One of the most tragic and terrifying scenes in the Bible is found in Ezekiel. The place where God promised to dwell and manifest Himself to His people was being abandoned by God.
Earlier in Israel’s history the wife of Phinehas, the priest, named her son Ichabod, which means, “the glory has departed” from Israel (1 Samuel 4:21). The reason given was compromise, idolatry, taking holy things lightly and open sin.
As you read the book of Ezekiel you’ll find that God exposed Ezekiel to the same tragic conditions taking place right in the Temple of God. It so appalled God that He had to depart. Listen to the tragic language in Ezekiel 9:3, “Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the Cherubim where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the Temple.”
God had promised to be in the Holy of Holies. This says He moved from the Holy of Holies out to the threshold of the Temple.
Then turn to Ezekiel 10:18, “Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the Temple and stopped above the Cherubim. While I watched the Cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground and as they went the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the East Gate of the Lord’s House and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.”
If you read Ezekiel 11:23 it says that the glory of God went from the East Gate to the mountains east of the city of Jerusalem. God was departing from being present among His people. What a tragedy.
I trust you will so order your life that you are always conscious of God’s presence.
