The Temple in Ezekiel

When I first read this section of Ezekiel where this new temple is described, I was very confused. Since the book of Ezekiel is about, in part, promises of restoration to the exiles, it seems as though the description of the temple is being given so that the exiles can follow the blueprints to rebuild their temple. But some of the details seem difficult to implement. For example, we'll read tomorrow how the sacred district for the sanctuary was to be five by seven miles and how there was a river flowing through the temple. Also, as the history of the Israelites moves ahead we'll see how the temple rebuilt by the exiles will actually be a smaller version of the original, not greater. The last version of the temple, Herod's temple, will not follow these blueprints either.

The People's Bible points out that it's important to note Ezekiel's assignment in 40:4. He was not told to build this temple. Rather he was to report what he saw regarding the already built temple. The People's Bible explains that while some have understood chapters 40-48 regarding the temple literally, Luther and the reformers preferred a symbolic interpretation. "Ezekiel here describes some general principles about the relationship between God and his people. For example, the temple plans indicate that holiness must be separated from unrighteousness; God's designs for people are prefect; the Lord is forever present among his people; he continues to dispense blessings; his people function in an orderly way as they serve him in their worship lives . . . The vision of the new temple fits well with the man other visions Ezekiel had seen and recorded in his book. All of them were presented in terms of something which happened in Israel's past and which now was recurring in somewhat changed form. The point is not that the outward form (of priesthood, or sacrifice or whatever) would occur again. The point is that the essential character or circumstances would repeat."