Last week we discussed Ezekiel 8 and the abominations that were taking place in the temple. As a result of these abominations God was having to turn away and leave. This week we find a continuation of the story in chapters 9 & 10.
In chapter 9 God sends out a "man clothed with linen, who had a writer's inkhorn" (V.3), to "put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that were done" (V.4). Then he is sent out to kill and destroy all who do not have the mark, or in other words those who are not sighing and crying over the abominations happening among God's people. In verse 6 God tells him to start the slaying in the temple. Strangely, God Himself is ordering for the temple to be defiled (the temple would be defiled by the killings within it). The man clothed in linen follows through with the Lord's command.
The result is described in chapter 10. The temple is completely defiled both through the abominations and now through the killings. Therefore, God leaves the temple. The worst thing that can happen to God's people has happened, the Glory has departed. May we always be seeking discernment to sigh and cry against the abominations amongst God's people so that it may never be said about us individually or corporately "the Glory has departed". Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment