“Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits thick, and the breadth of the side chambers, four cubits, all around the temple.” (Ezekiel 41:5)
Like chapter 40 – but only more – this chapter is filled with specific details of a Jewish temple. It can be easy to lose interest because … who really cares how thick a wall is? Or, how wide is a room?
Since God showed Ezekiel these blueprints and told him to declare this information to the house of Israel (40:4), we need to guard our hearts so that we do not dismiss this information as irrelevant to us.
This vision occurred while the Jews were in Babylon, and Jerusalem had been destroyed. We know the vision wasn’t of the then currently destroyed temple. Apparently, it was of a future temple. When the Jews returned to Israel, they restored Solomon’s temple, which differed from Ezekiel’s vision. In about 20 BC, Herod began a significant remodeling and expansion of the Temple Mount. The outcome of his project also differed from Ezekiel’s vision. So, we can conclude that there remains yet another temple to be built.
Since this temple has yet to be built, we should watch its construction. I’m not certain whether it is earthly or heavenly, though. Let’s keep watching.
Father, help me to anticipate the future with excitement. Amen.
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