From Ezekiel 43-45
Ezekiel nears the end of the description of the new temple. The climax of the vision ends with the LORD entering the temple in spectacular fashion. What kind of things are you filled with?
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
43 Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 3 And the vision I saw was just like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and just like the vision that I had seen by the Chebar canal. And I fell on my face. 4 As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, 5 the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (Eze 43.1-5)
It must have been an amazing vision to see and hear this happen.
6 While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, 7 and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. (Eze 43.6-7)
Do we see this happen in Israel’s history?
Story of Israel
If you’re aware of the history of Israel from Ezekiel onwards, you will know Judah and Israel are sent away from the promised land into exile. Eventually they are allowed to return. But at a shadow of their former state. They are now controlled by Gentile unbelievers. When they return the people are given provision to rebuild the temple. This happens in Ezra, nothing special seemed to happen.
13 Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. 14 And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; 15 and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.
16 And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses. (Ezr 6.13-18)
The LORD fulfilled some of the Ezekiel’s prophecy. They returned, rebuilt the temple and reinstituted the levitical priesthood and worship according to Moses’ specifications. But not all of Ezekiel’s prophecies were fulfilled. When does the glory of the LORD fill the temple?
Story of Jesus
Again, we see Ezekiel’s prophecies fulfilled in Jesus. You may remember from the last post Jesus is the new temple of the LORD. After he died he was raised up on the third day. So whenever you see Jesus, think Jesus is the temple of the LORD. Now consider what the Gospel of Luke says;
4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness (Lk 4.1)
Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit. Full of God’s Spirit. Just as Ezekiel prophesied the temple would be (‘filled with the Glory of the LORD). Ezekiel’s prophecy came true in Jesus.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights
