Ezekiel 43:13-27

content/bible_journal/ezekiel_43:13-27.md

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+title = "Ezekiel 43:13–27"
+date = "2023-07-09"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel43.13-27)
+
+The laws of the temple that Ezekiel is to give to the people include not only
+the holy precinct of the temple, but also the instructions of the altar and how
+it is to be consecrated for use in worship. Because the measurements for the
+altar specify that they are the long cubit, roughly equivalent to 21 inches or
+a bit more than half a meter, the whole construction is really large. It is set
+up as a series of ledges like a ziggurat with the base being 14 long cubits on
+a side. Since the ledges are two and four cubits tall, there are steps on the
+eastern side of the altar for the priests to climb.
+
+But the priests aren't supposed to climb steps to any altar for the Lord,
+according to [Exodus 20:26](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Exodus20.26). That
+said, the reason given for this prohibition never really applied, because the
+priests were given undergarments as part of their vestements anyway,
+specifically to prevent their nakedness from being exposed during worship. In
+addition to the theological implications of nudity and clothing present
+throughout the Bible, this was a cultural distinctive for the Israelites in the
+ancient Near East. This is only speculation, but perhaps when this altar is
+constructed the steps will serve a new purpose because religious nudity is and
+will be far less prevalent than it was in the time of Moses.
+
+The Lord gives instructions for the dedication and consecration of the altar.
+Again the family of Zadok is singled out for the purpose of offering the
+sacrifices on it. I promise the reason for this is coming soon. The first
+sacrifice is a bull, it's blood put on the horns, ledge, and rim of the altar,
+but the rest of it are burned outside the sacred area. This was the common
+practice for the sin offering, which was for atoning for unintentional sins.
+The author of Hebrews compares the Crucifixion to a sin offering because Christ
+died outside of the city as well. After this initial sin offering, a goat is
+offered as a sin offering, and a bull and a ram are offered each day as a burnt
+offering with salt for a whole week. Once these are completed, the altar is
+consecrated and the people may again offer sacrifices to the Lord as they once
+had.
+
+* * *
+
+The cost of our sin is greater by far than all the animals we could ever
+sacrifice. Your mercy to us is greater than we can recognize.