Ezekiel 10 “The Glory Departed ”

“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)

Ezekiel 9 “The Mark of Protection”

And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. The Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst.” But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.” (vv.4-5)

We find in scripture an interesting parallel to this scene in the book of Revelation, chapter 7. There, four angels are holding back the four winds, which are ready to bring destruction upon the earth. But, there is an angel that says, "Don’t release those winds until the servants of God have been marked in their forehead." And I (John) counted the number that were marked and there were a hundred forty-four thousand, that they should not be hurt by the plagues that were yet to come to pass." (Revelation 7:3-4).

“Even in the most corrupt conditions God has never been without a remnant of loyal souls. They dwell among abominations, but have no share in them. They live in perpetual grief, they vex their righteous souls from day to day, they sigh and cry for the abominations.” –(G.Campbell Morgan)

God was able to see the righteous and repentant among them. To have had this mark meant LIFE, to those who had it.  God saw what was written on their hearts.  He was able to see the Godly among the wicked.  He saw Love, Faith, and Hope. And God will always protect those who are called by His name, who humble themselves, pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways.

The Truth: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Ezekiel 8 “Ezekiel’s Vision of Abominations in Jerusalem”

He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. “Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.” (vv.17-18)

Like the Romans, the Jews believed that Jerusalem and the temple could never fall. They symbolized God’s presence and His covenant with His people, so surely He would never let anything happen to them, right? But they had neglected the truth that the covenant came with responsibilities. Their persistent sin presumed upon God’s patience and grace and dishonored His holiness.

Today’s reading gives us further details concerning Israel’s idolatry. In it, Ezekiel was given a vision of the evil going on in Jerusalem at that time. Chapter 9 continues the vision and depicts “six men” (guardian angels of the city), executing judgment on the wicked. Sin deserves God’s judgment. Since all of us are sinners, perfect justice means that all of us deserve death. But, thankfully, in the gift of His Son Jesus Christ, God has provided a way by which we need not reap what we have sown.

The Truth: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Ezekiel 7 “An End”

“Thus says the Lord God unto the land of Israel, An end.” (v.2)

This chapter consists of a denunciation of the Kingdom of Judah, a prediction of the dissolution of the State. The words here "An end" are exclamatory. That is the message in its entirety—"An end!" The time of patience was over, there was to be no more waiting. God waits long for nations, and gives them opportunities of returning to righteousness. But, if they persist in unrighteousness, the hour will come when He says "An end!" And that’s it.

This reads like a chapter right out of the Book of Revelation. It tells of a "Coming End." And like "the Day of the LORD," there will be some survivors but many will perish. If world history has taught us anything, it teaches us that the prophecies in the Bible are true, which means the Word of God is true. It is our road map to the future. We need to read, study, meditate, live by and pray on it every day.

God has given us a way out of the destruction that is coming. He gave us His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. And until His day comes, we need to share the gospel with all who will listen so they would come to know the love of Christ and be saved as well.

The Truth: "For unto to us a child is born, Unto to isa Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Ezekiel 6 “God’s Heart Broken”

“I (God) have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain 1that I would inflict this disaster on them.” (vv.9-10)

God is represented here as heart broken. The suggestion is daring indeed, but the most daring of human words and figures of speech are needed to convey to us the suffering His people put upon Him by rejecting His Eternal Love for their lewd and whorish practices before other gods.

Worshiping other gods was a direct violation of God’s covenant with Israel. It amounted to mocking the Lord, and justice demanded that He respond. He is the only One worthy of worship, and those who act otherwise learn the hard way of His irresistible power and absolute sovereignty. The people’s wickedness was brazen and God’s wrath would be entirely just.

God is just as heart broken today as He sees His children choosing to spend their time (hours upon hours) engaged in meaningless practices, or being consumed by their lustful desires, trapped in their secret sins that mock His LORDSHIP in their lives. O how He is broken hearted over what man has become in the secret places of his own heart.

Sadly not much has changed from Ezekiel's time to today. But, let this sound a warning trumpet for you as well—for one way or another, God is going to teach us all that He alone is Lord!

The Truth: "I Am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me." (Isaiah 45:5)

Ezekiel 5 “Judgment on Jerusalem”

“Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have more turmoil than the nations which surround you and have not walked in My statutes, nor observed My ordinances, nor observed the ordinances of the nations which surround you,’ therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.” (vv.7-8)

This chapter contains the “judgments” which are to fall upon Jerusalem and the people of God because, “you are more turbulent than the nations that are round you." This city was intended to be a city of peace, resulting from righteousness; and the people a people of quiet strength, because of their relationship with God; and all this in the interest of the surrounding nations, that they might have a revelation of the perfection of the ways of God through His people. Instead, they became more polluted than surrounding cities.

This country must be careful as well, for we were founded as a Christian nation on religious freedom, and are called to be salt and light to others around us. The light that once shined so brightly has now begun to dim, and if some leaders in this nation could, they would extinguish it all together. Thank God for those leaders who still stand for righteousness, who are salt and light to those around them. I can only pray that this nation does not lose its savor and become more polluted than others.  

The Truth:  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." (Matthew 5:13)

Ezekiel 4 “The Siege of Jerusalem Portrayed”

“Now you son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you and inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem. “Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise up a ramp, pitch camps and place battering rams against it all around. “Then get yourself an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This is a sign to the house of Israel.” (vv.1-3)

Here we see God’s faithful prophet, Ezekiel, following God’s instructions, in performing the first of five symbolic actions (4:1–5:4), which he then interpreted (5:5–17) against Israel. In the first three verses we see, he created a model of Jerusalem and represented it as under siege in order to give warning of the city’s impending doom (fulfilled in 2 Kings 25).

Ezekiel goes on to preform four other symbolic actions depicting the coming judgment God would carryout upon the nation for violating God’s laws and their covenant with Him. This was the message (one of judgment), God gave to Ezekiel to begin his ministry.

These actions, which took over a year to complete, were mortifying for Ezekiel. He probably became something of a public spectacle, not to mention that no one likes bearers of bad news. The loss of his beard was culturally humiliating. God was mindful of such things and graciously granted the prophet’s request not to have to cook with human excrement (4:14–15).

Israel’s idolatry had made God’s name a mockery among the nations. Despite having God’s law and God’s love, the people had done worse evils than the pagan nations around them. Therefore, God’s judgments were just and would restore His good name. Yes He is loving and not willing that any should perish, but He is also holy and just. One whom we will all stand before one day.

The Truth: “And when I have spent my wrath upon them,” He said, “they will know that I the Lord have spoken in my zeal” (5:13).

Ezekiel 3 “It Will Be Performed”

“For I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’ (v.25)

In Isaiah’s day there were two common views of prophecy; 1) Disbelief of what the prophet had said as to the coming of judgment, and that the visions were vain, that is empty or, 2) The vision that the prophet sees is for many days to come, and his prophecies are far off" (v.27). This was the view of those who did believe in prophecy, but comforted themselves by the assurance that there would be no immediate fulfillment.

Here God promised to destroy the popular saying “Every vision comes to nothing” with His word that “Every vision will be fulfilled” (vv. 22–23). Sin deserves punishment. Worship is serious business. God will not be mocked. In judgment, the people would learn that He alone is the Lord (v. 15).

Some people treat the return of Christ like the Israelites treated God’s warnings of judgment (Matt. 24:37–44; 2 Peter 3:3–10). They think either it can’t happen soon or it won’t happen at all. They doubt God can or will keep His promises. They scoff at the notion of judgment on sin. But Jesus said He would come like a thief in the night.

The Truth: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matt. 24:44).