The Gospel According to Ezekiel, Chapter 40-42

A Tool for Sanctification

Our goal throughout these remaining chapters is to rediscover an often neglected tool for our sanctification. As we examine this vision that God is giving to Ezekiel, we will rediscover a neglected tool for our struggle against sin, for our battle against temptations. There is a gold mine before us in these pages as we examine this vision that Ezekiel is receiving.

Chapter 40 marks a peculiar switch in context. Throughout history, Ezekiel was understood as two separate books: chapters 1-39 as one, and 40-48 as another. There is harmony as one book, but a marked transition occurs here. We've examined the context of Gog and Magog coming against God's people to show God's might, defeating this mighty army. The display of power provides firewood for seven years from their weapons, vindicating God's holiness. There are eschatological parallels with Revelation, like Gog and Magog and a new city, but significant differences exist, such as the temple here being a specific physical construct, unlike God and the Lamb in Revelation.

You might ask why this is a tool for sanctification, benefiting spiritual growth and battles with sin. Traditional views see it as purely eschatological—a third temple post-70 AD with resumed sacrifices. But let's dive into the context to see why it's essential for sanctification and even useful in counseling. Struggles persist when these truths are missing.

We're going to do a lot of reading, and that's the point. The extensive description benefits our sanctification.

The Vision Begins: Ezekiel 40

In the 25th year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the 10th day of the month, in the 14th year after the city was struck down, on that very day the hand of the Lord was upon me and brought me to the city. In visions of God he brought me to the land of Israel and set me down on a very high mountain on which was a structure like a city to the south. When he brought me there, behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand. And he was standing in the gateway.

The man said to Ezekiel:

"Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and set your heart upon all that I show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."

God brought Ezekiel to set his heart on these things and declare them to Israel. A wall surrounds the temple area, measured with a long cubit of about 21 inches.

The gateway facing east is described in detail: steps, thresholds, side rooms, vestibules, dimensions like 50 cubits long and 25 cubits broad, windows narrowing inward, palm trees. Chambers and pavement surround the outer court. Gates on north and south match the east gate, each 100 cubits apart.

There are similarities to Solomon's temple in 1 Kings: inner and outer courts, holy of holies. The outer court is for corporate worship. Inner court gates have eight steps, palm trees.

Chambers for washing burnt offerings, tables for slaughtering offerings. This raises controversy—future temple with sacrifices? But post-70 AD, resuming sacrifices contradicts New Testament teaching in Hebrews. Knowing Christ's efficacious sacrifice, animal sacrifices imply His blood is no different, a denial of the gospel.

On the outside of the inner gate there were two chambers in the inner court, one at the side of the north gate facing south, the other at the side of the gate facing north. And he said to me, "This chamber that faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple, and the chamber that faces north for the priests who have charge of the altar—these are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the Lord to minister to him."

Ezekiel uses symbolism. Zadok was David's high priest; sons of Zadok symbolize faithfulness, like priests in the New Testament under the new David—Christ.

The court is 100 cubits square, altar before the temple. Vestibule dimensions lead into the temple proper.

Inside the Temple: Ezekiel 41-42

Chapter 41 describes the nave (40x20 cubits), most holy place (20x20), thick walls, side chambers in three stories, offsets, free space, western building. Carvings of cherubim and palm trees, human and lion faces. Wooden altar like a table before the Lord. Double doors, canopies.

Chapter 42 details outer court chambers, galleries, passages. Priests eat holy offerings there, change garments to distinguish holy from common.

He measured the temple area on four sides. It had a wall around it, 500 cubits long and 500 cubits broad, to make a separation between the holy and the common.

The whole area is about 875 feet square.

The Glory Returns: Ezekiel 43

Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

God speaks:

"Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name... Now let them put away their whoring and the dead bodies of their kings far from me, and I will dwell in their midst forever."

"As for you, son of man, describe to the house of Israel the temple, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the plan. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, that is, its whole design; and make known to them as well all its statutes and its whole design and all its laws, and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe all its laws and all its statutes and carry them out. This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy; behold, this is the law of the temple."

The Purpose: Shame and Holiness

This is not prophecy but a vision, like prior ones of God's glory—by the Chebar, exiting the temple. Visions change the present; one not impacting now fails its purpose. The goal: a tool granting shame over sin.

God instructs Ezekiel to describe the temple so Israel measures the plan and feels shame for iniquities. "Plan" means pattern or example. Measuring evokes shame, providing a pattern for valuing holiness, glorifying God.

The physical temple was defiled by inward idolatry—imaginations of the heart. Restoration represents holy people. Result: shame motivates holiness, less sin, more obedience—enabled by the Spirit (Ezekiel 11, 36), exchanging heart of stone for flesh.

If ashamed, reveal the full design as reward. Focus on purpose: shame diminishes sin's intensity ("ashamed" means grow weary of sin). Beholding God's glory decreases sin's pull, hurts over sin, righteous anger against it. Love of sin persists without shame.

Grow in enjoying God by beholding His glory—the same glory Ezekiel saw, causing prostrate worship. This produces severity against sin, restoring paradise-enjoyment of God. God dwells with His people, their sole satisfaction—John 3:16's reward: we get God, by Spirit. ```