Chambers & the four sides - Ezekiel 42

Ezekiel 42:1 "Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north; and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north."

I believe I am correct in saying that all things in the temple point toward the most holy place. The chambers were where the priests could change clothes and prepare the offerings. They had to wear holy garments to enter the most holy and other garments to go out to the people.

v14 "When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people."

There is no foolishness here. A precise pattern is laid out for priests to make the transition from the sinful world and the holy place. We must remember that the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23) A sinful person cannot appear before God without the blood being applied to atone for sin.

Under the law, which is what we are studying, it was the blood of animals offered often. IN the New Testament it is the blood of Christ offered once and for all.

Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

So upon accepting Christ as our atonement for sin, the only chamber we have to open up is the chamber of our heart.

Joash Repairs Temple II Chronicles 24

II Chronicles 24:2 and 4 "And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And it came to pass after this that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD."

The sons of Athaliah v7 have ransacked the House of the LORD. It is in bad need of repair. First Joash puts the matter in the hands of the Levites to collect from the people and do the repairs but that did not work well v6 so they put a chest in the House of the LORD for donations. This money was counted and went directly to the workers who returned the unused portion.

v15 "But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. v16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house."

Jehoiada is one of the least talked about characters in the Bible who served the LORD well. Perhaps is is because his name is difficult to pronounce. His name is appropriate for it means 'whom Jehovah knows'. II Kings 11:4,9,15.17 He rescued Joash at the peril of his own life when Athaliah took over the kingdom.

Joash was a good king so long as Jehoiada lived. He then turned against God. It seems Joash had no heart for the LORD but relied on Jehoiada for his spiritual well-being. It is a caution to us that we must have a personal relationship of our own with the LORD. We are not so right with the LORD just because we are under the shadow of a powerful spiritual leader. We must know the Savior for ourselves.

v17 "Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. v18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers and served groves and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass." See Deut 16:21 Judges 3:7.

A prophet was sent to them to tell them of their sin but they stoned him bringing to mind a statement in the New Testament where the people were told that they had stoned the prophets. Acts 7:52 when Stephen was stoned.

Zechariah the son of Jehoiada. v21 "And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD."

Syria brought a small band and attacked and defeated Judah as a judgment from God. They carried away the treasures back to Damascus.

Joash died a diseased man at the hand of the servants of Jehoiada. He turned away from the LORD to worship idols. II Kings 12:19-21 also.

Psalm 36:1 "The transgression of the wicked saith, within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes."

Joash turns away from the LORD. Jehoiada dies at 130 years old.