THE DIVINE GLORY DEPARTS FROM THE TEMPLE The vision mentioned here is considered as a continuation of that mentioned in the last chapter; the prophet beholds the man clothed with linen, and a writer’s inkhorn at his side. But the location has changed; Instead of the earthly holy temple, where the bronze altar, and the seat of mercy (the Ark of the Testimony) are; we see heaven itself and the divine throne. 1- Burning of the city 1-17. 2- The divine glory departs from the house of God 18-23. 1- BURNING OF THE CITY Before proclaiming His complete departure from His house, the Lord gave His prophet the vision that He previously revealed to him by the River Chebar; namely the divine fiery chariot, previously called “the likeness of the glory of the Lord;” the details of which we have already dealt with in chapter 1; with the exception that the Living Creatures, he calls here “the cherubim.’ What is new in this new vision, is that he saw the man - clothed with linen, and had an inkhorn at His side; who puts a mark on the forehead of those who sighed upon the abominations of Jerusalem (chapter 9) - went in among the wheels, under the cherubs. And another cherub was commanded to fill his hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and to scatter them over the city to burn it. We said that the Man clothed with linen is “the incarnate Word of God,” who came as a High Priest, wearing the priestly attire to offer the sacrifice of His love for the salvation of mankind. His going in among the two wheels, is a proclamation that He is the axis of the two Testaments: the goal of the Old Testament, namely the Law, being Christ; and the New Testament, namely the Bible, being the proclamation of the mystery of Jesus Christ. His descending beneath the cherubim, is a proclamation of the mystery of His incarnation; according to the words of the apostle Paul, “You made Him a little lower than the angels” (Heb 2:7). Some people may probably ask: If the Lord came for our salvation, why would He command a cherub to take fire and scatter it on the city to burn it? a- In this there is a proclamation of the fire of the mysterious sacrifice. If the Lord came as a Priest, yet, at the same time, He came as a Sacrifice to carry upon Himself the wages of our sins. He, Who knows no sin - accepted to bear its fire to destroy the city; though unable to destroy Him! That is why in the week of the holy Pasch, the Church concentrates on the prophecies of the Old Testament, that reveal the horror of sin and its destructive effects; in order to reveal the love of Christ, the bearer of the sins of the world. Yet, as much as the Holy Spirit proclaims to the human soul, the fatal fruit of sin, as much as it clings to Him, He who bore that fruit on her behalf. b- That fire, probably also symbolizes the fiery Holy Spirit, sent to us by the Lord Christ from God the Father, to burn the corruption of sin; to destroy in us the old city; namely the old man; to set a new city or a new inner temple, in which the Lord dwells. c- That act was a proclamation of burning the city by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:9), on the hand of Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and servant of king 5 Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. As the holy city forsook the holiness of life, it became worthy of destruction by the hands of the Gentile enemies. It is to be noticed that when the Lord went in between the two cherubs, a cloud filled the outer court of the house. It is as though by the entry of the Son into incarnation, He proclaimed His glory in us, we who were outside. He says: “And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty God when He speaks” (Ez 10:5). As though the voice of the Almighty God also reached us, we, who were outside, through the coming of the Word to us. “The wheel did not turn about as the cherubim went. They went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went” (Ez 10:11). So goes the wheel of God’s chariot following the head; namely according to a divine plan. Neither man nor any creature can challenge God. On His divine throne, He grants grace and mercy to those who seek Him, and gives judgment against those who oppose Him; Who can challenge God?! His chariot, full of eyes all around (Ez 10:12); does not go haphazardly; but His judgment is truth and justice; He is aware of the hearts; and nothing for him is hidden! 2- THE DIVINE GLORY DEPARTS FROM THE HOUSE OF THE LORD “Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight” (Ez 10:12). The prophet confirmed that he saw the glory of God depart from His house; set forth with His fiery chariot away from the people who rejected His divine glory. It was not possible for the Lord to dwell where man persists on doing evil; “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? “ (2 Cor 6:14, 15). It was imperative for God to depart from His old temple that persisted on denial, to set in us a new temple, made by His Holy Spirit. Origen speaks of it, saying: [Let there be for the soul, an altar within the heart, on which sacrifices of prayer and burnt offerings of mercy are offered; on which the oxen of pride are slain by the knife of meekness; together with the rams of fury and goats of lusts. Let the soul know how to set within the holy of holiness of its heart, a lamp-stand that persistently emits light1.] The prophet saw the glory of setting forth from the threshold of the temple, and mounting up toward heaven. Yet he also saw the glory stop a while at the door of the east gate; as though waiting for a last chance, even after departing from the location, in the hope that they would probably repent, and come back. He departs from His house to ascend to heaven, without suffering any loss on His part; but seeking the benefit of mankind, its salvation, and its glory! The apostle Paul expressed that by saying: “Do not grieve the Spirit.” How amazing! While the wicked does his best, to make God depart from his life; God does not want His glory to depart in haste from the heart of man; granting limitless chances to work in him! . 1 المؤلف: الكنیسة بیت اللّه، 1979 ، ص 40 ،39 6 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 10 I WISH YOUR GLORY WOULD NEVER DEPART FROM ME You are not in need for my little heart. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory! I wish Your glory would not depart from me. You, whom all the heavenliness glorify! I confess to You with my tears and the sights of my heart! By my sins and transgressions, I drive Your glory away from myself. I grieve Your Holy Spirit that dwells in me. Yet You do not wish Your glory to depart from my heart! You are in no need for proclaiming Your glory in me; Yet Your amazing love wishes to proclaim it in me! To be glorified in me! And to make me worthy of the fellowship of Your eternal glory!
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