Reading
SAA Notes
This Temple was never an actual building. It foreshadows the true Temple of God – the body of Jesus Christ, His Church. It is a shadow of the Temple in Jerusalem Above. (See the book of Hebrews) Ezekiel had seen the destruction of the Temple Below. God gave Ezekiel a vision of a new Temple, similar yet very different to that destroyed. In this new Temple the Glory would return forever (Ezekiel 43:7). The spirit of this prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. (Rev 19:10b)
SJA Notes
* God Above, please show us Jesus today as we read Your word.
“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.”
We have here the description of a building, a new temple – Given in a vision from God to Ezekiel.
Ezekiel, the watchman on the wall, who was to blow the trumpet.
Called here to see and listen and to SET HIS HEART on all that God would show him.
God gives Ezekiel a very clear indication of what this building will look like. The rooms, the measurements, the placements.
As God called on Ezekiel, He calls us to SET OUR HEARTS on what He shows us.
What does this mean for us?
Why are we reading about a vision of a building that was never constructed here on earth?
Because it is being built! Just not by human hands.
In 1 Peter 2 we read of Jesus (the living stone rejected by men), and of us,
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
The new temple is being built – However, the stones are us (God’s people), and the builder is God Himself!
This is a wonderful thing.
Worthy of SETTING OUR HEARTS on.
Let’s do that today.
* Father God,
Thank You that we are each a part of Your holy temple, each stone important and ordered and thought of by You the builder.
Thank You that through Jesus we are living stones, built up in You and able to offer acceptable sacrifices to You.
Amen.