Ezekiel 41
COMMENTARY:
: 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.
: 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.
: 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.
: 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?
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)
Tabernacleverses 1-26
Measured it
Sanctuaryverse 21
Altar of woodverse 22
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 angelverses 18, 20, 25
Cherub (singular) – type of angelverse 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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