Read Ezekiel 40:38-49
We’re given more dimensions for God’s vision of the new temple. These measurements are accompanied by descriptions of what will take place within each space. I’m reminded of a building project my husband and I were part of in one of our churches. Sometimes a space would be designed with an exact purpose in mind, like the worship center, for example. While my area of children’s ministry was a huge room with lots of storage, a stage, and an open space for the imagination to fill.
God was giving us his purposes for some of the areas in the temple, like the rooms for sacrifices and the priests. But what about the huge inner courtyard? It was a little over half a football field square. What sorts of things would happen there do you think?
This temple will be a massive structure. It’s hard to even imagine. But we’ve been given these plans for a reason. A reason we may never know during our lifetimes. I do wonder why the second temple in Jerusalem, built by the returnees generations after God gave this vision to Ezekiel, did not use these plans.
Some may wonder, why do we have sacrifices in the Old Testament anyway? The law prescribed how people could make themselves right with God to atone for the sins in their life, and it was by sacrifice. Sin had come into God’s perfect world, and God saw fit to give people a way to set things back on course. We see God’s design for where this atonement would take place in this part of the temple vision. The laws surrounding sacrificial practices can be found in the book of Leviticus.
As Christians, our sacrificial lamb is Jesus Christ. His death upon the cross is the act that takes the place of sacrifices as specified in Old Testament law. Jesus rose from the dead to give us new hope in Him. John the Baptist proclaimed in John 1:29 when he saw Jesus, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Reflect on Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1:18-20. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.” How do you respond to Jesus’ sacrifice for you?
Let’s pray. LORD, I am not sure why such a detailed vision of your grand temple has gone unfulfilled. Perhaps this was only a reminder to us that you want to play a large role in our lives. You sent Jesus as our spotless Lamb, ready to give his life for his flock. I am humbled by your love, grace, and mercy. Help me to live a life of gratitude for such a gift and be a guide to others helping them find you in this sinful world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
