Ezekiel 40-43: The Glory of God's Presence

Then the man brought me to the gate facing east,  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 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. The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate facing east - Ezek. 43:1-3 NIV

Is it possible that we can be inhabited by that same glory of the Lord, the glory that Ezekiel and other Old Testament prophets saw, the glory that caused them to fall on their faces?  If God's spirit dwells in us, then it just possible that the world could see God through us, that we would have the power to convict people of their sins, not because of our words or even our deeds, but because the Spirit of God dwells within.  I know I'm not anywhere close to being so transparent that God's holiness shines through, but I think if we call ourselves God's people, that should be our goal and nothing else:  that others could not be around us without being aware of the glory of God's presence. 

2010 Post - Ezekiel 40-43:  The Glory Returns

Ezekiel 38-39:

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.”  - Ezek. 39:25-29 NIV

It isn't going to be any UN Assembly that decides the fate of Israel.  Throughout history, contrary to what outsiders may have thought, God has been the one that decided the fate of Israel.  It always was that way, it will always be that way.  No other governing body, no matter how great has any hold over the future of Israel.

2010 Post - Ezekiel 38-39:  It Will Surely Take Place

Ezekiel 35-37: God's FInal Promise

 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.  I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.  I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.  I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!   - Ezek. 36:24-32 NIV

Visiting Israel was never on my bucket list.  There were too many other places I wanted to see, many other things I wanted to do before making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  But once I was there, things changed.  We have been there three times now in the last two years and hope to go again next spring.  What keeps drawing us back?  One it is God's land and the Jews are God's people, but I never expected, that even among the most secular of Jews,  there would be a greater historical perspective and acknowledgement of God's place in their life than exists in most of the Christian communities of which I have been a part. 

God is doing something in Israel.  It is undeniable.  God is preparing the Jews and that land for something more.  They may not realize it, but they are fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament prophets and of the Son of God.  Israel is not prospering and living in relative calm because of any power of their own, it is not for their own sake.  It is for God's sake, all part of his infinite, unalterable plan.  Who knows how the next few weeks, months and years will unfold?  Some, like Ezekiel, have seen glimpses of the dry bones being brought back to life.  If we really look, we can also see the dry bones connecting themselves together.  A new heart and spirit is being breathed into God's people.  It's exciting to be among God's chosen and in his promised land as the final promise comes to pass.

2010 Post - Ezekiel 35-37:  Promise to the Dry Bones

Ezekiel 33-34: Only One Good Shepherd

“‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.  I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. - Ezek. 34: 11-16 NIV

What would we do if we didn't have a good shepherd?   One that searches until he finds us and looks after us as we cannot look after ourselves.  What would we do if we didn't have such a shepherd?  The world tries to shepherd us, tries to tell us what is good for us and promises to care for us, but all of those promises always turn out to be empty.  There is only one way to dwell in green pastures and that is to be willing to be led by the good shepherd.  There is only one shepherd that will bind our wounds and strengthen the weak and that is to be willingly led by the good shepherd who will lead us to the heights if we will follow.  There is only one.

2010 Post - Ezekiel 33-34:  The Good Shepherd and His Unruly Flock

Ezekiel 29-32: It Happened to Egypt

Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortal men, with those who go down to the pit.- Ezek. 31:14 NIV

These words from God, through the prophet Ezekiel, are spoken about Egypt, but they apply to anyone and anything that rises to the heights and exalts in the work of their own hands, as the Pharaoh's of Egypt did.

   “‘I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,
   you great monster lying among your streams.
   You say, “The Nile is mine;
   I made it for myself.” - Ezek. 29:3 NIV

I've been bombarded by this reminder since yesterday.  First there was a front page article in the Kansas City Star about one of the mega churches in the area, going in to bankruptcy.  Then I watched a television program on the rise and fall of Enron.  How the mighty have fallen.  It isn't just the unrighteous and corrupt who meet such an ignominious end.  Anyone who builds something, even if it starts out with good intentions, that becomes a source of pride can fall prey to the same downfall.  Nothing, no matter how good, not even our families or our relationships, nothing that is enviable is the result of the work of our own hands.  It is God that giveth and God that taketh.  Pride goes before any great fall.  It happened to Egypt, it can happen to us.

2010 Post - Ezekiel 29-32:  Doom for the Nations

Ezekiel 26-28: God Will Show Himself Holy

  “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will show myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”  - Ezek. 18:25-27: NIV

If I sometimes doubt God's promises to me, I have to confess that I doubt his word even more when it comes to Israel.  Especially now, when it seems that all of the nations are abandoning any semblance of goodwill towards Israel; when it looks like all of the turmoil and torment in the mid-east will result in Israel being besieged as never before.

God's word is true, God's promises will come to pass and will come to pass in circumstances that make it clear that it is only God and his hand on his people that have brought it about.  God will show himself holy among the nations.  His people will live in safety and punishment will be inflicted on those who malign God's chosen.  We may not see it in our lifetime, but God's promise will stand if only for one reason.:  that the whole world will know that God is the Lord God of Israel.  Even at this moment, for any that would see, he is showing himself holy among them in the sight of the nations. 

2010 Post - Ezekiel 26-28:  Woe to Tyre

Ezekiel 23-25: Bearing the Consequences

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you have forgotten me and thrust me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”  - Ezek. 23:35 NIV

Most of the time we get it all wrong.  We see all of the sin around us and think that sin is the problem.  But the root cause is separation, separation from God.  If we were as close to God as he created us to be, we would see sin in a different light.  We would be much more forgiving of the sinner and less forgiving of ourselves.  It was always the separation that influenced God's actions against his people.  Sin was just the by-product. 

When  we see those around us struggling with sin, we should encourage and enable them, point the path toward God rather than point out their sin.  Once they start walking toward God with all of their heart, the sin will disappear.  If it happened in my life, it can happen for everyone else.

2010 Post: - Ezekiel 23-25- Who You Gonna Run to Now?