50-51, Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Solomon was told, Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword. (NET) c. 1 Kings 2:28-34, When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom), he ran to the tent of the Lord and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar. When King Solomon heard that Joab had run to the tent of the Lord and was right there beside the altar, he

32 32 ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Go, strike him down. When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the Lord, he said to him, The king says, Come out! But he replied, No, I will die here! So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab s reply. The king told him, Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father s family the guilt of Joab s murderous, bloody deeds. May the Lord punish him for the blood he shed; behind my father David s back he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more innocent and morally upright than he Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah s army. May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood, but may the Lord give perpetual peace to David, his descendants, his family, and his dynasty. So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and executed Joab; he was buried at his home in the wilderness. (NET) Ezekiel 43:14, From the base of the ground to the lower edge is 3½ feet, and the width 1¾ feet; and from the smaller ledge to the larger edge, 7 feet, and the width 1¾ feet; (NET) I. From the gutter on the ground up to the lower ledge it is two cubits high and a cubit wide, and from the smaller ledge up to the larger ledge it is four cubits high and a cubit wide. A. From the base on the ground to the lower edge is 3 ½ feet, and the width 1 ¾ feet, and from the smaller ledger to the larger edge, 7 feet, and the width 1 ¾ feet; (NET Bible)

33 33 B. From the undermost gutter to the uppermost gutter were four cubits high and one cubit broad, wide. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) C. From the ground to the lowermost gutter measured two cubits high and one cubit broad, wide. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) D. The altar was tapered. It was broader at the bottom and somewhat narrower at the top. Ezekiel 43:15, and the altar hearth, 7 feet, and from the altar hearth four horns projecting upward. (NET) I. The altar hearth is four cubits high, and four horns project upward for the hearth. A. Isaiah 29:1, Ariel is as good as dead Ariel, the town David besieged! Keep observing your annual rituals, celebrate your festivals on schedule. (NET) B. The altar hearth is 7 feet high. (See NET Bible.) C. The hearth was that part of the altar on which the fire burned; that is the flat surface of the altar. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) D. The height of this base was four cubits. From the altar projected four horns as was true also of the altars of the Mosaic Tabernacle and of Solomon s Temple. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 1. Exodus 27:2, You are to make its four horns on its four corners; its horns will be part of it, and you are to overlay it with bronze. (NET)

34 34 2. Exodus 38:2, He made its horns on its four corners; its horns were part of it, and he overlaid it with bronze. (NET) 3. Leviticus 4:7, 18, The priest must put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the Meeting Tent, and all the rest of the bull s blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. He must put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the Lord in the Meeting Tent, and all the rest of the blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. (NET) 4. Psalm 118:27, The Lord is God and he has delivered us. Tie the offering with ropes to the horns of the altar! (NET) Ezekiel 43:16, Now the altar hearth is a perfect square, 21 feet long and 21 feet wide. (NET) I. The altar hearth is square, twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide. A. The altar, hearth of God, was square, 21 feet long and 21 feet wide. (See NET.) Ezekiel 43:17, The ledge is 24½ feet long and 24½ feet wide on four sides; the border around it is 10½ inches, and its surrounding base 1¾ feet. Its steps face east. (NET) I. The upper ledge also is square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide,...

35 35 A. By means of these ledges the altar was narrowed toward the top. (Clarke) B. Clarke further wrote the altar was ten feet high and twenty feet broad. (Clarke) 1. However, the NET version states the ledge was 24 ½ feet long and 24 ½ feet wide on four sides. 2. This was the same measurements as Solomon s altar. a. 2 Chronicles 4:1, He made a bronze altar, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. (NET) 3. The altar of the tabernacle was smaller as it had to be moved as the people migrated. (See Clarke.) a. Exodus 27:1, You are to make the altar of acacia wood, seven feet six inches long, and seven feet six inches wide; the altar is to be square, and its height is to be four feet six inches. (NET) b. Exodus 30:1, You are to make an altar for burning incense; you are to make it of acacia wood. II. with a rim (border, parapet) of half a cubit and a gutter of a cubit all around. A. The rim (border) around it was 10 ½ inches, and its surrounding base 1 ¾ feet. (NET) III. The steps (stairs) of the altar face east. A. Fredenburg observed that no steps were permitted in approaching the altar in the tabernacle to prevent indecent

36 36 exposure as the priests climbed steps, but wearing undergarments corrected this problem. 1. Exodus 20:26, And you must not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness is not exposed. (NET) 2. Exodus 28:42-43, Make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; they must cover from the waist to the thighs. 43 These must be on Aaron and his sons when they enter to the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they bear no iniquity and die. It is to be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants after him. (NET) 3. Ezekiel 44:18, Linen turbans will be on their heads and linen undergarments will be around their waists; they must not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat. (NET) 4. Exodus 38:1-7, He made the altar for the burnt offering of acacia wood seven feet six inches long and seven feet six inches wide it was square and its height was four feet six inches. He made its horns on its four corners; its horns were part of it, and he overlaid it with bronze. He made all the utensils of the altar the pots, the shovels, the tossing bowls, the meat hooks, and the fire pans he made all its utensils of bronze. He made a grating for the altar, a network of bronze under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom. He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating, to provide places for the poles. He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made the altar hollow, out of boards. (NET)