Glory Departs From the Temple

Ezekiel 10:1–22
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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).

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.