February 24, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezekiel? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezekiel 43 (NIV)
God’s Glory Returns to the Temple
1 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.........Continue Reading
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Regardless of the placement or timing of the rebuilt temple Ezekiel is talking about in these chapters, that seems to be of several different thoughts what I receive from these chapters is obedience.
God will restore but it does not come without sacrifice and obedience from us. Yes He is always there with loving arms for us to return to Him but we must also be willing to put down our selfishness, pride, and stubbornness and follow. To dig deep into the things of God, let go of the temporal things of this world, and follow the call and desire God has for us. We may not need to build temples and bring burnt offerings because Jesus covered that cost for us but we still have a responsibility to grow and change and become more like Christ everyday!
Amen Kelly!
Ezekiel 43 Like what you said Kelly.
Ezekiel was brought to the gate that faced east. He saw the glory of God come from the way of the east and enter through the east gate. This east gate was to be shut. Only God could enter this gate. The glory of God filled the temple. God said that He will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. Can you imagine this. God coming to earth to dwell with mankind. This Holy God and what right do we have to dwell with Him. Except for the blood of Christ. To God be the glory.
Well it seems pretty clear from this chapter that God intended the exiled Jews to engage with the temple described here, so we can assume He desired for them to build it. And I agree Dennis, how wonderful and awe inspiring it was to have the presence of God filling the temple of Ezekiel’s vision. To think we will stand in His presence one day, and yet we also have the Holy Spirit within us, guaranteeing our inheritance. I see that as the church age expression of the shekinah glory of God with His people. And how interesting that the altar on which sacrifices would be made needed to be purified with sacrifices to be a fitting place for sacrifices to be made. It just reenforces the importance of things being set apart for God’s use. And how great and convicting to consider the only thing called sanctified in the church age is us!
Ezekiel 43
The glory of the Lord enters the temple.
God tells Ezekiel why He is describing it in such detail: “Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.”
I read somewhere that the reason that there will still be a temple even when Jesus reigns in the Millennium, is that it will be a reminder of the sacrifice that was necessary for sin. That made sense to me. God continued the practice of the Passover to remind the Israelites that He lead them out of Egypt. We continue to celebrate Communion as a reminder of Christ’s death on the cross. The Temple is/was a picture of the actual temple and altar in heaven, as described in Hebrews. Jesus went to heaven and His blood was presented on the altar in Heaven to make the actual sacrifice. It makes sense to me that we would continue to perform these traditions or a tradition to remind us of God’s work on our behalf…even when He is reigning on earth and Satan is defeated and/or bound.
Ezekiel 43
This chapter describes for us some of God’s remarkable characteristics. …and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The Lord describes himself as having the likeness of man. He said: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet.