Ezekiel 40
Man with a measuring reed verse 1- 3
In the 25th year of our captivity- 1/10/14 after that the city was smitten
in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me
and brought me thither
In the visions of God brought HE me into the land of Israel
and set me upon a very high mountain
by which was as the frame of a city on the south
And HE brought me thither – and – behold – there was a man
whose appearance was like the appearance of brass
with a line of flax in his hand – and a measuring reed
and he stood in the gate
Man tells Ezekiel to report vision of Jerusalem verse 4
And the man said unto me – Son of man – BEHOLD with your eyes
and hear with your ears
and set your heart upon all that I shall show you
FOR to the intent that I might show them unto you are you brought hither
declare all that you see to the house of Israel
Wall measured verse 5
BEHOLD a wall on the outside of the house round about
and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long
by the cubit and an handbreadth
so he measured the breadth of the building – one reed
and the height – one reed
East gate measured: Threshold verse 6- 9
THEN came he unto the gate which looks toward the east
and went up the stairs thereof – and measured the threshold of the gate
which was one reed broad
and the other threshold of the gate – which was one reed broad
and every little chamber was one reed long
and one reed broad
and between the little chambers were five cubits
and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate
within was one reed
He measured the porch of the gate within – one reed
THEN measured he the porch of the gate – eight cubits
and the posts thereof – two cubits
and the porch of the gate was inward
East gate measured: Guard alcoves verse 10- 12
And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side
and three on that side – they three were of one measure
and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side
And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate – ten cubits
and the length of the gate – thirteen cubits
The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side
and the space was one cubit on that side
and the little chambers were six cubits on this side
and six cubits on that side
East gate measured: Inside of gateway verse 13- 16
He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another
the breadth was five and twenty cubits – door against door
He made also posts of threescore cubits
even unto the post of the court round about the gate
and from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the
porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits
And there were narrow windows to the little chambers
and to their posts within the gate round about
and likewise to the arches – and windows were round about inward
and upon each post were palm trees
East gate measured: Outer courtyard verse 17- 19
THEN brought he me into the outward court
and – lo – there were chambers
and a pavement made for the court round about
thirty chambers were upon the pavement
and the pavement by the side of the gates over against the
length of the gates was the lower pavement
THEN he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate
unto the forefront of the inner court without
an hundred cubits eastward and northward
North gate measured verse 20- 23
AND the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north
he measured the length thereof – and the breadth thereof
and the little chambers thereof were three on this side
and three on that side
and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the
measure of the first gate
the length thereof was fifty cubits
the breadth five and twenty cubits
and their windows – and their arches – and their palm trees
were after the measure of the gate that looks toward the east
and they went up unto it by seven steps
and the arches thereof were before them
and the gate of the inner court was over against the
gate toward the north – and toward the east
and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits
South gate measured verse 24- 27
After that he brought me toward the south – and BEHOLD a gate toward the south
and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according
to these measures
and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about
like those windows – the length was fifty cubits
and the breadth five and twenty cubits
and there were seven steps to go up to it
and the arches thereof were before them – and it had palm trees
one on this side – and another on that side
upon the posts thereof
And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south
and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits
Gateway to inner courtyard: south verse 28- 31
And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate
and he measured the south gate according to these measures
And the little chambers thereof – and the posts thereof – and the arches thereof
according to these measure
and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about
it was fifty cubits long – and five and twenty cubits broad
And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long
and five cubits broad – and the arches thereof were toward the outer court
and palm trees were upon the posts thereof
and the going up to it had eight steps
Gateway to inner courtyard: east verse 32- 34
AND he brought me into the inner court toward the east
and he measured the gate according to these measures
And the little chambers thereof – and the posts thereof – and the arches thereof
were according to these measures
and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about
it was fifty cubits long – and five and twenty cubits broad
And the arches therefore were toward the outward court
and palm trees were upon the posts thereof – on this side
and on that side – and the going up to it had eight steps
Gateway to inner courtyard: north verse 35- 38
AND he brought me to the north gate
and measured it according to these measures
The little chambers thereof – the posts thereof – and the arches thereof
and the windows to it round about – the length was fifty cubits
and the breadth five and twenty cubits
and the posts thereof were toward the outer court
and palm trees were upon the posts thereof
on this side – and on that side
and the going up to it had eight steps
and the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates
where they washed the burnt offering
Rooms for preparing sacrifices verse 39- 43
AND in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side – and two tables on that side
To slay thereon the burnt offering – sin offering – trespass offering
and at the side without – as one goes up to the entry of the north gate
were two tables
and on the other side – which was at the porch of the gate
were two tables
Four tables were on this side – and four tables on that side – by the side of the gate
eight tables – whereupon they slew their sacrifices
and the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering
of a cubit and a half long – and a cubit and an half broad
and one cubit high
whereupon they laid the instruments wherewith
they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice
and within were hooks – an hand broad – fastened round about
and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering
Residences for the singers verse 44- 46
AND without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court
which was at the side of the north gate – and their prospect was toward the south
one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north
AND he said unto me – this chamber – whose prospect is toward the south
is for the priests – the keepers of the charge of the house
AND the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests
the keepers of the charge of the altar
these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi
which come near to the LORD to minister
unto HIM
Total given verse 47
SO he measured the court – an hundred cubits long
an hundred cubits broad – foursquare
and the altar that was before the house
Porch of the Temple verse 48- 49
AND he brought me to the porch of the house
and measured each post of the porch – five cubits on this side
and five cubits on that side
and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side
and three cubits on that side
The length of the porch was twenty cubits
and the breadth of the porch was eleven cubits
and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it
and there were pillars by the posts – one on this side
and another on that side
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south. (4759 “visions” [mar‘ah] means looking glass, mode of revelation, mirror, apparition, appearance, to see, or sight)
DEVOTION: In the Old Testament the LORD revealed truths to HIS people through visions. The book of Hebrews informs us that “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by HIS Son, whom HE hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also HE made the worlds” [Hebrews 1: 1-2].
So we understand that those of us who live in the time period of the New Testament or in the age of grace have received our instructions through Jesus Christ.
Those who today say they have a vision from God in the form of a new revelation to add to the Word of God. They are not to be trusted. The Bible is complete. There are no new bibles. There are no new revelations.
We have enough instruction in our Bible to help us live as the LORD would have us live until HE comes back or we go to be with HIM.
Now these last eight chapters of Ezekiel cover the building of a new Temple. It is a chapter with a lot of detailed information regarding the Temple.
I am a big idea person. I am not into all the little details as some people are but the LORD is in the details. I had a secretary in my last church named Laura who was into all the details. She would record everyone who attended the church in an address book and then copy it for me. It was great to have someone who liked the details. I had two people who were good in grammar check out my Master’s degree paper which as a great help to me. So detail people are very important in our world today as well. If we have someone build us a house we would like them to be into details otherwise the house would look very funny to those who drive by it.
GOD wants everyone to know exactly what HE is thinking and HE wants us to act accordingly. The Bible gives us the big picture but also the little details. Here is an example of the details.
CHALLENGE: In some areas of our life we have to be very detailed and in others we can see the big picture. Sometimes we don’t understand all the minor details of HIS instructions to us but we have to accept them as HIS will for our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
:4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, behold with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart on everything that I shall show you; for to the intent that I might show them to you are you brought here; declare all that you see to the house of Israel. (7760 “set” [suwm] means put, make, appoint, consider, arrange, fix, install, determine, or pledge.)
DEVOTION: The LORD doesn’t want us to be in the dark concerning our Christian life. HE wants to give us good instructions regarding how we should live our life while we are here on the earth.
If we live at home we know what the rules are because our parents have taught them to us. If we are going to college we have to make up our own rules that are not covered in the college instructions. There is a lot more freedom on a college campus than at home with our parents. There is even more freedom when we live on our own before we are married.
The Bible is our instruction book for our daily living here on this earth. When no one else is in control of our life but ourselves we need to follow these instructions if we want to be a good witness for the LORD.
The Bible covers every area of our life. So we have to “fix our mind” on the Word of God. It will show you what needs to be done. Church is a good place to go also to find out what HE is saying. A good Bible preaching church will help you through the rough spots in any area of your life. Joining a good Bible study group can help as well.
It is not as if we don’t have the LORD using the Holy Spirit in our life to instruct us each day what decision we need to make regarding any activity or friendship we have.
Listening is not easy if we don’t have an active prayer life. HE will speak to us through our quiet time with HIM and then we can enter the world and live for HIM.
CHALLENGE: Each day there is a new assignment from the LORD that we need to receive before we leave our current residence. Do we have an ear to hear what HE is saying?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 44 And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north. (7891 “singers” [shiyr} means a person who sings, sing a song, use the voice as an instrument to voice, musical tones, rhythms, or limited to religious song)
DEVOTION: I learned early at college when I tried to join a choir for the school that I could not keep a tune in a basket. The direction asked me to sing the musical scale.
I tried and that was the last time I was invited to go to the musical practice for the school.
I still enjoy making a joyful noise unto the LORD the but it is not in a group up front in the church.
Here we have a group that was part of the worship team that lead the people in singing praises to the LORD. It was part of the Jewish worship service. Only those who could really sing were allowed in this group of worshipers.
Today we find that many churches have groups up front that do all the singing and those in the pews just listen.
The LORD wants us to sing praises to HIM not only in church but in our daily walk with HIM. He wants us to know that HE wants us to daily praise HIM for all the things that HE is doing for us. HE would probably like to hear people who can keep a tune but HE doesn’t limit it when we have our personal time with HIM.
I still sing while walking done the street when I know that HE is listening and no one else. I have been told at times when speaking at small churches that I have a good voice but I tell them that they are tone deaf. They laugh.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants to hear our praise in our hearts and in our voices. Even if it is only a joyful noise.
_____________________________________________________________
: 46 And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him. (8334 “minister” [sharath] means serve, servant, attend or render assistance or help)
DEVOTION: I am not a detail person when it comes to building something. I am a laborer but not the carpenter. Here we have the beginning of the measurements for the Millennial Temple of the LORD. Each part of the Temple is given in detail. Builders love this chapter. The LORD throughout Scripture gives details. HE lists all the animals that are clean and all the animals that are unclean. HE describes each day of creation. HE gives us all the details regarding the children of Israel in the future.
This chapter informs the children of Israel that there is going to be a future Temple. This gives them hope. They have been in captivity for twenty-five years. They might be discouraged. They might wonder if the LORD is going to help them again.
HE tells them HE is. HE wants them to realize that HIS judgment is not going to last forever. HE is a merciful God.
During the Millennium there are still priests that offer sacrifices. There is still sin on the earth. All the humans that are alive still have a sin nature. The devil is in chains. The LORD is ruling over the world.
We need to realize that while we are going through hard times that there is a future hope for all those who are true followers of the LORD. Our life here on earth will be full of times of suffering. We grow through suffering. We sometimes think that we can grow in good times. That rarely happens. During hard times we turn all our attention to the LORD. We want HIS help. We promise HIM things. We need to offer sacrifices to HIM today. The starting point is presenting our bodies as living sacrifices.
CHALLENGE: We are to serve the LORD gladly in the area that HE has gifted us. There are detail people in every church and there are big idea people. These two groups have to work together to build a good church for the LORD.
______________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Outer court verse 5- 27
Inner court verse 27- 47
Sanctuary verse 48- 43: 12
Burnt offering verse 38, 42
Tables of sacrifice verse 39-43
Chambers and Porches verse 44- 49
Singers verse 44
Priests verse 45, 46
Zadok verse 46
Sons of Levi verse 46
Altar verse 47
_______________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 46
Hand of the LORD verse 1
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign, Plural name) verse 2
Visions of God verse 2
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel (appearance of man) verse 3- 5
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Hand of the LORD verse 1
Behold with your eyes verse 4
Hear with your ears verse 4
Set in your heart verse 4
Declare all verse 4
Singers verse 44
Minister verse 46
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Land of Israel verse 2
Son of man = Ezekiel verse 4
House of Israel verse 4
Outer court verse 5- 27
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
___________________________________________________________________
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
_______________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
Isaiah 61:1–4 used the Jubilee Year as a symbol of the dawn of the messianic age. He portrayed the Jubilee Year as a time of release from captivity. Isaiah’s prophecy has long been viewed by premillennialists as an announcement of the millennium.19 Ezekiel’s use of terms similar to the Jubilee Year lends support to the conclusion that he prophesied the advent of the millennial kingdom and the millennial temple. Of the elements in this vision, four features regularly appear in introductory sections of apocalyptic literature. First, apocalyptic visions often were dated. Second, the recipients of visions were identified in apocalyptic writings. Ezekiel clearly was identified as the recipient by using his characteristic phrase “the hand of the Lord was on me” (Ezek 40:1). Third, apocalyptic writers often mentioned the location of the recipient of a vision at the time the revelation was received. Ezekiel suggested that he was taken to the land of Israel as he had been in an earlier vision (see 8:1–18). Fourth, any additional circumstances of importance related to the intended message were also included in apocalyptic writings. Such a detail was the appearance of the “man” who looked like bronze and had a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hands (v. 3). Both implements were used for measuring distances. As the vision unfolds, clearly this “man” was not a human being but a heavenly messenger. He instructed the prophet to pay careful attention and observe all he was about to see. By including such details, Ezekiel was underscoring the importance of his message, which was consistent with his commission to report all that he had seen (v. 4). (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Ezekiel (Vol. 17, pp. 355–356). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
_____________________________________________________________
3–4 Ezekiel moved into the inner sanctuary (IS) through a six-cubit-wide entrance (HJ) with two-cubit-wide door jambs (HJ) on walls seven cubits wide. As Ezekiel viewed the twenty-cubit-square room, he was told that this room was “the Most Holy Place.” By narrowing the entrance ways to the portico (40:48), to the outer sanctuary (41:2), and to the inner sanctuary (41:3) from fourteen cubits, to ten cubits, to six cubits, respectively, the architect focused the worshiper’s eyes on the Most Holy Place, the center of worship. (Alexander, R. H. (1986). Ezekiel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 963). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
________________________________________________________
40:1–4. The vision of the new temple came to Ezekiel in the 25th year of … exile, at the beginning of the year, on the 10th of the month, in the 14th year after the fall of the city. The date was sometime in 573 b.c. The phrase “the beginning of the year” poses some problems. The Israelite religious new year began in Nisan (April–May) and was established at the time of the Exodus (Ex. 12:1–2). However, in Israel’s later history the seventh month, Tishri (October–November), became established as the first month of Israel’s civil or regnal year. So the date would be either April 28, 573 b.c. or October 22, 573 b.c. The October date was also the Day of Atonement (cf. Lev. 23:27).
On that very day God … took Ezekiel back to Jerusalem in a vision (cf. Ezek. 8:1–3). Jerusalem was then vastly different from what it was before. Ezekiel was led on a “tour” of the future temple which he recorded in remarkable detail (see the sketch “The Millennial Temple,” on the previous page). This tour was given by a man, probably an angel, whose appearance was like bronze. (Dyer, C. H. (1985). Ezekiel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1304). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
__________________________________________________________
It was on April 28, 573 b.c.—the first day of Passover—that God gave Ezekiel the vision recorded in chapters 40–48. The Jews had been captives in Babylon for twenty-five years, and Passover would only remind them of their deliverance from Egypt. Passover was also the beginning of the religious year for Israel (Ex. 12:2), and the Lord chose that significant day to tell His servant about the glory that Israel would share when Messiah established His kingdom.
In a vision, Ezekiel visited the land of Israel, but unlike his previous “visits,” he didn’t see sinful people, a devastated land, or a defiled temple. This time he saw a new land and a glorious new temple. Just as Moses received the tabernacle plans while on a mountain, so Ezekiel received the plans for the temple while on a mountain. Moses wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised Land, but he saw it from a mountain (Deut. 34:1–4) and from a high mountain Ezekiel saw the land and its new tribal divisions.
It’s unlikely that the new temple would be on any other site than Mount Zion, but critics of the literal interpretation of this vision point out that Zion is not really a “very high mountain.” However, they may be overlooking the geographical changes that will occur in the land of Israel when the Lord returns to deliver His people and establish His kingdom (Zech. 14:4, 10). God promised that the Jews would worship and serve Him on a high mountain (Ezek. 20:40) and that Messiah would rule from a high mountain (17:22–23), and He will keep that promise. Both Isaiah and Micah speak of the high mountain (Isa. 2:1–2; Micah 4:1). Zion will not only be elevated physically, but it will become the center of the worship of the Lord for the whole earth.
In his vision, the prophet saw a man colored like bronze, which suggests he was an angelic visitor, standing just outside the eastern gate of the temple. He held a linen cord and a reed (rod), both of which were used for taking measurements, the line for long distances (Ezek. 47:3) and the rod for shorter measurements. The rod was probably a little over ten feet long (40:5). To measure property is symbolic of claiming it for yourself. During those years when the Jewish remnant was trying to rebuild their temple, the Prophet Zechariah saw a man measuring the temple, and this was a sign that the temple and the city would one day be restored (Zech. 2). God commanded the Apostle John to measure the temple in Jerusalem before it was trampled down by the Gentiles (Rev. 11). This was evidence that no matter what happened, Jerusalem and the temple belonged to God and would one day be restored and sanctified.
The man would give Ezekiel a guided tour of the temple precincts, starting from the eastern gate and then returning there at the end of the tour. But before they walked up the seven steps that led through the eastern gate into the outer court, the guide gave Ezekiel some solemn counsel (Ezek. 40:4).The prophet was to pay close attention to what he saw and heard because he would have to tell everything he learned to the exiles in Babylon. Of course, through his book, he would tell generations of people what he learned from the Lord during his tour of the temple. This means that the facts recorded in these chapters contained truths that Jews in Ezekiel’s day needed to know and believe. These truths are needed today by both Jews and Gentiles, if we are to understand God’s plan for the future. If all God wanted to do was impress Ezekiel with “spiritual worship,” the angel would have told him so. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be reverent (pp. 185–188). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications.)
________________________________________________________________
40:4 Declare … all that you see. Ezekiel 1–24 refers to Israel’s historical removal from her land; chaps. 25–32 to historical judgments against other nations; chap. 33 to a historical call to repentance and the fall of Jerusalem. So in chaps. 34–39, Israel’s literal, future return to the same Land as a reversal of the historical dispersion is the most natural way to interpret the chapters. Ezekiel 38, 39 describe a future, historical invasion of Israel and its aftermath during the time just before Messiah’s return. Therefore, chaps. 40–48 would then be thought to continue the historical, prophetic pattern, describing the millennial conditions after Messiah comes and destroys the ungodly (Rev 19:11ff.), under which Israel will live and worship. Believing Gentiles will also be in the kingdom as sheep of the Great Shepherd (cf. Mt 25:31–46), while all unbelievers are destroyed. Ezekiel is to write down all the details. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Eze 40:4). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
________________________________________________________
The last dated prophecy was that found in chapter 32:17, the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the twelfth month (ver. 1). The present prophecy was given thirteen years later, in the five-and-twentieth year of Israel’s captivity, fourteen years after Jerusalem had fallen. Many stirring events had taken place in the meantime, and thousands who had heard the previous prophecies had now passed away; but Ezekiel was still preserved of God and once more called upon to give a message from the Lord. This time it was in connection with the coming glory when Jehovah’s worship would be re-established in the land, and the Lord Himself would manifest His presence among His people. In the visions of God, Ezekiel, who was dwelling in Babylon, was brought into the land of Israel, and he found himself upon a very high mountain; possibly Mount Hermon is meant, though there is no definite identification. As Ezekiel looked down he saw the frame of a city on the south. A man of brilliant appearance like burnished brass, stood by with a line of flax and a measuring reed in his hand. This recalls the vision of Zechariah (2:1) where he saw a man with a measuring line in his hand about to measure Jerusalem, and also that of John (Rev. 11:1) where a reed was given to him like unto a rod that he might measure the temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein. Then in Rev. 21:15 John beheld an angel with a golden reed with which to measure the new Jerusalem, its gates and walls. The suggestion of course in each instance is the recognition of that which belongs to God, whether for earth or for heaven.
The man with the reed said to the prophet, “Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither.” It is very evident, then, that there was something of great importance in the vision which he was to behold and which he was to declare to the house of Israel. (Ironside, H. A. (1949). Expository notes on Ezekiel, the prophet. (pp. 282–283). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
____________________________________________________________
Ver. 4. And the man said unto me, son of man, &c.] The glorious and illustrious Person before described, who appeared in a human form, spoke to the prophet, calling him the son of man, a title often bestowed upon him in this prophecy; and here used to put him in mind of his original and descent, and of his meanness and unworthiness; thereby teaching him humility, which is necessary in order to receive instruction, and learn the knowledge of divine things; and also he might use this free and familiar way of speaking, both to express his philanthropy or good will to men, and to take off all terror from the mind of the prophet at his appearance; that he might more diligently attend to what he should see and hear, which he next advises him to: behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears; look with both eyes, and hear with both ears; that is, look wistly, and hear attentively; for if persons only have a glance or superficial view of any thing, or hear in a careless and indifferent manner, what they see and hear will make little impression upon them; nor will they retain, but soon forget it, and be incapable of relating it unto others: and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee; let thy mind be intent upon it; thoroughly consider it, and ponder it within thy heart; let it engross all thy thoughts and affections; so it will be imprinted upon thy mind, and be remembered by thee; for, unless a man’s heart is taken with what he sees and hears, it will soon be gone from him; and besides, these were things of great moment and importance, which were about to be shewn the prophet; as Moses had the pattern of the tabernacle shewn him in the mount; and as David had the pattern of the temple given him by the spirit and in writing, which were both typical of the church; and as John had a view of the New Jerusalem; so the prophet here is shewn the form and order of the Gospel church in the latter day: for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither; this was the design of his being brought in a visionary way out of Chaldea into the land of Israel, that he might have a view of the fabric after described; and therefore it was highly proper that he should diligently view it, and listen attentively to every thing that was said to him about it; and the rather, as he was to relate the whole to others, as follows: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel; to the people of Israel then in captivity; and to the church of God in every age, to whom this prophecy should come, and by whom it should be read; that the people of God in all succeeding times might know what will be the state and condition of the church of Christ in the latter day; and how far they now come short of Gospel order and discipline; see ch. 43:10, 11. It becomes the ministers of the word faithfully to declare what has been shewn them, whether respecting doctrine or practice, even all things, and keep back nothing that may be profitable and useful. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, p. 210). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
_______________________________________________________-
A regular cubit was measured from the tip of a man’s elbow to the tip of the middle finger, approximately eighteen inches. Ezekiel’s cubit was a longer cubit known as a royal cubit that added a “handbreadth.” This was the width of a man’s hand at the base of the fingers, approximately three inches. A royal cubit is estimated to be twenty-one inches. The measuring rod that Ezekiel saw in this vision was six cubits or about 10.5 feet. (Cooper, L. E. (1994). Vol. 17: Ezekiel. The New American Commentary (358). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
_________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
1 Kings 7
King Hiram of Tyre supplies artisans and craftsmen to finalize the glorious temple.
INSIGHT
Not only is the work of the temple designed to reflect the splendor and glory of God, but also the layout of the temple is designed to reflect His work in atoning for our sin. The bronze laver, the candlesticks, the tables of showbread, the Holy of Holies-all are designed to picture for us the atoning work of Christ. All this is in keeping with what Paul wrote in Romans 15:4: “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” (Quiet Walk)
__________________________________________________
The Christian’s Speech
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)
A Christian’s words are of transcendent importance, for Jesus has said: “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). The word “answer” in the text above means more than simply an answer to a question. The Greek word is used 250 times in the New Testament, and in every other instance it is used in a simple narrative sense (such as, “he answered saying”). Thus it refers to ordinary conversation, indicating that every verbal response of a Christian should be gracious and tasteful—never crude, or hurtful, or bland.
The Scriptures include many other specifications for a Christian’s speech. In the first place, there should not be too much of it! “Study to be quiet, and to do your own business” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Our words should be carefully chosen, able to be substantiated—“sound speech, that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:8). People should be able to rely on the truth of what we say. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour” (Ephesians 4:25). Furthermore, “let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). “But who ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8). Our words should always be edifying and helpful, wholesome and thoughtful.
But if this seems humanly impossible, remember God is able to tame our tongues, even though we cannot! The key is prayer—earnest and consistent prayer—not just that our speech become innocuous, but that it may edify, testify, and minister grace.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
_______________________________________________________
PSEUDO-INTELLECTUALISM
Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Some people are so afraid of emotionalism that there is an absence of a true and a healthy and a God-given emotion among them.
What is this all due to? I believe it is due to a pseudo-intellectualism, a false sense of what is respectable, and I am profoundly convinced that this may be one of the greatest hindrances to revival. You see, we pride ourselves on our learning.
One of the greatest intellects that this world has ever known was the apostle Paul. But look at him as he is moved by a grand sweep of emotion. He starts off on a point, but suddenly he names Christ, and he is lost. He forgets what he is saying, and he bursts into magnificent eloquence. And then he comes back to his point again. Disorder, if you like, inconsistencies —use your own term. Yes, but it is the glory of the man; this giant intellect, who could be moved by the truth, was moved to tears.
As George Whitefield was preaching about the glories of grace and salvation, tears were pouring down his cheeks, and those who listened to him were weeping, too. It is true of all these men; yet we may be so hard and so intellectual and so controlled. This is not a plea for emotionalism, which I have denounced—it is a plea for emotion. God save us from being so afraid of the false that we quench the Spirit of God and become so respectable and so pseudo-intellectual that the Spirit of God is kept back, and we go on in our dryness and aridity and in our comparative futility and helplessness and uselessness. Let us approximate a little more closely to the church as she is depicted in the pages of the New Testament. “Quench not the Spirit” but at the same time “prove all things; hold fast that which is good (5:21).”
A Thought to Ponder: This is not a plea for emotionalism—it is a plea for emotion.
(From Revival, p. 79, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
____________________________________________________________
WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WRONGED by Erwin W. Lutzer
When you walk in darkness you are blind to your personal faults. Since only those who agree with your pain are allowed an entrance into your soul, you choose a path where you are able to see the wrongdoings of others with undimmed clarity, but you will be near stone-blind to your own glaring faults. (p. 28)
____________________________________________
The judgmental person actually has a beam in his own eye and what he sees in others is but a speck. (p. 28)
________________________________________________
Emotionally injured people are typically extremely judgmental toward others. (p. 28)
_________________________________________________
Daily Hope Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 1:3-11
“The more things change the more they remain the same.” That is a statement I have heard many times in my lifetime and while we have seen many apparent changes, the basic elements of life are unchanging. The sun rises and the sun sets, people are born and people die. Certain parts of our lives are constant and unchanging.
Solomon has stated that, “all is vanity” in verse two. The seriousness of the statement immediately strikes us. It may, at first, appear depressing and fatalistic but it also is one that can bring stability and contentment to one’s life. Solomon uses the big picture concept of science to show us the reality of how unchanging our world is to our existence. He speaks of the permanence of the rising and setting of the sun, the currents of wind that blow and the cycle of water that flows from the land to the sea and back. As man comes and goes, the natural laws and established principles remain firmly in place.
While these statements may appear negative, the concrete nature of his writings brings an awareness of our limited and brief stint here on earth. Man, in looking only at the limited opportunity of time, is forced to realize the futility of his life. We are nothing more than cog in the cycle of earthly existence that constantly repeats itself. Solomon desires for his readers to recognize and realize that life is brief when looked only through the lens of nature or science.
When our focus is only on the present laws or principles of this world, we are forced to see the insignificance of ourselves. Solomon shows that the unchanging nature places us into a bondage that is inescapable. This passage is not a contradiction to the Gospel but a call for it. The world is in bondage; and humanity is unable to fully explain, find satisfaction in, or alter it.
Only the WORD, who came into the world from above, can open the way of understanding and escape (John 8:23, 31–32). Jesus has done a new thing: He has created a new covenant, given new birth, new life, and a new commandment (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Everything old and of this natural world passing away. Science does not have the answers for eternity but God does. How liberating to know that God’s plan goes beyond the natural laws of this passage to include the spiritual laws not mentioned here. After the resurrection John wrote “… these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). Continue to seek Him and His word by reading it daily.
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
_________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.