II Chronicles 36:13-16; Ezekiel 8-11
We’re back to Ezekiel, who lives as an exile in Babylonia. There in Babylonia Ezekiel sees a vision of what the LORD is doing back in Jerusalem, and it is not pretty. It is enough to make any faithful follower of God weep, as the glory of the LORD lifts from the LORD’s dwelling place and departs, first from the Temple, and then from Jerusalem.
Recall the “good ol’ days” when Solomon first built the Temple. At its dedication, the glory of the LORD filled the Temple, and all the people of Israel worshipped. (II Chronicles 7:1-3) Ah, those were the days! Yet even then, the seeds of abomination were sown, with Solomon himself among the sowers. (I Kings 11) Now, God’s people are reaping the fruit of what they have so persistently sown, and the glory of the LORD departs.
Does the LORD rejoice over this departure? Not at all! He is as reluctant to depart as can be. All along, the LORD has been exceedingly patient and merciful with Israel. The Temple has stood for centuries while the LORD has sent His prophets, calling the people to Himself. The LORD has shown Himself faithful and good and kind. But He is no cosmic chump, who can be fooled by a charade of worship, so now He says, “Enough is enough!” Yet even as the glory of the LORD departs Jerusalem, and judgment falls, God proclaims salvation to the remnant of Israel. He reiterates that He will return the exiles from wherever they might be scattered back to the land of Israel, and that He will yet be their God:
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 11:19-20
The LORD desires life for His people. He desires life for us. Are we taking Him up on His offer, a beating heart of flesh in place of stone? Are we pursuing Him with all we’ve got, looking for the radiance of His glory? Or is there still some place of darkness in which we try to hide?