Ezekiel 42:1 - Meaning and Application

The prophet has carefully examined the temple and its buildings, and now he is brought back into the outer court to look at the chambers in that square.

These chambers are described in a way that is hard for us to follow, because we are not familiar with the Hebrew language or the building methods of that time. Still, several things are clear. Around the temple, the place of public worship, there were private chambers. This teaches us that going to God in public worship does not excuse us from private duties. We must not only worship in the courts of God’s house, but also go into our rooms and closets before and after, read, think, and pray to our Father in secret. Many of God’s people have found great comfort in that quiet fellowship with him.

There were many of these chambers, with three levels. The upper levels were smaller than the lower ones, yet they still served well as places for quiet rest and retreat, as noted in (Ezekiel 42:5, Ezekiel 42:6). There were many rooms so that all kinds of faithful people could be helped, like Anna the prophetess, who stayed in the temple night and day (Luke 2:37). In my Father’s house there are many rooms. So it is in his house on earth too. Many have taken shelter in his sanctuary by faith, and there is still room.

These chambers were private, yet they were near the temple and within sight of it. That teaches us to value public worship above private devotion, because the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob, and we should too. At the same time, private worship should support public worship. What we do in our rooms should prepare us for worship in the congregation and help us grow through it, as we are able.

In front of these chambers there were walkways five yards wide (Ezekiel 42:4). Those who lived there could meet there for conversation and mutual help. They could walk and talk together, sharing what they knew and what they had experienced. We are not meant to spend all our time only between the church and our private rooms, though both can be used well. God made people for fellowship, and Christians for the communion of saints, the shared life of believers. We should take both the duty and the joy of that fellowship seriously. Joshua, the high priest in the second temple, was promised that God would give him places to walk among those who stood by him (Zechariah 3:7).

The chambers were also set apart for the priests who came near to the Lord, so they could stay close to their work and not be absent from it. That is why they are called holy chambers, because they were used by those who served in holy things while they were serving. Those who have public work to do for God and for the good of souls need much private time to prepare themselves for it. Ministers should spend much time in their rooms, in reading, meditation, and prayer, so their progress may be seen, and they should have the help they need for that purpose.

There the priests were to store the most holy offerings, the portions of the sacrifices that belonged to them. There they were also to eat them, they and their families, in a reverent way, because the place was holy. They were to treat these meals from the sacrifice differently from ordinary meals. There they were also to lay up their vestments, the special garments God had appointed for their service at the altar, their linen ephods, coats, girdles, and caps. After the return from captivity, garments for the priests were again provided (Nehemiah 7:70, Nehemiah 7:72). When they had finished serving at the altar, they were to put those garments aside, to show that their special use belonged only to that time and order. When they came to duties that belonged more directly to the people, such as teaching the law and answering questions, they were to put on other clothes like ordinary people wore. Their holy garments were to be kept safe, clean, and decent, so they would honor their service.