Ezekiel 41:13-20: a reflection

13So he measured the temple, one hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with its walls, one hundred cubits long; 14also the width of the face of the temple, and of the separate place toward the east, one hundred cubits. 15He measured the length of the building before the separate place which was at its back, and its galleries on the one side and on the other side, one hundred cubits from the inner temple, and the porches of the court, 16the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries around on their three stories, opposite the threshold, with wood ceilings all around, and from the ground up to the windows, (now the windows were covered), 17to the space above the door, even to the inner house, and outside, and by all the wall all around inside and outside, by measure. 18It was made with cherubim and palm trees. A palm tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces, 19so that there was the face of a man toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side. It was made like this through all the house all around. 20Cherubim and palm trees were made from the ground to above the door. The wall of the temple was like this.

The measuring continues through the temple itself, its length and walls and galleries all recorded. But in the midst of the dimensions, the vision lingers on the decoration of the walls. They were carved all around with cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree set between each pair of cherubim, from the floor to above the doorway. The whole interior was adorned this way, throughout the house.

The two images are worth noticing together. Cherubim recall God's holy presence, the guardians of his throne, while palm trees speak of life, fruitfulness, and flourishing. God's dwelling is surrounded by both his holiness and the promise of life. Each cherub is carved with two faces, one of a man and one of a lion, strength and dignity woven into the beauty. This is no bare, austere space. It is a place made lovely to reflect the God who dwells there.

It is easy to think of holiness as severe and lifeless, all rules and no warmth. This vision corrects that. Where God dwells, holiness and flourishing life belong together, and beauty is not an afterthought. As his temple now, by his Spirit, you are meant to be a place where his holy presence and real, growing life are joined. Ask God to make your inner life like his house, both set apart for him and green with the life he gives.

Lord, in your house holiness and life are carved side by side, cherubim and palm trees together, beauty filling the place where you dwell. Make my inner life like that, set apart for you and yet green with the life your Spirit gives. Let holiness in me never be cold or bare, but joined to flourishing and beauty that reflects you. Amen.