44 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
44 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
+++
|
||
title = "Ezekiel 43:13–27"
|
||
date = "2023-07-09"
|
||
+++
|
||
|
||
### [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.
|