July 29 The Glory Returns

Ezekiel 43:1-4 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. 4 The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east.

TWO months ago on May 26, we looked at Ezekiel 10 to read that God's glory lifted up from the temple and left Jerusalem. God removed his glory - his power and authority - from Jerusalem and Judah. The Jews had long neglected and disobeyed God. He left them in their sin to destruction, death and exile.
           Now God gives to Ezekiel a sign that the judgment and exile will end. As he shows to Ezekiel the form of the new physical temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem, he also shows that his glory will once again fill the temple.
           Each time we see in the Bible God's instructions to build a worship center such as the tabernacle in Exodus and the first temple in 1 Kings, God completes the physical construction with the anointing of his holy glory, so his power will be known to his own people.
           God's grace to re-establish his glory in the second temple is a picture of our salvation today. We are born without God's glory, dead in our transgressions. By his grace, God comes to his own to rebuild us spiritually with the building stones of the gospel. As the Spirit awakens our dead souls to life in Jesus' sacrifice, God's glory enters into us that we may be strengthened more and more securely in our relationship with God.
           This strengthening process is sanctification. We need God's glory to be sanctified toward God to truly and fully live in his power. The Apostle Paul, fully aware of this, offered this wonderful prayer for all whose faith proclaims Jesus, "My Lord and Savior." Ephesians 1:18 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength."
           Be thankful this day that God's glory returned to his temple in Jerusalem. Rejoice God's glory is now present in you who call on the name of the Lord. Be joyful to remember as Paul also reminded us 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 

Prayer: In awe and wonder Ezekiel worshiped you that day, Lord. May I live in the worship of your glory to save me. Amen.