mh_parser/vol_split/26 - Ezekiel/Chapter 43.xml

<div2 id="Ez.xliv" n="xliv" next="Ez.xlv" prev="Ez.xliii" progress="65.75%" title="Chapter XLIII">
<h2 id="Ez.xliv-p0.1">E Z E K I E L.</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.xliv-p0.2">CHAP. XLIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.xliv-p1" shownumber="no">The prophet, having given us a view of the
mystical temple, the gospel-church, as he received it from the
Lord, that it might appear not to be erected in vain, comes to
describe, in this and the next chapter, the worship that should be
performed in it, but under the type of the Old-Testament services.
In this chapter we have, I. Possession taken of this temple, by the
glory of God filling it, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.1-Ezek.43.6" parsed="|Ezek|43|1|43|6" passage="Eze 43:1-6">ver.
1-6</scripRef>. II. A promise given of the continuance of God's
presence with his people upon condition of their return to, and
continuance in, the instituted way of worship, and their abandoning
idols and idolatry, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.7-Ezek.43.12" parsed="|Ezek|43|7|43|12" passage="Eze 43:7-12">ver.
7-12</scripRef>. III. A description of the altar of
burnt-offerings, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.13-Ezek.43.17" parsed="|Ezek|43|13|43|17" passage="Eze 43:13-17">ver.
13-17</scripRef>. IV. Directions given for the consecration of that
altar, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.18-Ezek.43.27" parsed="|Ezek|43|18|43|27" passage="Eze 43:18-27">ver. 18-27</scripRef>.
Ezekiel seems here to stand between God and Israel, as Moses the
servant of the Lord did when the sanctuary was first set up.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.xliv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43" parsed="|Ezek|43|0|0|0" passage="Eze 43" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.xliv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.1-Ezek.43.6" parsed="|Ezek|43|1|43|6" passage="Eze 43:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Ez.xliv-p1.7">
<h4 id="Ez.xliv-p1.8">The Vision of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p1.9">b. c.</span> 574.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.xliv-p2" shownumber="no">1 Afterward he brought me to the gate,
<i>even</i> the gate that looketh toward the east:   2 And,
behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the
east: and his voice <i>was</i> like a noise of many waters: and the
earth shined with his glory.   3 And <i>it was</i> according
to the appearance of the vision which I saw, <i>even</i> according
to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the
visions <i>were</i> like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar;
and I fell upon my face.   4 And the glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p2.1">Lord</span> came into the house by the way of the gate
whose prospect <i>is</i> toward the east.   5 So the spirit
took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the
glory of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p2.2">Lord</span> filled the house.
  6 And I heard <i>him</i> speaking unto me out of the house;
and the man stood by me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p3" shownumber="no">After Ezekiel has patiently surveyed the
temple of God, the greatest glory of this earth, he is admitted to
a higher form, and honoured with a sight of the glories of the
upper world; it is said to him, <i>Come up hither.</i> He has seen
the temple, and sees it to be very spacious and splendid; but, till
the glory of God comes into it, it is but like the dead bodies he
had seen in vision (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.37.1-Ezek.37.28" parsed="|Ezek|37|1|37|28" passage="Eze 37:1-28"><i>ch.</i>
xxxvii.</scripRef>), that had <i>no breath</i> till the Spirit of
life entered into them. Here therefore he sees the house filled
with God's glory.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p4" shownumber="no">I. He has a vision of <i>the glory of
God</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.2" parsed="|Ezek|43|2|0|0" passage="Eze 43:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
<i>the glory of the God of Israel,</i> that God who is in covenant
with Israel, and whom they serve and worship. The idols of the
heathen have no glory but what they owe to the goldsmith or the
painter; but this is the glory of the God of Israel. This glory
<i>came from the way of the east,</i> and therefore he was brought
to the <i>gate that leads towards the east,</i> to expect the
appearance and approach of it. Christ's <i>star was seen in the
east,</i> and he is that <i>other angel that ascends out of the
east,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.7.2" parsed="|Rev|7|2|0|0" passage="Re 7:2">Rev. vii. 2</scripRef>. For he
is the morning star, he is the sun of righteousness. Two things he
observed in this appearance of the glory of God:—1. The power of
his word which he heard: <i>His voice was like a noise of many
waters,</i> which is heard very far, and makes impressions; the
noise of purling streams is grateful, of a roaring sea dreadful,
<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.15 Bible:Rev.14.2" parsed="|Rev|1|15|0|0;|Rev|14|2|0|0" passage="Re 1:15,14:2">Rev. i. 15; xiv. 2</scripRef>.
Christ's gospel, in the glory of which he shines, was to be
proclaimed aloud, the report of it to be heard far; to some it is a
savour of life, to others of death, according as they are. 2. The
brightness of his appearance which he saw: <i>The earth shone with
his glory;</i> for God is light, and none can bear the lustre of
his light, none <i>has seen</i> nor <i>can see it.</i> Note, That
glory of God which shines in the church shines on the world. When
God appeared for David <i>the brightness that was before him</i>
dispersed the clouds, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.12" parsed="|Ps|18|12|0|0" passage="Ps 18:12">Ps. xviii.
12</scripRef>. This appearance of the glory of God to Ezekiel he
observed to be the same with the vision he saw when he first
received his commission (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.1.4" parsed="|Ezek|1|4|0|0" passage="Eze 1:4"><i>ch.</i> i.
4</scripRef>), <i>according to that by the river Chebar</i>
(<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.3" parsed="|Ezek|43|3|0|0" passage="Eze 43:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>); because God
is the same, he was pleased to manifest himself in the same manner,
for with him is <i>no variableness.</i> "It was the same" (says he)
"as that which I saw <i>when I came to destroy the city,</i> that
is, to foretel the city's destruction," which he did with such
authority and efficacy, and the event did so certainly answer the
prediction, that he might be said to destroy it. As a judge, in
God's name, he passed a sentence upon it, which was soon executed.
God appeared in the same manner when he sent him to speak words of
terror and when he sent him to speak words of comfort; for in both
God is and will be glorified. <i>He kills and he makes alive;</i>
he <i>wounds and he heals,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.39" parsed="|Deut|32|39|0|0" passage="De 32:39">Deut.
xxxii. 39</scripRef>. To the same hand that destroyed we must look
for deliverance. <i>He has smitten, and he will bind up. Una
eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit—The same hand inflicted the
wound and healed it.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p5" shownumber="no">II. He has a vision of the entrance of this
glory into the temple. When he saw this glory he <i>fell upon his
face</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.3" parsed="|Ezek|43|3|0|0" passage="Eze 43:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), as
not <i>able</i> to bear the lustre of God's glory, or rather as one
willing to give him the glory of it by a humble and reverent
adoration. But the Spirit <i>took him up</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.5" parsed="|Ezek|43|5|0|0" passage="Eze 43:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>) when the <i>glory of the
Lord</i> had <i>come into the house</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.4" parsed="|Ezek|43|4|0|0" passage="Eze 43:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), that he might see how the house
was filled with it. He saw how the glory of the Lord in this same
appearance departed from the temple, because it was profaned, to
his great grief; now he shall see it return to the temple to his
great satisfaction. See <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.10.18-Ezek.10.19 Bible:Ezek.11.23" parsed="|Ezek|10|18|10|19;|Ezek|11|23|0|0" passage="Eze 10:18,19,11:23"><i>ch.</i> x. 18, 19; xi. 23</scripRef>. Note,
Though God may forsake his people for a small moment, he will
return with everlasting loving-kindness. God's glory <i>filled the
house</i> as it had filled the tabernacle which Moses set up and
the temple of Solomon, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.40.34 Bible:1Kgs.8.10" parsed="|Exod|40|34|0|0;|1Kgs|8|10|0|0" passage="Ex 40:34,1Ki 8:10">Exod.
xl. 34; 1 Kings viii. 10</scripRef>. Now we do not find that ever
the Shechinah did in that manner take possession of the second
temple, and therefore this was to have its accomplishment in that
glory of the divine grace which shines so brightly in the gospel
church, and fills it. Here is no mention of a cloud filling the
house as formerly, for we now <i>with open face behold the glory of
the Lord,</i> in the face of Christ, and not as of old through the
cloud of types.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p6" shownumber="no">III. He receives instructions more
immediately from the glory of the Lord, as Moses did when God had
taken possession of the tabernacle (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.1" parsed="|Lev|1|1|0|0" passage="Le 1:1">Lev.
i. 1</scripRef>): <i>I heard him speaking to me out of the
house,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.6" parsed="|Ezek|43|6|0|0" passage="Eze 43:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
God's glory shining in the church, we must thence expect to receive
divine oracles. <i>The man stood by me;</i> we could not bear to
hear the voice of God any more than to see the face of God if Jesus
Christ did not stand by us as Mediator. Or, if this was a created
angel, it is observable that when God began to speak to Ezekiel he
stood by and gave way, having no more to say. Nay, he stood by the
prophet, as a learner with him; for <i>to the principalities and
powers,</i> to the angels themselves, who <i>desire to look
into</i> these things, <i>is known by the church the manifold
wisdom of God,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.3.10" parsed="|Eph|3|10|0|0" passage="Eph 3:10">Eph. iii.
10</scripRef>. The man stood by him to conduct him thither where he
might receive further discoveries, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.44.1" parsed="|Ezek|44|1|0|0" passage="Eze 44:1"><i>ch.</i> xliv. 1</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.xliv-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.7-Ezek.43.12" parsed="|Ezek|43|7|43|12" passage="Eze 43:7-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Ez.xliv-p6.6">
<h4 id="Ez.xliv-p6.7">The Vision of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p6.8">b. c.</span> 574.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.xliv-p7" shownumber="no">7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of
my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will
dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy
name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, <i>neither</i>
they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of
their kings in their high places.   8 In their setting of
their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and
the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name
by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have
consumed them in mine anger.   9 Now let them put away their
whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will
dwell in the midst of them for ever.   10 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 <i>it</i> in their sight, that they may keep the
whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
  12 This <i>is</i> the law of the house; Upon the top of the
mountain the whole limit thereof round about <i>shall be</i> most
holy. Behold, this <i>is</i> the law of the house.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p8" shownumber="no">God does here, in effect, renew his
covenant with his people Israel, upon his retaking possession of
the house, and Ezekiel negotiates the matter, as Moses formerly.
This would be of great use to the captives at their return both for
direction and encouragement; but it looks further, to those that
are blessed with the privileges of the gospel-temple, that they may
understand how they are before him on their good behaviour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p9" shownumber="no">I. God, by the prophet, puts them in mind
of their former provocations, for which they had long lain under
the tokens of his displeasure. This conviction is spoken to them to
make way for the comforts designed them. Though God <i>gives and
upbraids not,</i> it becomes us, when he forgives, to upbraid
ourselves with our unworthy conduct towards him. Let them now
remember therefore, 1. That they had formerly <i>defiled God's holy
name,</i> had profaned and abused all those sacred things by which
he had made himself known among them, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.7" parsed="|Ezek|43|7|0|0" passage="Eze 43:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. <i>They and their kings</i> had
brought contempt on the religion they professed, and their relation
to God, by their spiritual whoredom, their idolatry, and by
worshipping images, which they called <i>their kings</i> (for so
<i>Moloch</i> signifies) or lords (for so <i>Baal</i> signifies),
but which were really the <i>carcases of kings,</i> not only
lifeless and useless, but loathsome and abominable as dead
carcases, <i>in their high places,</i> set up in honour of them.
They had defiled God's name by their abominations. And what were
they? It was <i>in setting their threshold by my thresholds, and
their post by my posts,</i> that is, adding their own inventions to
God's institutions, and urging all to a compliance with them, as if
they had been of equal authority and efficacy, <i>teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.29.13" parsed="|Isa|29|13|0|0" passage="Isa 29:13">Isa. xxix. 13</scripRef>); or, rather, setting up
altars to their idols even in the courts of the temple, than which
a more impudent affront could not be put upon the divine Majesty.
Thus they set up a separation <i>wall between him and them,</i>
which stopped the current of his favours to them and spoiled the
acceptableness of their services to him. See what an indignity
sinners do to God, setting up their walls in opposition to his, and
thrusting him out from what is his right; and see what injury they
do to themselves, for the nearer any come to God with their sins
the further they set him at a distance from them. Some give this
sense of it: Though their houses joined close to God's house, their
posts and thresholds to his, so that they were in a manner his next
neighbours, <i>there was but a wall between me and them</i> (so it
is in the margin), so that it might have been expected they would
acquaint themselves with him and be in care to please him, yet they
were not so much as neighbourly. Note, It often proves too true,
<i>The nearer the church the further from God.</i> They were, by
profession, in covenant with God, and yet they had <i>defiled the
place of his throne</i> and of <i>the soles of his feet,</i> his
temple, where he did both reside and reign. Jerusalem is called the
<i>city of the great king</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.48.2" parsed="|Ps|48|2|0|0" passage="Ps 48:2">Ps.
xlviii. 2</scripRef>) and his <i>footstool,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.99.5 Bible:Ps.132.7" parsed="|Ps|99|5|0|0;|Ps|132|7|0|0" passage="Ps 99:5,132:7">Ps. xcix. 5; cxxxii. 7</scripRef>. Note, When God's
ordinances are profaned his holy name is polluted. 2. That for this
God had had a controversy with them in their late troubles. They
could not condemn him, for he had but brought upon them the desert
of their sins: <i>Wherefore I have consumed them in my anger.</i>
Note, Those that pollute God's holy name fall under his just
displeasure.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p10" shownumber="no">II. He calls upon them to repent and
reform, and, in order to that, to be ashamed of their iniquities
(<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.9" parsed="|Ezek|43|9|0|0" passage="Eze 43:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Now let
them put away their whoredom;</i> now that they have smarted so
severely for it, and now that God is returning in mercy to them and
setting up his sanctuary again in the midst of them, now let them
cast away their idols and have no more to do with them, that they
may not again forfeit the privileges which they have been taught to
know the worth of by the want of them. Let them put away their
idols, those loathsome <i>carcases of their kings, far from me,</i>
from being a provocation to me." This was seasonable counsel now
that the prophet had the model or pattern of the temple to set
before them; for, 1. If <i>they see that pattern,</i> they will
surely be ashamed of their sins (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.10" parsed="|Ezek|43|10|0|0" passage="Eze 43:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): when they see what mercy God
has in store for them, notwithstanding their utter unworthiness of
it, they will be ashamed to think of their disingenuous conduct
towards him. Note, The goodness of God to us should lead us to
repentance, especially to a penitential shame. Let <i>them measure
the pattern</i> themselves, and see how much it exceeds the former
pattern, and guess by that what great things God has in store for
them; and surely it will put them out of countenance to think what
the desert of their sins was. And then, 2. If <i>they be
ashamed</i> of their sins, they shall surely see more of the
pattern, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.11" parsed="|Ezek|43|11|0|0" passage="Eze 43:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. If
they <i>be ashamed of all that they have done,</i> upon a general
view of the goodness of God, let them have a more distinct
particular account of the temple. Note, Those that improve what
they see and know of the goodness of God shall see and know more of
it. And then, and not till then, we are qualified for God's
favours, when we are truly humbled for our own follies. "<i>Show
them the form of the house;</i> let them see what a stately
structure it will be; and withal show them the ordinances and laws
of it." Note, With the foresights of our comforts it is fit that we
should get the knowledge of our duty; with the privileges of God's
house we must acquaint ourselves with the rules of it. <i>Show
them</i> these ordinances, that they may <i>keep them</i> and <i>do
them.</i> Note, <i>Therefore</i> we are made to know our duty, that
we may do it, and be blessed in our deed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p11" shownumber="no">III. He promises that they shall be such as
they should be, and then he will be to them such as they would have
him to be, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.7" parsed="|Ezek|43|7|0|0" passage="Eze 43:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. 1.
The house of <i>Israel shall no more defile my holy name.</i> This
is pure gospel. The precept of the law says, You must not defile my
name: the grace of the gospel says, You shall not. Thus what is
required in the covenant is promised in the covenant, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.32.40" parsed="|Jer|32|40|0|0" passage="Jer 32:40">Jer. xxxii. 40</scripRef>. 2. Then <i>I will
dwell in the midst of them for ever;</i> and the same again
<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.9" parsed="|Ezek|43|9|0|0" passage="Eze 43:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. God secures to
us his good-will by confirming in us his good work. If we do not
defile his name, we may be sure that he will not depart from
us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p12" shownumber="no">IV. The general law of God's house is laid
down (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.12" parsed="|Ezek|43|12|0|0" passage="Eze 43:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), That,
whereas formerly only the chancel, or sanctuary, was <i>most
holy,</i> now the whole <i>mountain of the house</i> shall be so;
the <i>whole limit thereof,</i> including all the courts and all
the chambers, shall be as the most holy place, signifying that in
gospel-times, 1. The whole church shall have the privilege of the
<i>holy of holies,</i> that of a near access to God. All believers
have now, under the gospel, <i>boldness to enter into the
holiest</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.19" parsed="|Heb|10|19|0|0" passage="Heb 10:19">Heb. x. 19</scripRef>),
with this advantage, that whereas the high priest entered in the
virtue of the blood of bulls and goats, we enter in the virtue of
the blood of Jesus, and, wherever we are, we have through him
<i>access to the Father.</i> 2. The whole church shall be under a
mighty obligation to press towards the perfection of holiness,
<i>as he who has called us is holy.</i> All must now be most holy.
<i>Holiness becomes God's house</i> for ever, and in gospel-times
more than ever. Behold this is the <i>law of the house;</i> let
none expect the protection of it that will not submit to this
law.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.xliv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.13-Ezek.43.27" parsed="|Ezek|43|13|43|27" passage="Eze 43:13-27" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Ez.xliv-p12.4">
<h4 id="Ez.xliv-p12.5">The Vision of the Temple. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p12.6">b. c.</span> 574.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.xliv-p13" shownumber="no">13 And these <i>are</i> the measures of the
altar after the cubits: The cubit <i>is</i> a cubit and a hand
breadth; even the bottom <i>shall be</i> a cubit, and the breadth a
cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about
<i>shall be</i> a span: and this <i>shall be</i> the higher place
of the altar.   14 And from the bottom <i>upon</i> the ground
<i>even</i> to the lower settle <i>shall be</i> two cubits, and the
breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle <i>even</i> to the
greater settle <i>shall be</i> four cubits, and the breadth
<i>one</i> cubit.   15 So the altar <i>shall be</i> four
cubits; and from the altar and upward <i>shall be</i> four horns.
  16 And the altar <i>shall be</i> twelve <i>cubits</i> long,
twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.   17 And the
settle <i>shall be</i> fourteen <i>cubits</i> long and fourteen
broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it <i>shall
be</i> half a cubit; and the bottom thereof <i>shall be</i> a cubit
about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.   18 And he
said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p13.1">God</span>; These <i>are</i> the ordinances of the
altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings
thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.   19 And thou shalt
give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which
approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p13.2">God</span>, a young bullock for a sin offering.  
20 And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put <i>it</i> on
the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and
upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.
  21 Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and
he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the
sanctuary.   22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid
of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall
cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse <i>it</i> with the bullock.
  23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing <i>it,</i> thou
shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the
flock without blemish.   24 And thou shalt offer them before
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p13.3">Lord</span>, and the priests shall cast
salt upon them, and they shall offer them up <i>for</i> a burnt
offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p13.4">Lord</span>.   25
Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat <i>for</i> a sin
offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of
the flock, without blemish.   26 Seven days shall they purge
the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
  27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, <i>that</i>
upon the eighth day, and <i>so</i> forward, the priests shall make
your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and
I will accept you, saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xliv-p13.5">God</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p14" shownumber="no">This relates to the altar in this mystical
temple, and that is mystical too; for Christ is our altar. The
Jews, after their return out of captivity, had an altar long before
they had a temple, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.3" parsed="|Ezra|3|3|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:3">Ezra iii.
3</scripRef>. But this was an altar in the temple. Now here we
have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p15" shownumber="no">I. The measures of the altar, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.13" parsed="|Ezek|43|13|0|0" passage="Eze 43:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. It was six yards
square at the top and seven yards square at the bottom; it was four
yards and a half high; it had a lower bench or shelf, here called a
<i>settle,</i> a yard from the ground, on which some of the priests
stood to minister, and another two yards above that, on which
others of them stood, and these were each of them half a yard
broad, and had ledges on either side, that they might stand firmly
upon them. The sacrifices were killed at the table spoken of
before, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.40.39" parsed="|Ezek|40|39|0|0" passage="Eze 40:39"><i>ch.</i> xl. 39</scripRef>.
What was to be burnt on the altar was given up to those on the
lower bench, and handed by them to those on the higher, and they
laid it on the altar. Thus in the service of God we must be
assistant to one another.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xliv-p16" shownumber="no">II. The ordinances of the altar. Directions
are here given, 1. Concerning the dedication of the altar at first.
<i>Seven days</i> were to be spent in the dedication of it, and
every day sacrifices were to be offered upon it, and particularly a
goat for a <i>sin-offering</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.25" parsed="|Ezek|43|25|0|0" passage="Eze 43:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>), besides a young bullock for a
<i>sin-offering</i> on the first day (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.19" parsed="|Ezek|43|19|0|0" passage="Eze 43:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), which teaches us in all our
religious services to have an eye to Christ the great sin-offering.
Neither our persons nor our performances can be acceptable to God
unless sin be taken away, and that cannot be taken away but by the
blood of Christ, which both sanctifies the altar (for Christ
entered by his own blood, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.12" parsed="|Heb|9|12|0|0" passage="Heb 9:12">Heb. ix.
12</scripRef>) and the gift upon the altar. There were also to be a
<i>bullock</i> and a ram offered for a <i>burnt-offering</i>
(<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.24" parsed="|Ezek|43|24|0|0" passage="Eze 43:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), which was
intended purely for the glory of God, to teach us to have an eye to
that in all our services; we present ourselves as living
sacrifices, and our devotions as spiritual sacrifices, that we and
they may be to him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory.
The dedication of the altar is here called the <i>cleansing</i> and
<i>purging</i> of it, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.20 Bible:Ezek.43.26" parsed="|Ezek|43|20|0|0;|Ezek|43|26|0|0" passage="Eze 43:20,26"><i>v.</i>
20, 26</scripRef>. Christ, our altar, though he had no pollution to
be cleansed from, yet sanctified himself (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:John.17.19" parsed="|John|17|19|0|0" passage="Joh 17:19">John xvii. 19</scripRef>); and when we consecrate the
altars of our hearts to God, to have the fire of holy love always
burning upon them, we must see that they be purified and cleansed
from the love of the world and the lusts of the flesh. It is
observable that there are several differences between the rites of
dedication here and those which were appointed <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.29.1-Exod.29.46" parsed="|Exod|29|1|29|46" passage="Ex 29:1-46">Exod. xxix.</scripRef>, to intimate that the
ceremonial institutions were mutable things, and the changes in
them were earnests of their period in Christ. Only here, according
to the general law, that all the sacrifices must be seasoned with
salt (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.2.13" parsed="|Lev|2|13|0|0" passage="Le 2:13">Lev. ii. 13</scripRef>),
particular orders are given (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.9" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.24" parsed="|Ezek|43|24|0|0" passage="Eze 43:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>) that the priests shall <i>cast
salt upon the sacrifices. Grace</i> is the <i>salt</i> with which
all our religious performances must be seasoned, <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.10" osisRef="Bible:Col.4.6" parsed="|Col|4|6|0|0" passage="Col 4:6">Col. iv. 6</scripRef>. An everlasting covenant is called
a <i>covenant of salt,</i> because it is incorruptible. The
<i>glory</i> reserved for us is incorruptible and undefiled; and
the <i>grace</i> wrought in us is the hidden man of the heart in
that <i>which is not corruptible.</i> 2. Concerning the constant
use that should be made of it, when it was dedicated:
<i>Henceforward</i> the priests shall <i>make their burnt-offerings
and peace-offerings upon this altar</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.11" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.27" parsed="|Ezek|43|27|0|0" passage="Eze 43:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), for <i>therefore</i> it was
<i>sanctified,</i> that it might <i>sanctify the gift</i> that was
offered upon it. Observe further, (1.) Who were to serve at the
altar: The <i>priests of the seed of Zadok,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.12" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.19" parsed="|Ezek|43|19|0|0" passage="Eze 43:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. That family was substituted in
the room of Abiathar by Solomon, and God confirms it. His name
signifies <i>righteous,</i> for they are the righteous seed that
are priests to God, through Christ <i>the Lord our
righteousness.</i> (2.) How they should prepare for this service
(<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.13" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.26" parsed="|Ezek|43|26|0|0" passage="Eze 43:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>): <i>They
shall consecrate themselves,</i> shall <i>fill their hand</i> with
the offerings, in token of the giving up of themselves with their
offerings to God and to his service. Note, Before we minister to
the Lord in holy things we must consecrate ourselves by getting our
hands and hearts filled with those things. (3.) How they should
speed in it (<scripRef id="Ez.xliv-p16.14" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.43.27" parsed="|Ezek|43|27|0|0" passage="Eze 43:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>): <i>I will accept you.</i> And if God now accept our
works, if our services be pleasing to him, it is enough, we need no
more. Those that give themselves to God shall be accepted of God,
their persons first and then their performances, through the
Mediator.</p>
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