Day 633: Ezekiel 40-42~ A Way For Restoration

In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me to the city.  2 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. 3 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. 4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall 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.”
Please read the rest of Ezekiel 40-42 HERE. The text provides an architectural tour of specific details in Ezekiel’s vision of the new temple. The overall section focuses two themes: The return of God’s presence (40-42) and the return of God’s glory (43-48).
 
Meditation
God desires to dwell with His people. This desire is the “joy” set before Jesus when He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).  God’s desire to be with you is the heart of His covenant promises and hope for disciples (Matthew 28:18).  Grace provides a path for God’s people to be restored to personal relationship with God.
 
Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Mercy makes a way for restoration of relationship. Jesus Christ is the only true mediator between God and His people, the path for peace with God. Before God dwelled among humanity in the incarnation He provided paths for personal relationship. One of these was the temple.
 
The temple was the center of Israel’s national and religious life, the foretaste of God’s promises to dwell with His people. Solomon built the first temple (1 Kings 7). The temple was devastated by Babylon as Israel was carried into exile (2 Kings 25). The temple was restored and dedicated by Ezra and returned exiles. Ezekiel’s vision was both hope for temple restoration and revelation of the Lord’s Heavenly temple (Psalm 11:4).
 
Ezekiel’s vision took place about twenty years after the temple was destroyed and more than three decades before it would be rebuilt. The point was that God’s promise to dwell among His people had not passed. Israel was in exile. God had specific plans to keep His promise and restore personal relationship.
 
Jesus claimed His body was the temple (John 2:21) and through His death the Church becomes the new temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God’s grace gives His Spirit to dwell in us! We have the privilege to live as His Body in the world to display His glory.
 
Richly Dwelling
-This is a tough concept, history being this personal. Take a moment to unpack it more with the Bible Project people: https://bibleproject.com/blog/temple-of-god/
 
-Jesus dwelt with humanity and after His resurrection He promised to never leave us or forsake us. How does the power of His promise propel faithfulness?
 
-How does God’s priority of personal relationship encourage and empower you to humble yourself before God in prayer, Bible study, worship, fellowship, and mission? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall 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.”