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Daily Devotions

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 
Day 
Day 444

"The altar hearth"

Text: Ezekiel 43:15

THE ALTAR FOR BURNT OFFERINGS

In the 3rd Temple, there would also be an Altar for burnt offerings. This reminds us of the altar in the previous Temple.

“These are the measurements of the altar in cubits
(the cubit is one cubit and a handbreadth):
the base one cubit high and one cubit wide,
with a rim all around its edge of one span.
This is the height of the altar:
from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits;
the width of the ledge, one cubit;
from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits;
and the width of the ledge, one cubit.
The altar hearth is four cubits high,
with four horns extending upward from the hearth.
The altar hearth is twelve cubits long, twelve wide,
square at its four corners;
the ledge, fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides,
with a rim of half a cubit around it;
its base, one cubit all around;
and its steps face toward the east.
And He said to me,
‘Son of man, thus says the Lord God:
‘These are the ordinances for the altar on the day when it is made,
for sacrificing burnt offerings on it, and for sprinkling blood on it.””
Ezekiel 43:13-18

1. Some differences to take note of.

a) The difference in size.

i) The 3rd Temple Altar is a huge one.

ii) The 2nd Temple Altar was much smaller in comparison.

b) The difference in function.

i) The old Temple sacrifices looked forward to the Messiah.

ii) This Temple will reflect the significance of the death of the Lamb of God.

c) The direction of the steps.

i) In the 2nd Temple the direction was west.

ii) In the 3rd Temple the direction is east (where the glory of God would enter the Temple).

2. How the servants of God would serve here.

a) This was not specifically stated.

b) This was not explained at all.