Ezekiel 43:14-17

The *altar was tall, but it stood firm. The description is of three levels. Each level was narrower than the one below. But the *altar was so large that its top level was 21 feet (5.6 metres) across. On this top surface, the priests would burn the *sacrifices.

The *sacrifice burned because of God’s judgement. The punishment was against the *sacrifice instead of the person who offered it. But although the *sacrifice suffered God’s punishment, its ashes were still sacred (for example, Leviticus 4:12). So the priests could not leave the ashes of *sacrifices to scatter in the wind. That is why there were lips on the edges of the *altar. The priests collected those ashes and they took them to the proper place. Jesus the *Messiah died as the perfect *sacrifice for *sin. But his body was still sacred (Isaiah 53:9-10). And some of the *Israelite rulers recognised this fact (John 19:36-40).

There were steps up the *altar. This may just be a practical detail. But perhaps we can learn a useful lesson here. God had provided the way up. Of course the priests could not reach the top of the *altar by their own efforts. But God provided steps for them. So he made it possible to offer the *sacrifices. Nobody can please God by their own efforts. But God has provided the way for people to have a relationship with him (John 14:6).

The steps were on the east side. That is, away from the *temple building. God wanted the priests who dealt with *sin to carry out their duties separately (Ezekiel 40:45-46). Those priests would carry out the *sacrifices, but other priests would *worship in the *temple building. Some priests were dealing with *sin, which is most unholy. And other priests were dealing with *worship, which is most *holy.

The *altar was square. Each level was square. That is a word picture to show that the *altar was perfect. The entire *temple area was square (Ezekiel 42:20). The inner court was square (Ezekiel 40:47). The most *holy place was square (Ezekiel 41:4). Even the surrounding district was square (Ezekiel 48:20).

The *altar had *horns at each corner (verse 15). In the Bible *horns are often a word picture for strength. The priest would put the blood from some *sacrifices on these *horns (for example, Leviticus 4:25). Leviticus 4:25 also shows the purpose of the ditch round the *altar. The priest would pour out the blood from *sacrifices at the base of the *altar. Blood had a special meaning in these ceremonies. It meant the life of the animal (Leviticus 17:11). People could only have a relationship with God because that animal had lost its life. ‘It is essential to pour out blood. Otherwise, God will not forgive *sins’ (Hebrews 9:22). That is why Jesus the *Messiah had to die. He offered his own blood so that God would forgive our *sin (Hebrews 9:12).