The most devastating aspect of the fall of Jerusalem that Ezekiel announced, and now looks back on, was the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. At the climax of Ezekiel’s oracles of restoration therefore is a vision of a new temple. There are features of this temple that are impractical enough to encourage us to assume that this is not a literal architectural blueprint (40:2; 47:1-12). Its obvious connection with Revelation 22 would justify us reading this as an apocalyptic vision in which the future plans of God were symbolised. The temple was always only a symbol of a greater reality anyway. The New Testament church is described as the temple of God (Ephesians 2:21) and in Revelation 21 we see this temple prepared as a bride coming to find its home on the new earth. So, however we interpret this vision, the symbolism is the same. God is building a temple today and you are a part of it. Inasmuch as your heart is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, you yourself are a temple of God. If we were to take a tour through your heart, what would it look like inside? What desires would God’s temple be furnished with? Who would be enthroned in the Most Holy place? What images would adorn the walls of your imagination? Ezekiel’s tour of the temple here from chapter 40 is a contrast to the earlier tour he had in chapter 8 in which Ezekiel was shown the idolatry in the temple. God wants to cleanse your heart and make it like the glorious temple in Ezekiel 40-42.
Reflect on the state of your own heart and ask God to purify your desires.
Read Ezekiel 40-42
