Ezekiel
“Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels were beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.” Ezekiel 10:18-19
In chapter ten we learn that the fierce and fiery creatures of chapter one are cherubim angels. These were not cute little cherubs as people like to picture them. God is often referred to as “the One who dwells between the cherubim.” The Temple in Jerusalem was adorned with cherubim all around. They even spread their wings over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. Psalm 18 describes how God “rode upon a cherub, and flew.”
Ezekiel sees this as the Cherubim form a sort of chariot with the wheels full of eyes to carry God’s sapphire throne up and away from the Temple in Jerusalem. The glory of the LORD has departed.
The priests had utterly defiled God’s temple by worshipping all the false gods of the heathen right inside the temple sanctuary. (See chapter eight) Since God was no longer honored in the temple, it was no longer His house. He departed, or more accurately, was driven out. What was left was ripe for destruction.
God’s presence dwells where He is honored and where His word is believed. God’s grace is received where sin is acknowledged and confessed, and where God’s forgiveness in Christ is treasured. The glory of the Lord will likewise be driven out of any church where His Word is rejected and the sacrifice of Christ is despised. May we cling even more firmly to His grace in Christ Jesus and sing forth the glory of His Holy name.
O LORD, forgive me for Jesus’ sake and preserve me from ever driving you out of my heart. Dwell with me and let me see your glory in your word. Amen.