If this is your first viewing, please see my Introduction before reading this.
12-13 June. Ezekiel chapters 42-45
The vision that Ezekiel is given of a future temple is completed, first the building, then the purpose of its chambers is given, and then the glory of God is seen returning to the new Temple, just as in a previous vision Ezekiel had seen it departing. In this, God was promising a new start for his people. Their ancestors’ sin had finally driven the presence of God away from them, but he would return to start a new relationship with them.
But this is still very much a priestly understanding of worship, all about sacrifice by priests on behalf of the people. It was not yet a revelation of the New Covenant that Jesus brought. So the presence of God is followed by the erection of a huge altar, chapter 44 defines who can be a priest and what their responsibilities would be, and chapter 45 includes instructions for where they would live and for offerings and festivals, just as found in the book of Leviticus. There would have been no point (to the understanding of the Jews of his day) in offering sacrifice until God’s presence was there. Religion should never consist only of ritual for its own sake; any ritual should only serve to honour the presence of God and bring people into his presence.