Glory Departs From the Temple
November 6, 2022
Commentary
Coals of fire are used in various contexts throughout Scripture. In the case of Isaiah, it was for the purification of his lips from iniquity (Isa 6:5-7). When taken by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement from the altar of incense it was associated with grace in covering sin for another year (Lev 16:11-16). But, here we see the coals of fire used in judgment against Jerusalem as a consuming fire (v. 2). The coals of fire seen in this vision were symbolical of the fire that in 586 b.c. destroyed the city (Jer 52:12-13). This fire was brought about by human instrumentality, but it was actually fire from the Lord (v. 2).
The fire was put into the hands of him that was clothed with linen and he went out and scattered the fire (vv 7-13). Soon the glory of the Lord departed (vv. 18-22). The glory of the Lord came and dwelt over the mercy seat between the cherubim, first of all, when the tabernacle was completed in the wilderness (Ex 40:33-35), and later, when the Temple was built by Solomon (I Kings 8:6, 10, 11). But now the Lord could no longer dwell in the midst of His people. They had defiled the Temple by setting up altars to other gods and had utterly turned their back on Him (Ezek. 8:16). In sorrow, He departed from their midst. The glory could have returned to Israel at the Lord’s First Advent, but they rejected Him again (Mt 23:37-39; Lk 19:44). However, before Ezekiel’s prophecy is over we see the glory of the Lord returning to the millennial Temple (Ezek. 43:1-12).
It would seem that God’s glory has departed from many churches today. There is a form of godliness but there is a lack of God’s presence and power. Some churches never see anyone trust Christ. It could be described as playing church.
Application
God left the temple because the people had defiled it. He completely destroyed what people had perverted in order for true worship to be restored. I need to commit myself, my family, and my ministry to following God faithfully so I will not have to experience what happened here.
Ezekiel 10:1– 22 (NET)
1 As I watched, I saw on the platform above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. 2 The Lord said to the man dressed in linen, “Go between the wheelwork underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” He went as I watched.
3 (The cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) 4 Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory. 5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the Sovereign God when he speaks.
6 When the Lord commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood by one of the wheels. 7 Then one of the cherubim stretched out his hand toward the fire that was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. 8 (The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.)
9 As I watched, I noticed four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; the wheels gleamed like jasper. 10 As for their appearance, all four of them looked the same, something like a wheel within a wheel. 11 When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow without turning as they moved, 12 along with their entire bodies, their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around. 13 As for their wheels, they were called “the wheelwork” as I listened. 14 Each of the cherubim had four faces: The first was the face of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.
15 The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings I saw at the Kebar River. 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not move from their side. 17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.
18 Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 19 The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went, the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.
20 These were the living creatures that I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings. 22 As for the form of their faces, they were the faces whose appearance I had seen at the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead.
Illustration: Bach Said All Music Should Glorify God
J. S. Bach said, “All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul’s refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub.” He headed his compositions: “J. J.” “Jesus Juva” which means “Jesus help me.” He ended them “S. D. G.” “Soli Dei gratia” which means “To God alone be the praise.” (Kingdom Conflict, J. Stowell, Victor, 1985, pp. 77ff).