Ezk 43:12 This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple. (ESV)
The end of this chapter contains the measurements for the altar of the new temple, but the reason for all the specific measurements is given in the first half of the chapter. Essentially it is because the people have failed to obey God in the past. This chapter contains two specific charges.
First, in their sin they have been way too familiar with God. He says that they have been practicing their sin while living with only a single wall between them and God's holy place. There is a principle in scripture that God is both approachable and unapproachable. He invites us to draw near in holiness. He warns us to keep our distance because he is holy and we are not. In Christ we are declared holy and invited to come near. But even there we ought to guard against inappropriate familiarity. God is not Santa Claus nor the Easter Bunny and we must never treat him as such. He is Holy God.
The second sin addressed is the lack of shame over their sin. In verse 10 Ezekiel is instructed to describe the temple "that they may be ashamed of their iniquities." Too often we excuse or make excuses for our sin, blame others for our indiscretions, or even revel in our sin describing it as freedom or enlightened behavior. Even worse, we justify our sin as somehow being biblical. In the mean time lives are being destroyed, people are being hurt, God is being mocked and we can't see it.
When Israel crossed the Jordan under the leadership of Joshua they were told to follow, but not too close so that they could see where the ark was leading. Perhaps that is the concept here. In their familiarity with the presence of the temple they had forgotten who the great, holy unapproachable God is that they serve. With the measurements of the temple and the altar they are being called to step back and look again at the God they claim to serve.
Father, thank your for your grace and your glory. May I forget neither your grace nor your glory. May I live in that tension of having an open invitation to approach freely the unapproachable God that you are. And by your grace may I never excuse my sin.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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