Let them measure the pattern

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 42-43

Ezekiel 43:10-11 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

Israel had not been faithful to the covenant and they were being chastised for their disobedience. Ezekiel was given the pattern for a new temple. A bigger and more glorious temple than they had ever seen. He was told to tell the people of Judah all about this temple so they would be ashamed of their iniquities.

Why would seeing the pattern of the new temple make the people ashamed? Because they had lost their temple because of their idolatry. The Babylonians destroyed it and God permitted it. The Israelites had placed idols in the temple and had worshipped false gods there. Now they were captives in a strange land. Because they polluted the temple God allowed it to be destroyed.

God said in hearing of the majesty of the new temple, they would be ashamed of their sin which caused the destruction of the former one.

Have you ever done something you weren't supposed to do and then saw what a mess you made of things and were ashamed? That is what God was showing them here. Even though they made a mess of true worship, God was going to establish something even more glorious.

When I think of Israel, I always want to learn the lessons they didn't learn. We need to learn from their mistakes. We need to learn to live for Christ each day and have no regrets. Living in Babylon, brought regret to Judah. Let's not have those. Let's live for Jesus now!

Israel was given the pattern of the temple. We are given the pattern of the perfect man, Jesus Christ. He is our measure.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

If you are going to look at the pattern of what a person should be, always look to Jesus.

In Christ,
Rody