PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Ezekiel 39-40
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I will no longer hide my face from them…” (Ezekiel 39:29)
The temple symbolizes God at home with his people, in ‘face-to-face’ fellowship.
But if God is in Israel, why is God’s name profaned, and the temple in ruins?
Is God weak, has God failed or been beaten, has Israel’s God lost face?
These words of judgment (39) and the vision of the temple (40) suggest otherwise.
God’s ultimate goal is to restore the ‘very good’ creation and God’s creation family.
But humans have twisted and messed up the world, and collectively we live in misery.
God cannot wait for us to get our act together before he helps us, because we cannot.
God joins with us, despite getting dirty himself, to restore face to face fellowship with us.
Don’t get bogged down in al the judgment or temple words see the face of Jesus in it.
God will not let sin win, God WILL reconnect with us and be at home with us again!.
Jesus fulfills both the judgment (cross) and the restored relationship (resurrection).
Through Jesus, God’s name is honoured, sin is condemned and sinners are restored!
“I will pour out my Spirit on the people” (Ezekiel 39:29), I will be in them again!
In Jesus we see justice and mercy coming together, condemning sin and welcoming sinners!
PRAYER
Lord, somehow through these judgment and temple words the face of Jesus appears to me. Thank you for not letting sin win, and for restoring us as your much-loved children!
God had hidden his face from the people Israel – but after God restored and returned to cleanse the land. God said: “I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” I see this as Pentacost – first for Israel with the people gathered at Jerusalem and the apostles testifying about Jesus – but then further from Jerusalem to all people. As God promised that His chosen people would bless other nations – and they too would be cleansed by Jesus sacrifice – by believing the Good News. God continue to cleanse me and use me by your spirit!
New beginnings.
Ever since man was out of the garden, God provided new beginnings. Man goes his own way without the Lord and yet the Lord continues to revisit His people to restore them in relationship to Him – no longer hiding His face from them but making His presence know. He gives His Spirit to lead and guide them again and again to gather His own. What a Saviour.
Guilty, helpless, lost were we;
blameless Lamb of God was he,
sacrificed to set us free:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!