Year 2, Week 18, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 18, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Ezekiel 8-10.

Today’s reading continues the Book of Ezekiel. Today’s reading proceeds further into the first segment of Ezekiel (chapters 1-24), which is a series of prophecies about impending judgment on the people of Judah for their persistent disobedience to the LORD. Ezekiel 8, which begins a subunit of thought that ends with chapter 11, is a prophetic vision from the LORD in which Ezekiel is transported to Jerusalem and given a glimpse of what was unfolding in the Temple: “And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations” (Ezekiel 8:6). This vision occurred sometime around 592 BC. Ezekiel 9 describes the work of six executioners who would destroy Jerusalem: "Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.” And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand” (Ezekiel 9:1-2a). Ezekiel is also shown a seventh visitor who would mark those who would be spared: “and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar…And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it” (Ezekiel 9:2b-4). Ezekiel 10 describes the glory of the LORD starting its departure from the Temple: “Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out…And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them” (Ezekiel 10:18-19).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the description provided concerning the LORD’S glory at the Temple: “Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne” (Ezekiel 10:1). This vision, which is connected with what Ezekiel is seeing at the Temple, is a reprisal of the vision he experienced and wrote of at the start of the Book: “And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance” (Ezekiel 1:25-26). Ezekiel notes that he sees the glory of the LORD: “Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks” (Ezekiel 10:3-5). Perhaps the glory of the LORD was on the south side of the Temple in light of what was unfolding on the north side: “He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy” (Ezekiel 8:3).

The LORD’S glory was about to depart from the Temple due to the idolatry that was occurring in the Temple: “Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations” (Ezekiel 8:5-6). Israel’s leaders were involved in the idolatry: “So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up” (Ezekiel 8:10-11). The leaders were justifying their actions on the erroneous basis that the LORD was unaware of what they were doing: “Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land” (Ezekiel 8:12).

But the LORD did see what was going on—everything that was going on. The LORD saw that His people had turned the Temple into a place of false worship. And He showed Ezekiel what was going on: “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity” (Ezekiel 8:17-18). The departure of the LORD from the Temple would be the first step in the unleashing of His judgment: “Then he said to me, “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood, and the city full of injustice. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.’ As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will bring their deeds upon their heads” (Ezekiel 9:9-10).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe