“Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.” (vv.18-19)
The gradual withdrawal of God from His house is described in chapters 9-11. In chapter 9 we read, “The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple” (v.3). Then in chapter 10 Ezekiel records, “The glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.” Finally in chapter 11 we read, "the glory of the LORD passed from the city" (v.23).
So it can be with us when we fall away from God. His glory gradually withdrawals from us as we move in the wrong direction from Him. Slowly our hearts can begin to backslide until His glory can no longer be seen, for it has moved out of our sight. But, just as the glory of the LORD returned to the renovated temple (Ezekiel 43:2-4), so it can return to a repentant heart, if it is genuine. Like the dawn of a new day; like the sound of many waters, it can return, if you turn from your sin.
The Truth: “If we confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
The gradual withdrawal of God from His house is described in chapters 9-11. In chapter 9 we read, “The glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple” (v.3). Then in chapter 10 Ezekiel records, “The glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.” Finally in chapter 11 we read, "the glory of the LORD passed from the city" (v.23).
So it can be with us when we fall away from God. His glory gradually withdrawals from us as we move in the wrong direction from Him. Slowly our hearts can begin to backslide until His glory can no longer be seen, for it has moved out of our sight. But, just as the glory of the LORD returned to the renovated temple (Ezekiel 43:2-4), so it can return to a repentant heart, if it is genuine. Like the dawn of a new day; like the sound of many waters, it can return, if you turn from your sin.
The Truth: “If we confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
