PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Ezekiel 43-44
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“And the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” (Ezekiel 43:5)
This vision was meant to inspire the Jews with hope.
Israel’s temple was about to be rebuilt, God’s dwelling place.
God’s glory was going to return (2 Chronicles 5:14, Ezekiel 10:15-19).
So did this happen, did God’s glory return to the temple?
The Jews would say no, and orthodox Jews still wait for this to happen.
But Jesus followers believe that God’s glory has appeared in the temple.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
In Jesus, God moves in among us, makes his home among us – we are his temples.
God’s glory surrounds Jesus, but not in an old covenant way.
God’s glory is seen in his grace and truth, in what he says and does.
God’s glory is seen in gracing the sick, the poor, the marginalized.
God’s glory is seen in suffering and dying that we might be restored.
We have seen – we have been filled with – his glory, and it is awesome!
PRAYER
Lord, I am your temple. Having you in me is my hope for glory! May the glory of your grace and truth fill me, and overflow in me, that others may experience it too.
The Lord says that the duty of the priests is “They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.” That is what the HS does in us if we let him continue to refine us. We are recognize that when we follow Jesus we are to be a blessing to others and we are to help people find their way to holiness – to God. We learn to distinguish between good and bad – learn to follow the Jesus way of life and to help others by our example to also find the way. The levites and priests so often fell short – leaving them with punishment as a consequence. When we follow our own way – we also suffer the consequences – HS continue to work on me I pray!
How then shall we live?
The priest were set apart to serve the Lord in His temple keeping all His laws and commands.
I too need to serve Him obeying His laws and commands, set apart to serve.
He is Lord over all.
As His glory filled the temple so His presence needs to flow through me that others may see I am His and He is mine. Living for Jesus is what I must do.
iving for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.