Ezekiel 42:1-20 takes us to his visionary tour back to the priests’ chambers located at the outer court. These two three-storey buildings were at the rear of the temple area. One at the north and the other at the south. Besides giving the measurements and dimensions of the two buildings, these verses also give some detail of how the identical chambers look.
What is the purpose of these
chambers? Verses 13-14 provide the details. These
chambers are “for the priest to eat and to change their robes. The chambers would be “where the priests who are near to the Lord shall eat the most holy things. There they shall lay
the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt
offering; for the place is holy. When the priests enter, then they shall
not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary without laying
there their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall
put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people.”
In verses
15-20, Ezekiel and his guide exited the inner court, out through the outer
court, passed the gate, and into the temple compound. There the guide measured
the whole square temple complex. Here the whole complex had a high wall enclosing
it. The obvious reason for the structure
is to ensure that the holy thing of God is protected from contamination from everyday
life outside.
These chambers
for the priests' preparation indicate the need for preparation in doing God’s
work. It’s a reminder that God’s work must not be carelessly rendered. One
cannot afford to be haphazard in discharging his duty to God. Once again, we cannot
get away from the need for personal holiness in our service to God. Let Psalm
15:1-2 be ever before us:
O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity, and
works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment