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Devotional thoughts (Monday through Thursday mornings) from the pastor of Exeter Presbyterian Church in Exeter, NH // Sunday Worship 10:30am // 73 Winter Street

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Ezekiel 10

God is a Spirit. He does not have a body like man. Jesus is God, but He is also fully man, which is why He is visible. Yet God has made Himself visible in some sense at different times, taking on an appearance before someone to make some point or other. In this prophetic book we are now used to thinking about the presence of God in terms of His glory chariot and His throne. Details of color are mentioned and angelic beings are described.

All of this is not so that we will know what God looks like, since there is some sense in which the Bible tells us that no man has ever seen God. Despite this fact mentioned in the first chapter of John’s gospel, the apostle goes on to state that “the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” Jesus has made God known to us. What we saw before Jesus came were various visible images that simply confirmed to us the divine presence at a key moment in salvation history, or confirmed a key message from God through an amazing appearance. As we hear in Ezekiel this message from the temple, the chariot and the throne confirm to us that the voice that the prophet hears is the voice of God, perhaps through an angelic mediator.

The angelic scribe from the previous chapter is then instructed to go in among the whirling wheels of the glory chariot. He is to fill his hands with burning coals. It is obvious that this is a very dangerous image. First, the picture presented is something that no man would want to act out. To put one’s hands near those wheels and to pick up fire from heaven is beyond us. This is even more the case when we think of what this represents. It is a picture of the judicial presence of God who is bringing horrible disaster upon Jerusalem. Think of this biblical principle: Judge not, lest ye be judged. Who can be engaged in this work of touching the wrath of God in order to cast it down upon others? In our current sinful condition we cannot be anywhere near this scene. We would just as soon presume to rush up to the heavenly throne of God in Revelation 4 and 5 and rip open the seals on His book of divine woes coming upon the whole earth. A holy angel can do as he is commanded here. Nevertheless, consider this: One day, purified from all sin, we will even judge angels. How did we become so pure that we will be able to do that? This could never have happened except through the blood of the perfectly pure Messiah.

When Solomon dedicated the temple, we were told in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 that “the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” Now we have the glory cloud filling the temple, but no longer is their any joy at this amazing presence of God. Here God has come not to bless the temple or the people, but to judge them, and then to depart from the place of His presence.

The vision is frightening, and the sound of it must have been terrifying. We are told that the sound of the wings of the cherubim was like the voice of the Lord God Almighty. The angels are placing heavenly fire into the hands of the angelic scribe. He then goes out from that place, presumably to execute God’s vengeance upon the city with the fire of the Lord’s judgment. When we think that we would like to be near God, this scene is not what we imagine. We do want to be near Him when He comes with blessing in His hands. We could not bear to be anywhere near Him if he should come with His holy angels to execute His wrath. The description of this chariot throne is at least very similar to what we were first introduced to in the beginning of the book, but the occasion here is different, and it is not comforting.

What follows is further description of the angelic presence alongside of God on this occasion. Much of this requires no further comment, but there is one other detail that should be noted. The glory of the Lord seems to be on the way up and out. Is this the end of God’s presence here? When the glory of the Lord came at the dedication of Solomon’s temple there was a great sense of a new beginning in the presence of God. Now we cannot shake the feeling that we are seeing a very important end, and it is very sad to consider what this would mean for all the glories of God’s operations among men.

When Christ came as the new temple of God, something old was surely finished. We cannot have the temple in Jerusalem as the place of God’s special presence, and still have room for Christ as the fulfillment of that earlier picture. The picture must ultimately give way to the reality of worship in Christ. The old had to make way for the new. The place of worship was no longer in Jerusalem, for those who would worship God would only be able to do so in Jesus, the new temple. To worship in Christ is to worship in Spirit and in truth. We have been united to this new glory temple through faith in the Son of God.

Because of the abiding peace that has come from His acceptable sacrifice, that presence is one of great blessing. In Him the elect will not face the judgment of His presence in wrath. What we have in Him today we will have in Him forever. His presence of peace and joy will never change into a different presence of fire and fear for those who have fled to Christ for refuge.

Furthermore, the joy of temple living is now an everlasting joy. Our great priest lives forever to make intercession for us. There is no further assault coming against the true temple of God, Jesus Christ. Evil hands came against Him in His earthly ministry, but they cannot lay a finger upon Him now. He is coming again. For us, His coming is one of the fullest salvation. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in the wonderful glory temple of the Holy Spirit.

posted by Pastor Magee @ 7:00 AM

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