Ezekiel 40 Commentary
The last night chapters, 40 to 48 have the same focus and wind down the Book of Ezekiel. However, it would also be right to say we commenced our descent in chapter 36 – the restoration of Israel. In chapter 37, the dry bones found life again and David was installed as king of a united Israel.
Then the LORD had to contend with Gog in chapters 38 and 39. The defeat of Gog is the defeat of evil and the devil in favor of the saints.
So chapter 40 becomes a sequel to these events. The worship of the LORD God is defined by the new temple systems whose parameters Ezekiel sees in a series of visions.
It is the same formula as the great Exodus. The LORD saved Israel so that Israel could worship the LORD freely. The exodus followed the initiation of the Sanctuary systems. Now that Gog is out of the way, the restored nation must return to worship. The sign of salvation is a clear return to worship. So the LORD takes time to show Ezekiel the temple details. A man or woman who claims salvation yet continues in his or her idolatry, whatever the form, is entitled to question his or her salvation.
Whatever it is, the dimensions of the structures are important but it is all Greek to many of us. Ezekiel was a priest and aimed to communicate the importance and sanctity of the new temple system. For example, only the sons of Zadok are authorized to ministry in the temple. Could this be a reference to the need for purity and exclusivity and separation of the saint for the worship of the Creator God?
The guard rooms and the thickness of the wall communicated safety. Note that safety was important probably for the worshipper and not for his God.
Back in the times of the Sanctuary and later the Temple, human guards were stationed at the facility. The thought is that they protected the worship and not the LORD of the House. These security systems, the walls, the guard rooms, and the positioning of the components are a signal to the saint to stand guard and protect the heart – the area of worship.
Ezekiel constantly references the Garden of Eden. Is the inclusion of palm tree drawings part of that reference? The palm tree drawings lined the walls of the passage, won’t the saint be reminded of another passageway littered with palm tree branches by the disciples in Jerusalem?
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