LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Message 23
THE BUILDING AT THE BACK OF THE TEMPLE,
THE WALLS, THE ALTAR OF INCENSE,
THE MOST HOLY PLACE, AND THE KITCHENS
WEEK 11 - FRIDAY
Scripture Reading: Ezek. 41:23-24; 42:5-6, 13-14; Matt. 7:15; Eph. 3:18
Read and pray: “Jesus therefore said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.” (John 10:7-8)
WITHOUT A LAMPSTAND
In this temple there is no lampstand to give light. In the tabernacle there was no window or opening in the Holy Place; therefore, the lampstand was needed. But in the temple described in the book of Ezekiel, there are many windows that allow light and air to enter. Thus, there is no need of a lampstand.
THE DOORS
Both the outer temple and the inner temple had doors at the entrance (v. 23). In both entrances there were two doors, each made of two folding sections. The gates were simply open, but within the gates were the doors, which could be opened and closed.
As we apply this to our situation today, we may say that when positive people, such as the apostles, come, we certainly should open the door. However, when negative people, such as wolves (Matt. 7:15), come, we should close the door.
Does the local church in your locality have doors? I am concerned that the church in your locality may have only passages but may not have gates with doors. In the church life we need the gates with the doors.
On the one hand, we should be open to positive people and positive things; on the other hand, we should be closed to negative people and negative things. We must close the door and refuse to let them enter. The function of the doors is similar to that of screens on windows: they are open to allow positive things to enter, but closed to keep negative things away.
Each gate has two doors, and each door is made of two leaves. This makes a total of four leaves in each gate (Ezek. 41:24). The fact that each door is made of two folding leaves shows us that the doors are flexible, turning and folding. Sometimes, in the church life, the leaders are not flexible. They do not know how to be folded, nor do they turn. The church needs to turn, to fold, to have flexible doors that are easy to open and easy to close.
THE HOLY CHAMBERS
The holy chambers are linking galleries that connect the inner court with the outer court. These chambers are located both on the north side and on the south side (42:13). The holy chambers are fifty cubits wide and one hundred cubits long, with a passage of ten cubits wide between them.
Each of these galleries is composed of two rows facing one another with a passage between them. Thus, the many doors in the south gallery open toward the north, and the many doors in the north gallery open toward the south. This makes them a linking gallery.
The important point is that the holy chambers are for the priests to eat the offerings. We have seen that the chambers on the pavement in the outer court are for the people to eat the offerings. Now we see that the holy chambers are for the priests to eat the offerings and also to deposit and store the offerings. This is where the priests put their priestly garments (v. 14).
In the chambers on the pavements, people may enjoy Christ, but they cannot express Christ, because they do not have the priestly garment. The priestly garments typify the Christ who is expressed and lived.
Considering that the offerings typify Christ as our enjoyment, the garments typify Christ as our expression. Those who are in the outer court can only enjoy Christ, but they cannot live Christ and express Him.
The situation with the priests is much better. The priests not only enjoy Christ but also express Christ. They not only eat Christ but also live Christ. Furthermore, they have the deposit of Christ. In all these things we can see much progress in the experience of Christ.
It is here, in the holy chambers, that the highest peak of the spiritual experience is reached. To live in the holy chambers is to live in Christ. To eat the offerings in the holy chambers is to eat Christ. To put on the holy garments is to put on Christ. From this we see that in the holy chambers we live in Christ, enjoy Christ, and express Christ.
The holy chambers located on the north and on the south face one another. This typifies fellowship, testimony, and confirmation. The deposit, the supply, and the enjoyment of Christ are a matter of fellowship, testimony, and confirmation.
The holy chambers are one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. The number one hundred typifies perfect completeness in fullness, and the number fifty typifies man bearing the full and complete responsibility after receiving the grace of God.
Furthermore, if we combine the holy chambers on the north and on the south, we will have another square of one hundred cubits on each side, typifying perfect storage, supply, and enjoyment. Moreover, these holy chambers testify to one another, and when they are combined, there is an absolute and perfect completeness.
This indicates that when the mutual testimonies are added together, there is the absolute enjoyment and storage of Christ. We cannot have this individually, but with all the saints (Eph. 3:18).
The holy chambers, like the side chambers, are of three stories (Ezek. 42:5-6). In height they are equal to the side chambers, indicating that they correspond to the fullness of Christ. The priests enjoy Christ, put on Christ, store Christ, and possess Christ in such a way that the height of their chambers is equal to the height of the side chambers, which typify the fullness of Christ.
🌿Enjoy more:
Hymn: Praise the Lord - “Satisfaction with Him”
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