Ezekiel 10-11

The “glory of the Lord” both in the tabernacle in the wilderness and in the temple built by Solomon had come to rest over the Ark of the Covenant, on the cherubim.  In the vision of Ezekiel in Ch. 8-11 God’s glory departed from that place in the Holy of Holies, step by step.  

·        First it moves from over the Ark to the threshold of the temple (9:3).  This was accompanied by judgment on the idolators, beginning with the Elders (9:6).  Ezekiel had cried out to God not to destroy the remnant (9:8).

·        10:1-8:  Then the cherubim (from the vision of God’s glory in Ezek. 1) raised the glory of God up over the threshold so that the glory again filled the temple and surrounding court.  The man clothed with linen was an angelic being referred to in 9:2.  This angel is directed to gather cleansing fire from among the wheels to pour out on the city.

·        10:9-11:21:  Next the cherubim carried the glory of God from the threshold of the temple to the East Gate (10:18-19).  The movement of these cherubim, as it had been when Ezekiel first saw them, was with intense focus and determination.  Looking neither to the right or left, they look straight ahead as they follow the instructions given by the LORD.  Then Ezekiel himself is brought to the East Gate (11:1) to see 25 influential men in Judah.  These men are denying the prophecies of Jeremiah in Judah as well as Ezekiel in Babylon by lying to the people.  Apparently they were telling the people that it was not time to build houses (11:3) but to prepare for battle against Babylon.  But God had told them they needed to surrender to the Babylonians (Jer. 27:9-17).  These influential men of Jerusalem would not die in the city but at the border of Israel (11:11) which in fact happened (Jer. 52:24-27).  The certainty of this word from God was punctuated by the death of one of the men on the spot (11:13).  Again Ezekiel cries out to the LORD not to make an end of Israel.  God’s answer is to graciously promise restoration for the remnant (11:14-20).  The centerpiece of this promise is that God “will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh” (11:19).  This “New Covenant” promise will result in an obedient walk, and most importantly, in the restored people enjoying fellowship with God. 

·        11:22-25:  Finally the cherubim remove God’s glory from the East Gate to the Mount of Olives on the east side of the city.  This is the place the Son of God, Jesus, will return to earth when again God dwells with men (Zech. 14:1-4).

This was a truly dark time for Israel.  Someday God will again dwell with His people.  But we need not wait for this blessing.  Today, because Christ has opened the way into God’s presence through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, those who believe in Him enjoy God’s presence within.  Their bodies are “the temple of God” (1 Cor. 6:19); they bear the treasure of His glory in an earthen vessel (John 17:22; 2 Cor. 4:7).  Walk in such a way today as to glorify God!