Ezekiel 40:1-4, Vision of the New Temple 1 – Four Commandments(Look, l…

Ezekiel 40:1-4, Vision of the New Temple 1 – Four Commandments(Look, listen, think, & tell)

 Chapters 40-48 are the last paragraph of the Book of Ezekiel. In a vision, he travels to his homeland, Jerusalem, in spirit and sees a remarkable vision. Chapters 40-43 are visions of the restored new temple. Chapters 44-46 are visions of a new worship service. Chapters 47-48 are visions of a new inheritance (new earth, new holy place).

 40:1-4 is the beginning of the vision of the New Jerusalem Temple. In the 25th year of his captivity, the prophet Ezekiel is led by God's power(hand) to stand on a very high mountain in Jerusalem, Israel. In fact, the mountain is not "very high." It is only 830 meters(Mount of Olives) or 760 meters(Mount Zion) above sea level. However, it is a "very high mountain" because of the presence of the highest God. There, he meets a man and sees the all blueprint of the temple.
 This passage demonstrates God's sovereign presence(God's power, His hand) and the hope for God's kingdom. This isn't simply a story about measuring the temple. It's an event that marks the beginning of God's new plan and restoration. God commands Ezekiel to look, listen, think, and tell what the man with the ruler shows him(4).

Let us listen to the word He gives us.
*What is the "vision" God wants to give me in my life? Am I in a position to see it?

1. Have Hope for the New Temple(1-2)

 Ezekiel received His vision at a time of despair. It had been 25 years since he and the Israelites had been taken captive to Babylon. Fourteen years had passed since the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. We say a land can be transformed in ten years, by the way after 14 years, there was no hope of restoration.    The people had no hope for the temple or for the city to be rebuilt. However, by showing Ezekiel the new temple where God would dwell, God gave him a message of hope that even in the midst of despair, God's restoration would surely come true.
 The tabernacle in the wilderness was where God dwelled. It was a place where His presence and glory were revealed. Today, when we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Our bodies and temples are God's house(1 Cor.3:16, 6:19). When we experience God's presence, when we are certain that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we transcend despair and live in hope. In chapter 37, God showed us the amazing hope that the dry bones would come to life and become a great army through the vision of dry bones. May we also be blessed to regain this hope of revival and resurrection. Amen.

2. Know God's Precise Providence(3)

 God showing Ezekiel the new temple demonstrates that God governs everything in the temple with precision and order. The same applies to our lives. God guides our lives according to His most perfect plan. Even though our lives may sometimes feel chaotic and disorganized, God is working everything out according to His will. God works all things together for good in our lives(Rom.8:28). Amen.

3. Meditate on God's Presence(4)
 God tells Ezekiel, "See with your eyes, hear with your ears, ponder with your heart, and proclaim." This means not simply hearing God's revelations, but deeply understanding their meaning, engraving them in your heart, and conveying them. God wants us to cultivate spiritual sensitivity to experience His presence. To allow God to work in our lives anew, we must first seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, organizing and preparing our hearts and minds. May you see, hear, contemplate, and proclaim God's presence.

Applying to our lives today:
1) He tells us to trust in God's providence.

 Is your life not going as you want it to? It can be confusing because your plans and God's plans differ. However, God sees and knows all our circumstances precisely. Let us decide to let go of our own plans and move forward, trusting in God's great providence (Romans 8:28).

2) He tells us to experience God's presence.
 God speaks to us. Like Ezekiel, we need time to see God's word with our eyes, hear it with our ears, and meditate on it in our hearts(4). Like Ezekiel, who experienced God's presence in his moments of despair, may we also experience God's presence.

*Do you practice listening to God's voice through daily meditation and prayer?

3) He tells us to hold on to the hope of God's kingdom(1:4).

 Let us not be discouraged even amid the suffering and difficulties of this world. God showed Ezekiel, who had been in exile for 25 years, the hope of the new temple. He has also given us the ultimate hope of God's kingdom and eternal life in Jesus Christ. Let us hold on to this hope and steadfastly walk the path of faith.
*What despair am I facing right now? Am I waiting for God's mighty presence, even in that midst?

Let us connect this with the kingdom of God.

 This passage goes beyond simply reconstructing the ruined temple of Solomon; it shows the ultimate restoration of God's kingdom. The destroyed temple signifies the broken relationship with God due to Israel's idolatry and sins. The new temple symbolizes the kingdom of God that will be restored through Jesus Christ. Jesus himself said, "I will destroy this temple, and in three days I will build it again"(John 2:19), referring to His own body as the temple. Jesus is "greater than the temple" (Matthew 12:6). The kingdom of God has come in Jesus(Luke 17:21). Through the Holy Spirit, the church community expands the kingdom of God. In other words, the ultimate fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision is the kingdom of God, fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
*Am I currently living as a citizen of the kingdom of God? Am I living a life where God's rule is realized in my daily life?

 Therefore, through this passage, we can understand that God is building a new temple in our hearts and lives through Jesus Christ, and that He is expanding the kingdom of God on earth through us. Verse 4 tells Ezekiel to tell what he has seen(4). The vision of restoration is not something I see alone, but something for the community. As the temple where God dwells in this world, we must live lives that bear witness to God's kingdom.
*Am I seeing, hearing, and deeply meditating on God's Word? Am I sharing the grace I have received with the community? (Testimony)

Prayer:

 Loving God, even in times of despair, I believe Your mighty hand holds me. Please restore the parts of my life that are captive to the world and sins, and the broken parts. In a reality that seems blocked, let me see the vision of restoration in God's kingdom that is wide open. Let me reestablish Your plan and order in my life, and help me look forward to God's kingdom. Even in despair, let me see, hear, and meditate on God's presence, and share the grace I have received. Let me share the vision of the resurrection and life of Jesus Christ with the community, and together we build God's kingdom. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.