The Big Idea
Heavenly Temple Memory Palace
Brief description of the memory palace method and goal: Memory Palace Method
As I am diving into this
I have realized the Ezekiel’s temple vision (chapters 40-48) is literally an offer of a memory palace in Scripture. The fact that the only object that gets a height measurements is the outside temple is a clear clue that this is meant to be a space to have in your mind and do a mental walk about. So the first piece I will do is the actually get this temple vision in my mind so that I have a clear space with which to fill it with Psalms.
The purpose of this memory palace (Memory Temple really) is to place the psalms spatially and in a way that facilitates imagination and easy recall. I have chosen the temple vision because the temple is a place deeply connection with the psalms as songs that would have been sung in the physical temple for many reasons. In this memory palace keeping them in my mind functions as a way to enter (in a small way) the heavenly temple that Jesus cleansed with His blood and tore open the veil to allow us in by faith.
The images and placement of things are starting vaguely but as I study Ezekiel’s vision I will work to flesh it out more clearly. While also allowing my imagination to create an image that is memorable and engaging for me.
Notes on the books for reference: The Book of Ezekiel
Description of overall setting:
Imagine a kind of zoomed out view. A high huge Mountain covered in trees and plants with a kind of temple complex at the top. A city is off to the south below.
Tour of Ezekiel starts at the eastern gateway. And follows the diagram below:
The overall measurement that governs the plans is 25. This maps very well to 150 Psalms. If you were to even basically break the temple into 25 zones like this:
You would have discreet collections of 6 Psalms for each location. The zone generally line up with the outer and inner walls and the central temple compound.
The math by the five books is not quite as clean. If you divide 25 by 5 you get 5 zones per book.
Ezekiel 40:49 - Very short description of the two pillars at the entrance of the temple itself The front of the temple is tall and square with two huge bronze pillars at the entrance on either side of the door. The river flows out of the doorway and down the stairs.
- Psalm 1 - He will Establish You stand at the top of the stairs and look at the right hand pillar. On it in bright lettering forming the name Jachin. As you look at the name letters change to say “He Will Establish.” Suddenly the sides of the pillar light up with writing and you hear these words:
Blessed is the man Who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.
As the writing reaches the top of the pillar a tree sprouts and grows from the top of the pillar and you hear the Psalm continue:
He is like a tree Planted by streams of water
You notice the river flowing out of the temple by the pillar to your feet. You look back up at the tree and see large fruit of all kinds growing on its’ branches:
That bears fruit in its season and its leaves never wither In all that he does, he prospers.
You look back down to you feet and notice bits of dry and broken chaff like the floor of a barn:
The wicked are not so they are like chaff that the wind drives away
A powerful wind blows out of the doorway of the temple and the bits of chaff swirl and then fly off the temple plaza and out of sight:
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous for the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the wicked will perish
- Psalm 2 - In Him is Strength