Ezekiel 41

CHAPTER 41

The Temple (41:1–26)

1–4 In this chapter Ezekiel describes the main temple building. He was first brought into the outer sanctuary—the Holy Place (verses 1–2). Then the angel alone went into the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place (verses 3–4), where only a high priest was allowed to enter and then only once a year (Exodus 26:30–33; Hebrews 9:7).

5–26 Ezekiel continues his detailed description of the temple. In verses 21–22, he describes a wooden altar in the outer sanctuary, which the angel calls a table. Perhaps the table was meant to hold the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30). Notice that Ezekiel does not mention the ark of the Testimony with its atonement cover (Exodus 25:10–22); this had been the most important object both in the tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple.⁹¹

The modern reader may wonder why so much emphasis has been placed on the detailsof this temple—and also on the details of the tabernacle and Solomon’s temple that came before. The details are meant to show the symmetry, the perfection, of God’s dwelling place. The temple represents God’s holy presence with His people; it represents His rule, His authority, His throne room. To honor a great and glorious God, the symbol of His earthly presence—His temple—must be great and glorious as well.⁹²

There is a second reason for describing this temple to the exiles in Ezekiel’s time: in order to fully grasp what God had in store for them, they needed to hear it in terms they were familiar with. God graciously communicates with us in words we can easily understand. The reality, however, will be far more wonderful than our earthbound minds can conceive (1 Corinthians 2:910). And one day, when God creates a new heaven and a new earth, there will no longer need to be a temple; instead, there will be a city—a city that will far surpass anything in Ezekiel’s vision (Revelation 21:1–4,10–14,22–26). The city itself will be God’s “temple,” and those who have been written in the Lamb’s book of life will be able to dwell there with God forever (Revelation 21:27).