Ezekiel 41
Holy Place measured verse 1- 2
Afterward he brought me to the temple – and measured the posts
six cubits broad on the one side
six cubits broad on the other side
which was the breadth of the tabernacle
and the breadth of the door was ten cubits
and the sides of the door were five cubits
on the one side
and five cubits on the other side
and he measured the length thereof – forty cubits
and the breadth thereof – twenty cubits
Holy of Holies measured verse 3- 4
THEN went he inward
and measured the post of the door – two cubits
and the door – six cubits
and the breadth of the door – seven cubits
SO he measured the length thereof – twenty cubits
and the breadth – twenty cubits – before the temple
and he said to me
This is the most holy place
Ninety room next to wall that surrounded Temple verse 5- 7
AFTER he measured the wall of the house – six cubits
and the breadth of every side chamber – four cubits
round about the house on every side
And the side chambers were three – one over another
and thirty in order
and they entered into the wall
which was of the house for the
side chambers round about
that they might have hold
BUT they had not hold in the wall of the house
And there was an enlarging
and a winding about still upward to the side chambers
FOR the winding about of the house
went still upward
round about the house
THEREFORE the breadth of the house was still upward
and so increased from the lowest chamber to the
highest by the midst
Terrace measurements verse 8-11
I saw the height of the house round about
the foundations of the side chambers
were a full reed of six great cubits
the thickness of the wall
which was for the side chamber without
was five cubits
and that which was left was the place of the
side chambers that were within
AND between the chambers
was the wideness of twenty cubits round about
the house on every side
And the doors of the side chambers
were toward the place that was left
one door toward the north
and another door toward the south
and the breadth of the place that was left
was five cubits round about
Separate Building verse 12- 15
NOW the building that was
before the separate place at the end toward
the west was seventy cubits broad
and the wall of the building was five cubits thick
round about
and the length thereof ninety cubits
SO he measured the house – an hundred cubits long
and the separate place – and the building
with the walls thereof
an hundred cubits long
Also the breadth of the face of the house
and of the separate place toward the east
an hundred cubits
and he measured the length of the building over against
the separate place which was behind it
and the galleries thereof on the one side
and on the other side – an hundred cubits
with the inner temple
and the porches of the court
Decorations verse 16- 20
The door posts – and the narrow windows
and the galleries round about on their three stories
over against the door
ceiled with wood round about
and from the ground up to the windows
and the windows were covered
To that above the door – even to the inner house – and without
and by all the wall round about within and without
by measure
And it was made with cherubim and palm trees
SO THAT a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub
and every cherub had two faces
SO THAT the face of a man
was toward the palm tree on the one side
and the face of the young lion
toward the palm tree
on the other side
it was made through all the house round about
From the ground unto above the door were cherubim
and palm trees made and on the wall of the temple
Altar of wood verse 21- 22
The posts of the temple were squared – and the face of the sanctuary
the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other
The altar of wood was three cubits high
and the length thereof two cubits
and the corners thereof two cubits
and the corners thereof
and the length thereof – and the walls thereof were of wood
and he said to me
This is the table that is before the LORD
Doors to Temple and Sanctuary verse 23- 26
And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors
and the doors had two leaves apiece – two turning leaves
two leaves for the one door
and two leaves for the other door
And there were made on them -on the doors of the temple
cherubim and palm trees
like as were made upon the walls
and there were thick planks
upon the face of the porch without
And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side
and on the other side – on the sides of the porch
and upon the side chambers of the house
and thick planks
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place. (6944 “most holy” [qodesh] means sanctuary, holiness, hallowed, sacredness, a consecrated place where the deity dwells and where sacred object are keep and worship takes place or apartness.)
DEVOTION: The most holy place was only entered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest. He went into the most holy place with a robe tied around his leg because if he entered improperly, he could be struck dead. So, it was good for the high priest to make sure his relationship with the LORD was correct.
When the Temple was constructed it centered on the most holy place. It was to be a nation that worshiped the LORD in spirit and in truth.
This is the Temple of the Millennial time period. Ezekiel is given a vision that would encourage the people that there is time coming when the LORD will reign on the earth. It will be a time of blessing because those who enter into the time period will be worshiping the LORD properly. There will be a restoration of blessing to the nation. This is a message of hope to the children of Israel.
There has been many chapters of judgment of the children of Israel but the future for those who are faithful is good.
Today we find that those who are believers are facing hard times. The message of salvation is not being accepted by most. The life of the believer is one of many trials. It seems hopeless some days but we know that the LORD has a plan and is working HIS plan. We have to patient to watch what is going to happen next.
Our hope is built on the promises of the Bible concerning the end times. The LORD is going to return. Our God is holy and we are not. The only way we can approach HIM is through the blood of HIS Son Jesus Christ. HE is our High Priest. HE will never have a rope tied around HIS leg as HE will be able to enter the Holy of Holies of the Temple without any problem.
Today we need to realize who we are in relationship with if we are a believer. HE will stand before the Father and plead our case. HE is our advocate. One day we will meet him face to face.
CHALLENGE: Each day we can talk to someone that is in the Holy of Holies. We need to realize our position and talk to our advocate before the Father until we meet HIM face to face.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 18 And it was made with cherubim and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces; (3742 “cherubim” [karuwb] means an angelic being, guardians of Eden, divine steed, ministers, or a class of supernatural beings.)
DEVOTION: What are cherubim? We have the first mention of them in Genesis 3: 24 “So HE drove out the man: and HE placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
The cherubim were the servants of the LORD. They were part of HIS creation of angels. There is thought to be at least twenty-two different types of angels. There are archangels. There are Seraphim. There are guardian angels for believers. There are angels that are prepared for the time period of the Tribulation. The list goes on.
Satan is an evil Cherub. He was created perfect but chose to rebel against the LORD before the foundation of the earth. There are many angels who followed Satan in his rebellion against God. They are called demons and evil spirits throughout the Bible. They are the ones that possess those who are not followers of Jesus Christ. Those who are believers cannot be possessed by evil angels or demons but we can be oppressed at times by them.
So, cherubim were there to guard the tree of life in the Garden of Eden to prevent Adam and Eve from eating of the tree of life. If they had eaten of it they would have never died.
Now we have images of cherubim in the Temple to show the priest that enters the temple that there are guards to protect the holiness of God. They were a symbol of the presence of God.
There are angels all around us even today. There are good angels and evil angels. As we read more of the Bible, we will find out more of their responsibilities. Remember angels are created beings just like humans but angels never become human and humans never become angels. They are two different creations and have two different responsibilities.
The Temple was divided into the Holy Place where the priests could enter on a regular basis. Then there was the Most Holy Place or Holy of Holies where only the High Priest entered once a year on the Day of Atonement. If there was sin in his life he would die there and they would have to pull him out by the rope that was tied to his ankle.
Now we have our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are the holy place because once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, we are declared HOLY. So our life needs to honor the LORD on a regular basis otherwise HE will have to chasten us until we restore fellowship with HIM through confession of our sin. If we continue without confession the Bible warns that death could occur in the life of a Christian who doesn’t examine themselves.
The pictures of this class of angels was put in the Temple to convey the fact that the holiness of God is always defended by HIS heavenly host.
Why does the LORD need defend? HE doesn’t but HE wants everyone to know that HIS angelic host is at HIS disposal at all times for whatever reason HE many have to use them.
HE created the angels for a purpose. They have individual responsibilities throughout Scripture. The Seraphim continually praise the LORD in the third heaven where HIS throne is located. There is a need for Daniel to understand a vision the LORD had given him and the angel Gabriel was called upon to give Daniel an answer to his request.
There are good angels and evil angels for every nation in our world. There is a battle going on in heaven between the angels. At times it is necessary for the guardian angel to help the national angels fight against the army of Satan. Michael is an archangel had to help Israel during the time period of Daniel.
He also had to contend with the devil over the body of Moses. We might not understand all about the angels but they are watching us. They rejoice when someone becomes a follower of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: Remember that once we become a follower of Jesus Christ, we have a guardian angel that reports to the LORD all that is going on in our life. HE already knows it but HE still has an angel by our side.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about. (8561 “palm tree” [timmorah] means an architectural ornament, a representation of a palm tree, or palm tree image)
DEVOTION: Here we have another chapter of details regarding the Temple. Remember that the LORD wants to give instructions that HIS people can follow. HE has details for our lives and we need to follow them. God likes details. HE knows all the details of our lives.
The palm trees branches are a symbol of victory. The wood of the palm tree was used in the building of the temple. The Temple was given decorations of palm trees. There is victory in following the instructions of the LORD. The other decorations were cherubim. These are the angels that guard the holiness of the LORD. So the decorations symbolized victory in the LORD and HIS holiness.
The people threw palm branches in front of the donkey Christ was riding as he entered into Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Even though the Jews looked at the crucifixion as a negative aspect of the LORD Jesus Christ life, the Father lets us know that it was a time of victory.
In the temple it was used to be a symbol of victory that the children of Israel could have when their sins were covered in the blood of the sacrifices. We have victory through Jesus over the world, the flesh and the devil. We are never sinless but we can sin less with the help of the LORD. Christ has conquered death, which gives us the victory over death. We have nothing to fear in death because of our relationship with Christ. We have eternity waiting for us with HIM. Praise HIS name.
This tree represents righteousness (Ps 92:12) and longevity (vv. 18–20) in the book of Psalms. These are characteristics of God. HE is always doing what is right. HE is eternal.
CHALLENGE: Throughout the Word of God we find symbols to help us understand the God we serve. Learn from the details of the Temple.
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: 22 The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and HE said to me, This is the table that is before the LORD.
(7979 “table” [shulchan] means a piece of furniture having a smooth flat top that is usually supported by one or more vertical legs, sacrificial table, it is used for meal presentations)
DEVOTION: Every piece of furniture is important to the LORD. HE wanted everything to be done properly and the need for special furniture was necessary for the preparation of the sacrifices to the LORD.
We have to realize that details are important to the LORD. HE wanted the Temple to be equipped with all the right things to make worship something that was important to the people and the priests had the responsibility of making sure that everything was done decently and in order.
God didn’t want there to be any questions regarding what HE expected of those who worshiped HIM. HE wants us even today to make sure that we are ready to genuinely worship HIM when we come into a church on Sunday.
HE wants us to make sure that our hearts are ready before and during worship services. HE knows our hearts and HE can see our worship.
Too often there are many people who just go through the motions instead of genuinely having their hearts and actions truly worshiping in spirit and in truth.
CHALLENGE: When we come into the worship service at church do we put our all on the altar of worship or are we thinking or doing things that are displeasing to the LORD?
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacle verse 1- 26
Measured it
Sanctuary verse 21
Altar of wood verse 22
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 22
HE said to me: This is the table
that is before the LORD
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Cherubim (plural) – type of angel verse 18, 20, 25
Cherub (singular) – type of angel verse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
The meaning of the palm tree and its use in the sanctuary is associated with the covenant of peace expressed in 34:25 and 37:26. Elsewhere in Scripture the palm tree symbolized righteousness (Ps 92:12) and longevity (vv. 18–20). Cherubim and palm trees were also featured in the Solomonic temple (see 1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35–36). (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Vol. 17: Ezekiel. The New American Commentary (368). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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41:1–12 The temple sanctuary had three divisions: (1) a porch, (2) an outer sanctuary known as the holy place, and (3) an inner sanctuary known as the most holy place or holy of holies. Ezekiel’s guide took him into the outer sanctuary. As he entered, he measured the door jambs that were six cubits on each side, and the entrance was ten cubits wide. The outer sanctuary was twenty cubits wide and forty cubits long (vv. 1–2).
Then he was taken into the inner sanctuary that had door jambs two cubits wide, and the entrance was six cubits wide. The walks on either side of the entrance were seven cubits wide. The inner sanctuary was twenty by twenty cubits, and the guide with Ezekiel said, “This is the Most Holy Place” (v. 4). The guide speaks little in these chapters (cf. 40:4, 45; 41:22; 42:13; 43:18; 46:20, 24; 47:8) and always regarding key elements of the restoration—priests, offerings, holy of holies, altar, and river.
The temple sanctuary had three levels. The inner wall of the temple was six cubits thick. Between the inner wall and the outer wall were side rooms on three levels with thirty side chambers on each level (vv. 5–6). These side rooms had supports that made them independent of the wall of the temple. The rooms on the lowest level were the smallest. The second and third stories were successively wider than the level below it so that the largest rooms were on the top level. These side chambers could only be accessed by two side entrances, one on the north and one on the south side of the temple and only through a doorway on the middle level (v. 7). The purpose of these rooms is unclear. They may have been storage areas or rooms for the temple treasure. Nebuchadnezzar took treasure from the temple when he destroyed Jerusalem according to Dan 1:2. Belshazzar later used this treasure in the final night of his reign of debauchery (Dan 5:3). The chambers may have been used for private worship.
The use of three levels and the placement of these divisions may be additional symbols of the triune nature of the God who would reside here. If the side rooms on each of the three levels were areas for individual worship, they were used only by the priests. They could only be entered through the middle level. Just so the Messiah, the second Person of the Godhead, is the one through which we gain access to all three (John 14:6).
The whole superstructure of the temple was built on a raised platform base (v. 8). The outer wall of the side rooms and the temple superstructure was five cubits thick. An open space about twenty cubits wide separated the side rooms from the priests’ rooms on either side of the temple (v. 10). The two entrances to the side chambers already have been mentioned in vv. 5–7.
The base extended away from the building for five cubits on every side (v. 11). Behind the temple was another building seventy by ninety cubits with a wall five cubits thick (v. 12). The exact function of this building is unknown (see Figs. 2 and 3), although it has been associated with the parbār (“court”) of 1 Chr 26:18, which probably was an open area. This open area may have been in front of the building, or it may refer to the open area of the large room inside the building, whose purpose is unclear. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, pp. 366–367). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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3–4 Ezekiel moved into the inner sanctuary (IS) through a six-cubit-wide entrance (HJ) with two-cubit-wide door jambs (HJ) on walls seven cubits wide. As Ezekiel viewed the twenty-cubit-square room, he was told that this room was “the Most Holy Place.” By narrowing the entrance ways to the portico (40:48), to the outer sanctuary (41:2), and to the inner sanctuary (41:3) from fourteen cubits, to ten cubits, to six cubits, respectively, the architect focused the worshiper’s eyes on the Most Holy Place, the center of worship. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 963). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Ezekiel climbed the stairs and entered through the vestibule into the outer sanctuary (41:1). As one enters the building each gate or doorway is narrower than the one before it. Possibly this reflects God’s restricting man’s access into His holy presence. Ezekiel entered the outer sanctuary but not the most holy place, the inner sanctuary. Instead the angel went into the inner sanctuary to measure it. As a priest (1:3), Ezekiel was allowed into the outer sanctuary, but was barred from the most holy place (cf. Lev. 16; Heb. 9:6–7). (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1306–1307). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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41:4 the most holy place. The Holy of Holies, which the High-Priest entered annually on the Day of Atonement (cf. Lv 16). These dimensions are identical to Solomon’s (1Ki 6:20), and twice those of the tabernacle in the wilderness. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 41:4). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 4. So he measured the length thereof twenty cubits, &c.] That is, of the most holy place, from east to west; which was the measure of it in Solomon’s temple, 1 Kings 6:20: and the breadth twenty cubits before the temple; that is answerable or according to the breadth of the temple or holy place; which was also twenty cubits in breadth: this stood at the west end of it, and was equal in breadth to it; see 1 Kings 6:2, 20: and he said unto me, this is the most holy place; the divine Person in human form said to the prophet, take notice of this building; this answers to the most holy place in the temple. This was an emblem of the most holy and perfect state of the church on earth; it represents the New-Jerusalem church-state, that holy city, and into which nothing shall enter that defiles; and, as in the most holy place, the divine Shechinah or majesty of God dwelt; so here will dwell in person the God-man and Mediator, the head of the church, our Lord Jesus; whose tabernacle will now be with men, in this perfect state, raised from the dead, and he will dwell among them: and as this most holy place in its dimensions is a four-square, so is the holy city described; denoting its stability and perfection; see Rev. 21:2, 3, 16, 27. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 221). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
1 Kings 8
Solomon leads the people into a grand dedication ceremony for the new temple.
INSIGHT
The phenomenal blessings that God pours out on Israel have a purpose beyond merely blessing them. In fact, God wants other nations to see His favor on Israel and desire to know Him because of what they witness in the lives of His people.
This truth is reflected when Solomon prays that “the Lord our God be with us . . . [so] that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other” (vv. 57, 60). David understands this principle also when he writes in Psalms 67:7: “God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” And today God wants to bless us spiritually that others may see Christ in us and be drawn to Him. (Quiet Walk)
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DANGERS OF A SLOPPY AGE
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…
Revelation 3:17
We are living in an age that dislikes precision and definitions. It is an age that is anti-theological, anti-doctrinal and which dislikes propositions and exact knowledge. It is a lazy age in every respect, a sentimental, sloppy age, an age that wants entertainment and dislikes effort. This tendency shows itself in many ways which are generally very plausible.
One way is to say that Christianity is something that is so wonderful that it cannot be defined, that it baffles analysis or any attempt to state it in propositions. It cannot be done, they say. You experience it marvelous and wonderful! But if you try to analyze it, then you destroy it, there is nothing left.
Another way is this: that Christianity is only a matter of one’s spirit. What makes us Christians is our spirit, and if we have an appropriate spirit, then we are Christians. Christianity is an attitude, a view of life, a general statement concerning our personality and our being. There was a slogan not so long ago which said, “Christianity is caught, not taught.” You catch the spirit. You feel it in the meeting and you get it. But what is it? Well, you do not know, but that does not matter. You have got it! That is the great thing and you feel much happier and much better than you did before.
If I may say so in passing, the thing that has given me greatest pleasure, and greatest encouragement of all the things I have ever been told that people say about my ministry, is this. It was said by a lady, who remonstrated, “This man preaches to us as if we were sinners!”
Quite so. “You see, you must not be searched, you must not be examined, you are all right. Of course, denounce those sinners who are outside, or those liberals, but, why, we are the people who are orthodox! We do not need that, we need instruction. We want these general lectures, these addresses, these character studies. How interesting, how nice. But we must not be disturbed. There is nothing wrong with us.”
And so such people, as you see everywhere in the Bible and in the history of the church, have always disliked anything that searches them, or makes them feel uncomfortable, or probes them.
A Thought to Ponder: People have always disliked anything that asks them to define their biblical foundation. (From Saving Faith, a sermon on Romans 10:3 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Wondrous Things
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:18)
Wondrous indeed is the marvelous universe God has created. “Hearken unto this,” we are challenged, “stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (Job 37:14). And as we “consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” (Psalm 8:3), we can only “stand still” in awe at God’s infinite power.
We are even more amazed as we study the intricate complexity of living creatures—especially human beings. “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works” (Psalm 139:14). God’s omniscience is more wondrous than even His omnipotence.
Then there is His miraculous ordering of history for the accomplishment of His purposes. “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (Psalm 78:4).
But even greater than the wondrous world He created or His wondrous works in history are the wonders of God’s written Word, for “thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Psalm 138:2).
Note the testimony of the familiar 19th Psalm: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” But then: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:1, 7). As far as God’s works in history are concerned, God’s Word was completed before history began, and will endure after the present world is gone. “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
There are “wondrous things” without end in “thy law,” and we will continue discovering them forever. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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When You’ve Been WRONGED by Erwin W. Lutzer
The more a person becomes involved in sin, the less he sees it. Sin is a hideous disease that destroys a person’s ability to comprehend its existence. (p. 29)
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No wonder Paul warned that we should not be deceived by the “deceitfulness of sin”! Gallagher says the person who refuses to deal with his sin often thinks he is the most spiritual! (p. 30)
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When I take vengeance into my hands I am doing God’s work for Him, I cannot trust God to do what needs to be done, so I will do it. A vengeful person is one who is not broken before God (in the best sense of the term) but still insists on the control of his own life. (p. 31)
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Those folks who believe that if they left the church or an organization it would collapse, they need to know that God does not share our narrow, self-aggrandizing appraisal.
(p. 33)
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Thankfully, God does bless those who don’t deserve it, or else not one of us would receive His blessings! (p. 33)
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