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2 lines
5.7 KiB
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<p>Here is, 1. The date of this vision. It was in the twenty-fifth year of Ezekiel’s captivity (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.1" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.1">Ezek. 40:1</a>), which some compute to be the thirty-third year of the first captivity, and is here said to be the <i>fourteenth year after the city was smitten</i>. See how seasonably the clearest and fullest prospects of their deliverance were given, when they were in the depth of their distress, and an assurance of the return of the morning when they were in the midnight of their captivity: “Then <i>the hand of the Lord was upon me</i> and <i>brought me thither</i> to Jerusalem, now that it was in ruins, desolate and deserted”—a pitiable sight to the prophet. 2. The scene where it was laid. The prophet was brought, <i>in the visions of God, to the land of Israel</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.2" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.2">Ezek. 40:2</a>. And it was not the first time that he had been brought thither in vision. We had him carried to Jerusalem to see it in its iniquity and shame (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.8.3" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.8.3">Ezek. 8:3</a>); here he is carried thither to have a pleasing prospect of it in its glory, though its present aspect, now that it was quite depopulated, was dismal. He was set <i>upon a very high mountain</i>, as Moses upon the top of Pisgah, to view this land, which was now a second time a <i>land of promise</i>, not yet in possession. From the top of this mountain he saw <i>as the frame of a city</i>, the plan and model of it; but this city was a temple as large as a city. The <i>New Jerusalem</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Rev.21.22" href="/passage/?search=Rev.21.22">Rev. 21:22</a>) had <i>no temple therein</i>; this which we have here is <i>all temple</i>, which comes much to one. It is a city for men to dwell in; it is a temple for God to dwell in; for in the church on earth God dwells with men, in that in heaven men dwell with God. Both these are framed in the counsel of God, framed by infinite wisdom, and all very good. 3. The particular discoveries of this city (which he had at first a general view of) were made to him by <i>a man whose appearance was like the appearance of brass</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.3" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.3">Ezek. 40:3</a>), not a created angel, but Jesus Christ, who should be found in fashion as a man, that he might both discover and build the gospel-temple. He brought him to this city, for it is through Christ that we have both acquaintance with and access to the benefits and privileges of God’s house. He it is that <i>shall build the temple of the Lord</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Zech.6.13" href="/passage/?search=Zech.6.13">Zech. 6:13</a>. His appearing like brass intimates both his brightness and his strength. John, in vision, saw <i>his feet like unto fine brass</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.1.15" href="/passage/?search=Rev.1.15">Rev. 1:15</a>. 4. The dimensions of this city or temple, and the several parts of it, were taken with a <i>line of flax</i> and a <i>measuring reed</i>, or <i>rod</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.3" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.3">Ezek. 40:3</a>), as carpenters have both their line and a wooden measure. The temple of God is built by line and rule; and those that would let others into the knowledge of it must do it by that line and rule. The church is formed according to the scripture, <i>the pattern in the mount</i>. That is the line and the measuring reed that is in the hand of Christ. With that doctrine and laws ought to be measured, and examined by that; for then peace is upon the Israel of God when they <i>walk according to that rule</i>. 5. Directions are here given to the prophet to receive this revelation from the Lord and transmit it pure and entire to the church, <a class="bibleref" title="Ezek.40.4" href="/passage/?search=Ezek.40.4">Ezek. 40:4</a>. (1.) He must carefully observe every thing that was said and done in this vision. His attention is raised and engaged (<a c
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