Reading
SAA Notes
In the Garden of Eden, man had to leave the presence of God. Here, the presence of God leaves man! This is a terrible chapter – like unto Jesus being abandoned on the cross – the penalty for our sin. One terrible thing was that the people living in Jerusalem didn’t realise what had happened. Indeed, they refused to listen to Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
SJA Notes
* Holy God, please show us more of Your holiness today from Your word.
“Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.”
God departs!
The temple in Jerusalem was where God’s people met with their God.
The Holy of Holies was the place where the Ark sat, God’s footstool, that He sat enthroned above.
But here, what do we see?
God departs!
There is a similar event in 1 Samuel 4, where the Ark is captured, and a dying woman prophesies (truth-tells),
“The glory has departed from Israel!”
Here in Ezekiel’s vision we see God departing the promised land.
What does this mean for us?
It points us to Jesus!
For while God departed, it was not forever.
And while the glory of God went out of the threshold of God’s house, it was not the end for God’s people.
In fact, God’s deeper plans are revealed to us, because we can look back to Jesus.
John, who was one of Jesus’ closest friends, tells us (chapter one of John),
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Immanuel is His Name – GOD WITH US!
Look at how strong and wonderful it is that while Ezekiel sees God departing, in Jesus we see God with us!
Hallelujah, what a God we have!
* God Almighty,
Thank You for Your word today, for this passage from Ezekiel.
Please help us to understand more of You today, more of Your holiness, more of Your glory, more of what You are to us and what You have done for us.
More of Jesus, less of us!
Amen.