Eze 41:22 | KingComments | STEP | Then attention is turned to the only object that seems to be in the temple, “the altar of wood”. It is a different altar than the altar of burnt offering, for that is in the court ( ). These two altars are the only objects in the entire temple building that are explicitly mentioned: an altar in the sanctuary and an altar in the inner court. This altar has a position where in the tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple the golden altar of incense stood ( ; ). Only this altar is larger and made only of wood. Additional emphasis is placed on the material by pointing out again in its description that its corners, length, and sides are “of wood”. There is no mention of gold in the description of this altar, which is the case with the altar of incense in the tabernacle and in the temple, for they are both overlaid with it ( ; ). This is not to say, however, that it will not be used. The prophet Haggai says that the latter glory of the house – by which he refers to the temple described here – will be greater than the former glory of the house. By this he is referring to the temple of Solomon ( ). From this it can be concluded that it is not inconceivable that precious metals will be used in the actual construction. The entire room is empty except for this small altar. It is the only object in the holy place. In the most holy place there is no ark, but there the glory of the LORD dwells. In the holy place of the tabernacle and the temple there are also the table of showbread and the lampstand. Those are missing here. Here there is only mention of the altar. Here the Man interrupts the silence for the third time by noting that this altar “is the table that is before the LORD”. From what He says about the altar, it is clear that it is about fellowship with God. A table is a picture of fellowship. Of the table He says that it “is before the LORD”, emphasizing that it is about fellowship with God, fellowship in His presence. It is mainly about what the altar represents, its symbolism, and that indicates drawing near to God to have fellowship with Him. It is noteworthy that this altar is called “table”. This is also how the altar of burnt offering is called ( ; cf. ). As mentioned, a table speaks of fellowship. It is therefore not surprising that Paul uses this picture in connection with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, speaking of “the table of the Lord” ( ). There, in contrast to the table (wooden altar) in the temple in the realm of peace, is a people who come together and have fellowship with one another and with God and with the Lord Jesus. What is striking about this wooden altar is that we do not read about priests serving at this altar. We may wonder why that altar, that table, is there. The general idea with an ‘altar’ is ‘sacrifice’ and with a ‘table’ it is ‘fellowship’. This ‘altar-table’ is there to offer sacrifices to God and to express fellowship with Him. But the priests do not come there. It seems as if God is indicating in this temple that no matter how privileged the priests who belong to Zadok’s family are in the realm of peace, there is something that is not given to these earthly priests. There is an inner sanctuary with a symbolic altar that indicates that in the inner sanctuary there is a company that has fellowship with God on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ, around the Lord Jesus. It is the table that stands before His face. This is the privilege of the church. This may already be a reality when the church comes together.

‏ Ezekiel 41:22

The Altar in the Temple

Then attention is turned to the only object that seems to be in the temple, “the altar of wood”. It is a different altar than the altar of burnt offering, for that is in the court (Eze 43:13-17). These two altars are the only objects in the entire temple building that are explicitly mentioned: an altar in the sanctuary and an altar in the inner court.

This altar has a position where in the tabernacle and in Solomon’s temple the golden altar of incense stood (Exo 30:1-2; 1Kgs 7:48). Only this altar is larger and made only of wood. Additional emphasis is placed on the material by pointing out again in its description that its corners, length, and sides are “of wood”.

There is no mention of gold in the description of this altar, which is the case with the altar of incense in the tabernacle and in the temple, for they are both overlaid with it (Exo 30:3; 1Kgs 6:20). This is not to say, however, that it will not be used. The prophet Haggai says that the latter glory of the house – by which he refers to the temple described here – will be greater than the former glory of the house. By this he is referring to the temple of Solomon (Hag 2:9). From this it can be concluded that it is not inconceivable that precious metals will be used in the actual construction.

The entire room is empty except for this small altar. It is the only object in the holy place. In the most holy place there is no ark, but there the glory of the LORD dwells. In the holy place of the tabernacle and the temple there are also the table of showbread and the lampstand. Those are missing here. Here there is only mention of the altar. Here the Man interrupts the silence for the third time by noting that this altar “is the table that is before the LORD”.

From what He says about the altar, it is clear that it is about fellowship with God. A table is a picture of fellowship. Of the table He says that it “is before the LORD”, emphasizing that it is about fellowship with God, fellowship in His presence. It is mainly about what the altar represents, its symbolism, and that indicates drawing near to God to have fellowship with Him.

It is noteworthy that this altar is called “table”. This is also how the altar of burnt offering is called (Eze 44:16; cf. Mal 1:7 ; 12). As mentioned, a table speaks of fellowship. It is therefore not surprising that Paul uses this picture in connection with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, speaking of “the table of the Lord” (1Cor 10:21). There, in contrast to the table (wooden altar) in the temple in the realm of peace, is a people who come together and have fellowship with one another and with God and with the Lord Jesus.

What is striking about this wooden altar is that we do not read about priests serving at this altar. We may wonder why that altar, that table, is there. The general idea with an ‘altar’ is ‘sacrifice’ and with a ‘table’ it is ‘fellowship’. This ‘altar-table’ is there to offer sacrifices to God and to express fellowship with Him. But the priests do not come there. It seems as if God is indicating in this temple that no matter how privileged the priests who belong to Zadok’s family are in the realm of peace, there is something that is not given to these earthly priests.

There is an inner sanctuary with a symbolic altar that indicates that in the inner sanctuary there is a company that has fellowship with God on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ, around the Lord Jesus. It is the table that stands before His face. This is the privilege of the church. This may already be a reality when the church comes together.