"Ichabod" June 11 Readings: Ezekiel 7-12

Today's Reading - Ezekiel 7-12

Background

The great vision in these early chapters is of the "glory of God" rising and departing from the Temple - what a terrible figure.

Devotional - Ichabod" 

It was a tragic and fearful vision that Ezekiel had in Ezekiel 8-10, a tour of the holy city, Jerusalem. The Hebrews constantly wondered why their God would abandon them, why the terrible things that they were experiencing were allowed by God. How could he do such a thing to his chosen nation? God answered that question clearly to Ezekiel in chapters 8 and 9.

He showed him a pagan statue north of the altar gate (8:5), the people and even the 70 elders engaging in idolatrous worship and practices (8:11), women weeping for Tammuz, a Babylonian deity (8:14), and several other despicable acts. God was showing Ezekiel that the divine havoc being wreaked on Israel was just and justified. In chapter 9, Ezekiel is shown the destruction that God will pour out upon Israel - a harsh judgment on extreme depravity.

But chapter 10 is a haunting and fearful passage. It tells of the glory of God, his powerful presence that has dwelt in the Holy of Holies, departing. In a dramatic scene, God's glory moves to the threshold and then finally out of the temple.

Ichabod. "The glory has departed."

Before the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar it was first desecrated by the Israelites themselves. Their sin, their idolatry, their degradation, and the hardness of their hearts had so defiled the House of God that the God's glory could no longer dwell there. It departed and the temple was just an empty edifice - beautiful outside with nothing real inside. Nebuchadnezzar did not destroy the temple of God. He destroyed the building that was left after the glory of God departed.

Whew! Aren't we glad we live in the New Testament era when the Holy Spirit indwells us and brings God's glory into our lives forever? Aren't we thrilled that we are sealed with the Spirit forever and that he will never depart from us? Of course, this is a great blessing. But there is still a danger to us in the church today.

In Revelation 1, Jesus is described as the presence of God among the candlesticks - the churches of Asia Minor. He warns the wayward churches that if they do not repent and return to him, he will come and remove their candlestick!  Evidently, a church can become Ichabod like Israel did.

It is true that we are secure in Christ - praise God - but there is an ever-present danger that we will walk in the sin from which God delivered us through Christ and the light of God will be hidden under a basket, the Spirit will be quenched, and we may sense a distance from God, an absence of God's glory in our lives. It is not that God has actually departed, but our sin prevents us from experiencing and enjoying the presence of God as we should.

No king could ever destroy the temple until God's people had so defiled it that the glory departed. May we glorify God every day and never mimic the depravity and idolatry of the Israelites of that day.

Father, thank you for you glory. I seek you and glorify you. May I do nothing to desecrate the temple you now dwell in, my body, and the Body of Christ. 

Think and Pray

Is there rebellious sin in your life that quenches the presence and power of the Holy Spirit?