This is one of the most important lessons God is using Ezekiel to teach us in this chapter. heavenly host praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” C. Putting it together: 1. 2. 5:14) Sin separates sinful man from a holy God. 20:12) it is just a dead architectural edifice. That is not to say that sacred space has no place in the new covenant. 18 Then The Glory of The LORD Departed from over the threshold of The Temple and Stopped above the cherubim. God chose to leave since the people were not ready to repent of their idolatry. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference, Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God, La Biblia de Estudio de La Reforma, Spanish Edition, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits. It could come with a flash and thunderous noise. But God will not be boxed in by a house built with human hands. The step-by-step exit from Jerusalem is recorded for us. His word picture of the cherubim, wheels rotating within each other with eyes apparently on the rims, the shimmering light in various colors, and the four faces of a cherub, man, lion, and eagle are almost identical to the previous account. 18 Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stood above the cherubim. When God’s Glory is present, there is an acknowledgment of His nature and a response of proper worship. Then in vers. Israel had been defeated by the Philistines, the priests of God were dead, and the ark of the covenant had been captured. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. A: The Mt. The Glory of the LORD Returns to the Temple 1 Then the man brought me back to the gate that faces east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. 7:4). In its return, it would purify the nation. Thus, the people paid little heed to the warnings of these prophets to repent lest Jerusalem be destroyed. 2. Ezekiel continues to prophesy of these coming events. Such is His The glory of the LORD departed: The presence of God was invisible to the people of Jerusalem, while Ezekiel was witness to both the human and spiritual realms. In all these warnings, Ezekiel included, we should recognize that God was not only talking about the ancient destruction He brought on His people. She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel”– because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. Similarly, when the Philistine's captured the Ark of the Covenant from Israel as a part of God's judgment, the wife of the priest cries out: "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken,” (1 Samuel 4:22). The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. However we interpret the conjunction of the ages -- the glory departing with Christ's execution or a generation later, after some 40 years of "overlap" between the covenants -- the upshot is the same. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” Before He leaves, Ezekiel is brought to the Temple to witness why God’s presence is leaving the Temple. God's glory later came to dwell in the temple built by Solomon after his fervent and humble prayer (2 Chronicles 6-7). There in the Temple was a large idol that had made the LORD very angry. The entire house and courtyard were filled with the surrounding cloud and brightness (verse 4). Again, this tells us that the glory of the Lord did not leave, it … Jesus had connected the Temple to Himself when He said, "If you tear down this Temple… If the people are the Temple, then they must make his glory known to all nations from now until Jesus comes back. (Ezekiel 10:3) As Ezekiel watches “the glory of the Lord rises from above the cherubim and moves to the threshold of the temple. Ezekiel saw the same chariot-throne that he wrote about in chapter 1 of his book, only this time the chariot was parked outside the temple (10:1–3). Now the glory rests on the church through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:20-21). And His presence was evident in the pillar of cloud illuminated by the divine glory filling the tabernacle (see Exodus 40:34-35). He is also talking about the future—of nations today and of us individually. 1. The people of Israel came to understand this following their Exodus from Egypt. The reason for the departure was that all of Judah was worshiping demonic idols. Since all of the faces are the same as those in chapter 1 with the exception of the "face of a cherub," it is obvious that this face is the same as the face of the ox (1:10). before the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple (586 B.C.). Q: To the best of our knowledge, has the glory of God ever returned to the temple? For permissions, view our Copyright Policy. God's people thought God had given them some guarantee of His protection and that they could claim exclusive ownership of the presence of God. Jesus Christ living in us through His Spirit is the most wonderful thing a human being can experience in this life. Once again the glory of God was to depart from His people and the city was again to be destroyed. Fix that problem! Why else would anyone want to get out of bed and go sit in a church and listen to a pastor speak for 45 minutes on something they don’t even believe is 100% real? God is leaving the Temple and He is leaving the city. As Paul said to all of us, "It is high time to awake out of sleep" (Romans 13:11). Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. 18–19a). Here we have a lesson from God of considerable importance to us. The departure of the glory of God from the Temple was a gradual departure and that is what happens in a life, a ministry or a church. The glory of God left His place above the cherubim of the ark in the Holy of Holies and exited the temple, carried off by the chariot (vv. For us to continue as God's chosen people, He must actually dwell or live among us. The apostle Paul taught that the greatest mystery of all time is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). 2. The heart of exile is being cut off from the presence and glory of God. And after His death and resurrection, He would again do so through the Holy Spirit. But God with them, the glory of the LORD in the Temple, the protection that all of that offered them was conditional. 4 the prophet beholds the same movement repeated. Ezekiel testified to what the nation’s leaders are doing in secret, thinking God did not know. God's Glory Exits the Temple … 17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 3 Conversely, in the history of the Temple, there are grave consequences when the Shekinah departs from the Temple, for it indicates God’s displeasure with those among whom He previously dwelt and the removal of His protection and blessing in His departure. In Exodus 25:8 God instructed Moses, "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” they would cry in order to shout down the threats of divine judgment (Jer. Yet as we've seen, the punishment on Jerusalem is representative of punishment to befall all of Israel (Ezekiel 9:9-10). We have an intimation of his leaving the temple in Ezekiel 9:3, where the glory of God departs from the holy of holies to the threshold of the house, by which is meant, says Schroder, "the outermost point, where the exit was from the court of the people into the city." They are beneath God in the vision as they accompany Him in His departure from the temple (10:20-22). Indeed, the coming of Christ in the flesh was, in essence, God coming to dwell with human beings (John 1:1, 14; Matthew 1:23). The vision of chapters 8 and 9 continues in chapter 10. The Presence of the Lord would fill the holy of holies. Ezekiel 10 New International Version (NIV) God’s Glory Departs From the Temple. Whenever His place of dwelling—whether a person, a church or religious organization or an entire nation—is filled with objects of false worship or idols, there is no more room for Him. The ark being captured by the Philistines was not the reason for the glory to depart. The Glory of the Lord Departs from the Temple (Ezek. The natural man was unable to discern the divine glory, but the disciples of the Lord co… Q: What is the exact mountain east of Jerusalem to which the glory of God departs? Even old railroad cars have been used as church buildings in other countries. Yet one of the main lessons from Ezekiel is that God stays only where He is wanted and obeyed. However, centuries later the shepherds saw the glory appear in the sky as angels announced the birth of the Savior (Luke 2:9). Chapter 8 gave the reason why the Shekinah Glory must depart. 4 Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. . By this vision, Ezekiel saw that Yahweh was leaving the place where His people normally met with Him, opening up Jerusalem to the invasion of its enemies. Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman in John 4 has inspired Christians’ willingness to meet wherever we can find space. ‘And the city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God … Neither would it venerate deceased kings (vv. He has never returned. As individuals we often fill our lives with economic pressure, constant entertainment and various pursuits—and then we wonder why God is not truly manifested and working in our lives. This reveals that he was seeing the same God and the same throne. This idol is set up right near the northern gate in the temple complex, side by side with the glory of God (the temple symbolizes God’s earthly dwelling). The power of God could blow upon a person like a wind from heaven. Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 4:14-22 . Another detail to note is that where the wheels are called "Wheel" in the New King James Version of verse 13, others translate the word here as "whirling" or "spinning." Later, when the temple was built in Solomon's time, the ark was transported into this new structure as God's glory filled the temple. In chapter 9, God marked the believing remnant, but He ordered six angels to slay everyone without the mark. This may symbolize God leaving Jerusalem in a public way, having the fact perceived or loudly proclaimed. Why the Holy Spirit Departs and How to Know if He has Departed. When Solomon finished the temple, the glory of God moved in, but when God finishes building His church, He will move the church out! Sin. It is either the idol is removed or God leaves. 4. Ezekiel 10 begins with the image of the living cherubim carrying God's throne. When God’s Glory is present, there is a recognizable presence of God. It was God's intent at that time that He would dwell in the midst of the 12 tribes of Israel in the tabernacle made of goatskins. But Paul goes on to follow this with a warning from God: "Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you" (verse 17). Yet no one understood that the King of glory (Psalm 24:7-10 +) was in their midst, about to meet the destiny to which He was called and for which He was born. Even when the second temple was rebuilt in its place after the return from Jewish exile, God's glory did not occupy it. God had in fact prophesied the departure of His glory well in advance. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. By this vision, Ezekiel saw that Yahweh was leaving the place where His people normally met with Him, opening up Jerusalem to the invasion of its enemies. God chose to allow His presence—again evident through the radiance and splendor of His glory—to remain in the temple for centuries. Our sanctuaries’ design and architecture always influence our worship for good or for ill. I disagree with those who say God did indwell the second temple and cite as evidence the temple veil rending in two, claiming that indicates God's departure from the second temple. So David was to express to God his love for the temple as ‘the place where thine honour [or, glory] dwelleth’ (Psa. True, He chose to make His presence felt in a special way in the Jerusalem temple during the old covenant period. Ezekiel was taken into exile to Babylon, probably in the second deportation of Jews, in 597 BC. He has no sin neither does He sin. The east gate is probably the one referred to as "the gates of righteousness" and "the gate of the LORD" in Psalm 118:19-20 and the "everlasting doors" in Psalm 24:7, 9. God's glory later came to dwell in the temple built by Solomon after his fervent and humble prayer (2 Chronicles 6-7). For those with the eyes of faith, God’s willingness to leave His temple in Jerusalem was also a positive sign. A: Yes, in the form of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. Moreover, there is no record of the shimmering, luminous glory ever again occupying an earthly building. Q: Did the glory of God merely depart from the Temple? The Glory Is Departed From Israel There is ample evidence to support the contention that the Ark was never placed into the rebuilt Temple: In First Samuel Chapter 4, a series of tragic events begins when the Ark is captured by the Philistines (although it is later returned following a long absence). I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'". Even when the Temple was rebuilt in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, God’s glory never filled it again. The glory has departed. It could be heard even in the "outer court" (verse 5). Why the Holy Spirit Departs . The Glory Is Departed From Israel There is ample evidence to support the contention that the Ark was never placed into the rebuilt Temple: In First Samuel Chapter 4, a series of tragic events begins when the Ark is captured by the Philistines (although it is later returned following a long absence). After all, the earliest believers often met for worship in the Roman catacombs during periods of persecution. Major reasons are; 1. May studying God's message through Ezekiel aid us in doing just that. When Herod built his Temple in Jesus’ day, it looked beautiful but it did not have the glory of God in it. 2 The LORD Said To the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Solomon built the temple, dedicated it to God. (Haggai 2:3-9) The New Testament is full of references concerning Jesus as the full expression of the glory of God--the God who makes His home among His people. Down upon them again in the old Testament is seen in the nation ’ s presence to best! 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