The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Ezekiel 40:2-4,
"In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. The man said to me, 'Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.'"
Fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem, the Lord took Ezekiel to the temple site in Jerusalem in a vision. Here in this vision is "a man whose appearance was like bronze". He tells Ezekiel to pay attention, to listen and look at the temple in the vision and report what he sees to the house of Israel.
A detailed description of the layout and measurements of this temple is given in the vision. I am reminded that the Lord can be very specific when he chooses to do so. Later, in chapter 43 we read that the purpose of the Lord in having Ezekiel provide this detailed description is so that the people of Israel may be ashamed of their sins. The Lord wants them to consider the plan, and if they are ashamed at all they have done, Ezekiel is to make known to them the design of the temple.
This temple, the Lord says, will be the place of his throne and "the place for the soles of my feet." Ezekiel 43:7. It will be where he will live among the Israelites forever.
This morning I am reminded that the Lord has chosen us, those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, those of us who have become his children, to be his temple today. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Fourteen years after the fall of Jerusalem, the Lord took Ezekiel to the temple site in Jerusalem in a vision. Here in this vision is "a man whose appearance was like bronze". He tells Ezekiel to pay attention, to listen and look at the temple in the vision and report what he sees to the house of Israel.
A detailed description of the layout and measurements of this temple is given in the vision. I am reminded that the Lord can be very specific when he chooses to do so. Later, in chapter 43 we read that the purpose of the Lord in having Ezekiel provide this detailed description is so that the people of Israel may be ashamed of their sins. The Lord wants them to consider the plan, and if they are ashamed at all they have done, Ezekiel is to make known to them the design of the temple.
This temple, the Lord says, will be the place of his throne and "the place for the soles of my feet." Ezekiel 43:7. It will be where he will live among the Israelites forever.
This morning I am reminded that the Lord has chosen us, those who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith, those of us who have become his children, to be his temple today. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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