Ez. 42-44
Wow – I really have no idea what this whole temple vision is all about. It seems, however, that I am not alone. I did some very brief research on it, and there are multiple theories, each with in-depth explanation of support, as to the meaning of it all. I am left unconvinced of any of them. Based on what I see in the rest of the Bible, I would be willing to bet that the vision has multiple fulfillments in various time frames. Complex and hard to pick apart.
But I still think that all of that detail has to mean something. That thought is reinforced when I read Ezekiel 43:10-12, where God tells Ezekiel to give the details of the temple vision to the house of Israel “that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and they shall measure the plan”. This suggests to me (possibly incorrectly) that there is some deeper meaning in all those details that I just can’t see. Maybe the people of the day who understood the original Hebrew language with all of its intricacies could have picked up on it. I don’t know.
I also notice the conditional statement in these verses. “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple…” (Ez 43:11a). There is no indication of what happens (or doesn’t happen) if they were not ashamed. But perhaps this whole thing was a vision meant to send a message rather than a prophecy of what would actually be. Whatever the case may be, I trust that one day God will reveal all of the mysteries of scripture to us when the time is right.
1 John 1
Fellowship…what does that mean? A dictionary definition suggests that “fellowship” is a friendly association with or a community of those of a common interest. John’s use of the word here leans more toward the community aspect. As believers, we are a community gathered around Christ. But I think it goes a little deeper than that. It sounds more like a tight bond of communion; a deep and intimate relationship.
In order to have this kind of fellowship with God we have to walk in the light, because that is where God is. Any darkness in us breaks that bond of communion. Does this mean we have to be perfect? Thank God, NO!! In fact, to say that we are perfect makes us liars. It also makes us blasphemers, as we simultaneously accuse God of lying. John says that if we walk in the light, we are cleansed by Christ’s blood. But how do we walk in the light when we are not perfect and succumb to the darkness of sin?
In its boiled down state, I think what John is saying in this passage is that Christ is the light. To walk in the light means to walk with Christ. When we acknowledge our need for Him, because we know we sin, then He is faithful to forgive our sin so that we can remain in fellowship with God. No need to be perfect, but we do need to hold tight to Christ.