Congregation Bible Study (30 min.): Rr ch. 14 paras. 1-7 and video.
1, 2. a) What did we learn in the previous chapter about Ezekiel's vision of the temple? b) What two things will we discuss in this chapter?
In the previous chapter we learned that the temple Ezekiel saw was not the great spiritual temple that the Apostle Paul spoke of centuries later. We also learned that the vision was intended to teach the people the value of God's standards for pure worship. Only if the people followed these standards could they once again have a good relationship with Jehovah. So he emphasized that important idea by repeating twice in a row, "This is the law of the temple" (read Ezekiel 43:12).
Let us now discuss the lessons to be learned from the vision of the temple. We will first see what specific lessons the exiles should have learned about Jehovah's standards for pure worship. With this clear, we will see what the vision means to us in these last days, such a difficult time.
3. Why could the scene of the vision have made the people ashamed of their behavior?
To learn what lessons the exiled Jews were able to draw, let's study some very striking features of this vision. The high mountain. The people likely associated the setting of Ezekiel's vision with Isaiah's encouraging prophecy of restoration (Isaiah 2: 2). But what did the fact that Jehovah's house was in such a high place teach them? That pure worship would be exalted, held high, would be above all. Of course, pure worship itself occupies a high place, as it is a system established by God who is "in a high position, far above all other gods" (Ps. 97: 9). But the people had not been doing their part. Over the centuries, they allowed pure worship to be degraded, polluted, and abandoned over and over again. Seeing the house of God raised high — that is, raised to the glorious and important position it deserves — kind-hearted Jews were sure to be ashamed of their behavior.
4, 5. What lesson did the exiled Jews perhaps learn about the massive gates of the temple?
The huge doors. At the beginning of the vision, Ezekiel saw that the accompanying angel was measuring the doors. They were no more and no less than 30 meters (100 feet) tall (Ezek. 40:14). Inside those great structures were the rooms of the guards. What would all this mean for those who studied the plan? Jehovah told Ezekiel: "Pay close attention to the entrance of the temple." Why did he tell you? Because the people had brought individuals "uncircumcised in heart and flesh" into Jehovah's house of worship, a very sacred place. This is why Jehovah stated: “They desecrate my temple” (Ezek. 44: 5, 7).
Those who were “uncircumcised... In the flesh” were disobeying a clear command that God had given in Abraham's day (Gen. 17: 9, 10; Lev. 12: 1-3). But the situation of the “uncircumcised in heart” was even worse, for they had completely rebelled against Jehovah's instructions and guidance. Those rebels should not have been given permission to enter Jehovah's sacred house of worship. He hates hypocrisy, but his people had let it reign in their house. The doors and guard rooms of the temple's vision make the lesson very clear: don't let that outrage happen again! To enter the house of God, one must respect his high standards. Only in this way does Jehovah approve of the worship of his people.
6, 7. (a) What message did Jehovah convey to his people with the image of the outer wall of the temple? b) How had the Israelites treated Jehovah's house? (See note).
The outer wall. Another striking feature of this vision was the wall that surrounded the temple area. Ezekiel says that the outer wall measured 500 canes — 1,555 meters (5,100 feet) —on each side. Imagine: more than a kilometer and a half (almost a mile) (Ezek. 42: 15-20). Still, the temple buildings and courtyards formed a square measuring only 500 cubits on each side — 850 feet (259 meters). That means that around the temple buildings there was a large area, and the outer wall surrounded it. * Why was it designed like this?
Jehovah said: “Let them now remove their spiritual prostitution and the corpses of their kings from me, and I will reside among them forever” (Ezek. 43: 9). It is very probable that the expression "the corpses of their kings" refers to the idolatry of that time. It was as if Jehovah used the wide space around the temple of vision to tell the Jews: “Take all that dirt away from here; I don't even want to see it! ”. In this way, if they kept their worship pure, Jehovah would bless them with his presence.
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