6 lines
11 KiB
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6 lines
11 KiB
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<p>The measuring-reed which was in the hand of the surveyor-general was mentioned before, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.3" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.3">Ezek. 40:3</a>. Here we are told (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.5" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.5">Ezek. 40:5</a>) what was the exact length of it, which must be observed, because the house was measured by it. It was <i>six cubits long</i>, reckoning, not by the common cubit, but the <i>cubit of the sanctuary</i>, the sacred cubit, by which it was fit that this holy house should be measured, and that was a hand-breadth (that it, four inches) longer than the common cubit: the common cubit was eighteen inches, this twenty-two, see <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.43.13" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.43.13">Ezek. 43:13</a>. Yet some of the critics contend that this <i>measuring-reed</i> was but six common cubits in length, and one handbreadth added to the whole. The former seems more probable. Here is an account,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. Of the outer wall of the house, which encompassed it round, which was three yards thick and three yards high, which denotes the separation between the church and the world on every side and the divine protection which the church is under. If a wall of this vast thickness will not secure it, God himself will be <i>a wall of fire round about it</i>; whoever attack it will do so at their peril.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. Of the several gates with the chambers adjoining to them. Here is no mention of the outer court of all, which was called the <i>court of the Gentiles</i>, some think because in gospel-times there should be such a vast confluence of Gentiles to the church that their court should be left unmeasured, to signify that the worshippers in that court should be unnumbered, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.7.9,Rev.7.11,Rev.7.12" href="/passage/?search=Rev.7.9,Rev.7.11,Rev.7.12"><span class="bibleref" title="Rev.7.9">Rev. 7:9</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Rev.7.11">11</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Rev.7.12">12</span></a>.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">1. He begins with the <i>east gate</i>, because that was the usual way of entering into the lower end of the temple, the holy of holies being at the west end, in opposition to the idolatrous heathen that worshipped towards the east. Now, in the account of this gate, observe, (1.) That he went up to it by <i>stairs</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.6" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.6">Ezek. 40:6</a>), for the gospel-church was exalted above that of the Old Testament, and when we go to worship God we must ascend; so is the call, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.4.1" href="/passage/?search=Rev.4.1">Rev. 4:1</a>. Come up hither. <i>Sursum corda—Up with your hearts</i>. (2.) That the chambers adjoining to the gates were but <i>little chambers</i>, about ten feet square, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.7" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.7">Ezek. 40:7</a>. These were for those to lodge in who attended the service of the house. And it becomes such as are made spiritual priests to God to content themselves with little chambers and not to seek great things to themselves; so that we may but have a place within the verge of God’s court we have reason to be thankful though it be in a little chamber, a mean apartment, though we be but door-keepers there. (3.) The chambers, as they were each of them four-square, denoting their stability and due proportion and their exact agreement with the rule (for they were each of them one reed long and one reed broad), so they were all of <i>one measure</i>, that there might be an equality among the attendants on the service of the house. (4.) The chambers were very many; for in our Father’s house there are <i>many mansions</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="John.14.2" href="/passage/?search=John.14.2">John 14:2</a>), in his house above, and in that here on earth. In the secret of his tabernacle shall those be hid, and in a safe pavilion, whose desire is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of their life, <a class="bibleref" title="Ps.27.4,Ps.27.5" href="/passage/?search=Ps.27.4,Ps.27.5"><span class="bibleref" title="Ps.27.4">Ps. 27:4</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="Ps.27.5">5</span></a>. Some make these chambers to represent the particular congregations of believers, which are parts of the great temple, the universal church, which are, and must be, framed by the scripture-line and rule, and which Jesus Christ takes the measure of, that is, takes cognizance of, for he walks in the midst of the seven golden candle-sticks. (5.) It is said (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.14" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.14">Ezek. 40:14</a>), <i>He made also the posts</i>. He that now measured them was the same that made them; for Christ is the builder of his church and therefore is best able to give us the knowledge of it. And his reducing them to the rule and standard is called his making them, for no account is made of them further than they agree with that. <i>To the law and to the testimony</i>. (6.) Here are posts of sixty cubits, which, some think, was literally fulfilled when Cyrus, in his edict for rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem, ordered that the height thereof should be sixty cubits, that is, thirty yards and more, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezra.6.3" href="/passage/?search=Ezra.6.3">Ezra 6:3</a>. (7.) Here were windows to the little chambers, and windows to <i>the posts and arches</i> (that is, to the cloisters below), and <i>windows round about</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.16" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.16">Ezek. 40:16</a>), to signify the light from heaven with which the church is illuminated; divine revelation is let into it for instruction, direction, and comfort, to those that dwell in God’s house, light to work by, light to walk by, light to see themselves and one another by. There were lights to the little chambers; even the least, and least considerable, parts and members of the church, shall have light afforded them. <i>All thy children shall be taught of the Lord</i>. But they are <i>narrow windows</i>, as those in the temple, <a
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<p class="tab-1">2. The gates that looked towards the north (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.20" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.20">Ezek. 40:20</a>) and towards the south (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.24" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.24">Ezek. 40:24</a>), with their appurtenances, are much the same with that towards the east, <i>after the measure of the first gate</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.21" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.21">Ezek. 40:21</a>. But the description is repeated very particularly. And thus largely was the structure of the tabernacle related in Exodus, and of the temple in the books of Kings and Chronicles, to signify the special notice God does take, and his ministers should take, of all that belong to his church. His delight is in them; his eye is upon them. He knows all that are his, all his living temples and all that belongs to them. Observe, (1.) This temple had not only a gate towards the east, to let into it the <i>children of the east</i>, that were famous for their wealth and wisdom, but it had a gate to the north, and another to the south, for the admission of the poorer and less civilized nations. The new Jerusalem has <i>twelve gates</i>, three towards each quarter of the world (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.21.13" href="/passage/?search=Rev.21.13">Rev. 21:13</a>); for many shall come from all parts to sit down there, <a class="bibleref" title="Matt.8.11" href="/passage/?search=Matt.8.11">Matt. 8:11</a>. (2.) To those gates they went up by steps, <i>seven steps</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.22-Ezek.40.26" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.22-Ezek.40.26">Ezek. 40:22-26</a>), which, as some observe, may remind us of the necessity of advancing in grace and holiness, adding one grace to another, going from step to step, <i>from strength to strength</i>, still pressing forward towards perfection—upward, upward, towards heaven, the temple above.</p>
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