Tuesday
Ezekiel is given another vision (which started in chapter 8).
This time he witnesses the depravity of the idolaters and their subsequent execution. On a side note, Cherubim don’t appear to be the sweet little chubby angels that artists have depicted over the ages. Cherubim (cherub, is singular) are very powerful angelic beings who carry out some forceful tasks, all for the glory of God. They stand guard at the entrance to Eden. They were used to decorate the top of the Ark of the Covenant. They are seen as a symbol of the very presence of God.
And so they are now being used to destroy the idolaters and the temple. The only people that are spared are the ones who “grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it (the temple)” and have been given a mark.
Ezekiel witnesses the glory of God leaving the temple. He is then given instructions to prophesy against the leaders who are “plotting evil and giving wicked advice” to the people. But as Ezekiel cries out to God for his people, God also tells him that He will gather a remnant from the nations and bring them back. But some changes will be made, He will “give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” (11:18-19).”
God tells Ezekiel to pack his bags and portray the part of a captive being led into exile. As the people watched they understood what was happening and Ezekiel told them what God had in store for them. Unlike what their leaders were telling them, the exile would last a long time and many would be destroyed. God would spare a few of them, as witnesses to why this all took place. They were sinful and this is what a Holy and Righteous God does to a sinful nation. He can only tolerate disobedience for so long (even though God is slow to anger).
We need to recognize the importance of being prepared at all times. Jesus’ return could come any day, any time. We should never fall into the assumption that we have a lot of time ahead of us, to get ourselves ready for that day. We need to be ready now.
Shalom
Pastor Kathy