In the Herodian temple, the old nomenclature gives way to a new set of terms. The sprawling enclosure, later known as the “court of the pagans,” appears under this name neither in the New Testament nor in Josephus. What we have in the treatise Middoth of the Mishnah and in Josephus is the mention of two judgments, the “judgment of the priests” and the “judgment of Israel” (Middoth, II.6; v. 1; Josephus, BJ, V, v, 6). The data on both are difficult and contradictory. At Middoth, they appear as long, narrow strips 11 cubits wide, extending perpendicular to the temple and altar above the enclosure – the “court of Israel” is separated from the “court of priests” to the east; The latter extends backwards to the altar, which has a clear measurement. The plan was to prevent the Israelite layman from getting too close to the altar. Josephus has the 11 cubits of the “court of Israel” that extend around the entire “court of the priests,” including the altar and temple (see TEMPLE; and compare G. A. Smith, Jerusalem, II, 506-9, with the reconstruction of Waterhouse in Holy Sites of the Gospels, 111).
For the “Women`s Court”, see TREASURY. The courtyard is the area of the Forbidden City reserved for the personal use of the emperor. It was obviously a strictly protected place, the most important part of the palace was connected to the outer courtyard, which was the emperor`s workplace. There was something inherently unfortunate and troubling about the temples of the Old Testament and the early New Testament. Typically, the temple was divided into unequal sections on two levels. A general outer court, less important, in which anyone could enter, and a special inner court, very important, in which only certain people could enter. Everyone knew their place. These two courts—the inner and outer courts—became a metaphor for two categories of Israelites: the Levite priests and the others. They were a convincing symbol of the difference between the Levites, especially the priests, and the ordinary Israelites. Between the holy priests who could approach God and the simple people who were further away, far from God and could not have a personal audience with him. In fact, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, about once a year.
Remember, this is what the priests did in the Lavers of Bronze. When the priests bent over the sinks to wash their hands, they actually saw “their own reflection” in the mirrored washers. And that`s exactly what the Spirit is doing to us. He reveals the truth so that we can see it for ourselves. And that`s the key! The basic idea that gave rise to the determination to build a temple for the worship of Yahweh was that the new structure should be a stone double enlargement of the tent of the encounter (see TEMPLE). The doubling of the holy chambers was accompanied by a doubling of the closed area on which the holy house was to stand. Until now, an elongated rectangular figure 150 feet long and 75 feet wide had been sufficient for the needs of the people in their worship. Now, an area 300 feet long and 150 feet wide was surrounded by heavy stone walls, so that, as before, two squares of 150 feet each were created. It was the “court of priests”, of which in 2. Chronicles 4:9 and known to its builders as “the inner court” (1 Kings 6:36; cf.
Jeremiah 36:10). Its walls consisted of “three corridors of carved stone and a courtyard of cedar beams” (1. Kings 6:36), in which some read the meaning of colonnades. Its two divisions may have been marked by a fence. The innermost part, accessible only to priests, was the site of the new temple. In the eastern division was the sacrificial altar; In addition, the Hebrew laity had access to divine service at the altar. Later accidental allusions imply the existence of “chambers” in the courtyard and also the accessibility of the laity (cf. Jeremiah 35:4; 36:10; Ezekiel 8:16). The three parts of the tabernacle and its objects symbolize the three main parts of man and his functions. The outer courtyard symbolizes the body, the holy place represents the soul and the Blessed Sacrament symbolizes the spirit. So the first step is to recognize and acknowledge the negative thoughts and feelings I have so that I can deal with them.
Remember, I can`t handle them if I don`t know what they are. The Gate of Earthly Rest is simply the gateway to the palace of the same name. If usually such a door opens onto a courtyard, in the middle of which is the palace, here the gate is very close to the palace, so it can be said that the courtyard is very small. As a reminder, a gate in the Forbidden City is simply a pavilion that must be crossed to cross a thick and high wall. It is also a place to live or work. Clearly, it`s big and functional! Sometimes it helps to do something “physical” with the things we give to God in order to truly experience that we are getting rid of them. One of my dear friends writes on a piece of paper all her wounds, her wounds – her memories, everything God has shown her is “not out of faith.” Then she literally wraps these pieces of paper in packets and gives them to God as “gifts of love.” Your mother-in-law (who is not a Christian) comes to dinner. You are sitting across from her at the table when she suddenly makes very derogatory remarks about your dinner, your house, your children, etc. Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore I ask you, brethren, by the mercy of God, to offer your body as a living, holy, pleasing sacrifice to God, which is your rational service. And do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, in order to prove [by your actions] what this good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is.
But many Christians never enter this inner courtyard.