Ezekiel 41:1-26 New Temple Pt 4
The bronze man brings Ezekiel into the Inner Temple. God gives him the dimensions, decorations, and setup for the MOST holy place of all.
As I was reading this section, something occurred to me. There is no mention of the materials used in the construction of the Temple. There are places where “wood” is to be used, but those references don’t specify what kind of wood. No where have I seen “gold” mentioned in the construct or decoration of any part of the Temple complex. I even read ahead to see if it came later. It doesn’t. This brings me back to one of my earlier conclusions. This House was built for a purpose, NOT as a showpiece. The house was NOT to take glory away from its Occupant. The honor would be in being before its Owner, not in the extravagance of its construction.
There are a few other things that caught my attention in this description. One is the absence of all but one piece of furnishings inside the Inner Temple. Ther is ONE table. That is the ONLY piece of furnishing inside. There is no table for showbread. No lampstand. No alter of incense. Not even an Ark. There is a “table that is before the Lord” (verse 22b). And this table is made completely of wood. No gold. No hewn stone. No carvings or decorations on it.
A second thing I noticed is the lack of the curtain that divided the Holy place from the Holy of Holies. There were double doors instead for both the Holy place and the Nave. From what I can understand, they appear to be folding doors that can be tucked up against the walls. There are also no locks mentioned or instructions for them to stay closed.
Inside this house is where the majority of the decorations are found. Carved along every wall are alternating cherubim and palm trees. They are not overlayed with gold, they don’t protrude from the walls, or have any gemstones in them. They are a carefully chosen pattern that repeats throughout the entire inner structure. And only two of the four faces Ezekiel was originally show are represented here; the man and the lion.
When I first noticed the absence of the lampstand, I wondered about this. I wondered if it was illuminated by God’s glory alone. Then I noticed the windows. There is no need for a light source in this House as it has windows all along it. They are covered to keep the birds out but let the light in. I had to return to this thought when I realized that the windows would be on the exterior chambers. That leaves only ONE possible light source for the Temple; God Himself, this includes Jesus if it is He Who will be occupying the Temple.
There is also nothing that touches or is supported by the walls of this portion of God’s House. It stands as THE centerpiece, strong and untouched or supported by anything else. Even though its height is more than three stories tall, it stands strong on its own. The thickness of its walls and jambs are all the strength it needs. The offsets and pillars lend to its strength while also keeping it separated.
God stands without need of support from any of us. HE is OUR support. He is our center. When we meet with Him, we need on extravagant preparations. We simply need to come to Him and share time at His table. All He wants is you and your full attention on Him.
Father God, THANK YOU for including a place to meet, at Your table. I know. The table described here may not be the place to sit and share Your company, but You HAVE prepared such a place. The way I come to You each day will pale by comparison to when we finally meet face-to-face. I’m looking forward to that time!
Thank You for opening the doors to me also. For allowing me into Your courts. I bring You praise for ALL You have done to make this possible for me too. YOU have made me GLAD! You are MY LORD! And I will rejoice, for YOU have brought me into Your Home and heart.
