THE RETURN OF GOD’S GLORY This chapter talks about: 1- God’s glory in His temple 1-6. 2- Conditions of the divine presence 7-12. 3- The altar of the burnt offerings 13-17. 4- Consecration of the altar 18-27. 1- GOD’S GLORY IN HIS TEMPLE The Spirit brings him to the gate that faces toward the east (Ez 43:1); at the same place from which the cherubim chariot - God’s fiery chariot - set forth to heaven, to depart from the house of the Lord (Ez 10:19); and from the whole city (Ez 11). Now the prophet, whose whole life was embittered because of the departure of God’s glory from His people, regains his breath; and his mission got crowned with success; the whole book reaches its climax, and God’s goal in us is realized. We can say with no exaggeration, that the book of Ezekiel is the book of “God’s glory.” It starts with the proclamation of the divine glory. The Spirit of the Lord is revealed in every way; warning that God’s glory would depart from the people because of their adopted of the idolatry worship, their abominations, bloodshed, following the counsel of false prophet and prophetesses, and the preoccupation of the priests with their personal interests at the expense of their flocks etc. Ultimately the glory of the Lord departed from His temple and His city (Ez 10, 11), as the temple and the city were defiled. The Lord chastened His people by captivity, hunger, and the destruction of their cities, to provoke them to repentance, in order to return His glory to them. And finally He destroyed their outside enemy (Ez 25-32), promised them to give them back His glory; presented Himself to them a Shepherd instead of their wicked shepherds (Ez 34); provoked them to repentance lest they perish (Ez 36); and promised to set for them a new temple, a new city, and a new king - a Son of David. All that was for the sake of the return of “God’s glory” in their midst. It is indeed the book of “God’s glory;” an expression that came 14 times in the first 11 chapters. And now, He concisely describes this return; clarifying the following points: a- The divine glory came from the east, proclaiming that its return to the human nature, is to be realized by the coming of the Lord Christ, who is called the “Sun of righteousness,” who persistently arises to scatter the darkness (Mal 4:2). That is why the deacon, in the holy Liturgy cries out saying, “Look towards the east.” And the Church received the tradition to pray in all its liturgies, as well as at home and personal worship looking towards the east. Even in Europe, some of the cemeteries were so built, that the faces of the dead are set towards the east. The martyrs and the saints used to look towards the east, when the time comes to deliver their spirits to the Lord1. b- In its return, the glory of God here, does not appear in a cloud, as it did in the tabernacle of the meeting or in the temple of Solomon (Exod 40:34; 1 kings 8:10). His glory in His new Church, is not proclaimed through a cloud of symbols and shadows, but is proclaimed through the Only-begotten Son Himself; as humanity encountered with 1 ا رجع للمؤلف: الكنیسة بیت اللّه، 1979 ، فصل 5، المبنى الكنسي والاتجاه للشرق. 5 God the Father in His Son, without hindrance. c- The glory of God appeared through two things: the power of the word, and the splendor; He says: “The glory of God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory” (Ez 43:2). His word is active and strong, proclaimed like the sound of many waters; namely works among many people (waters) and nations to draw them to Him. The activity of this glory is the enlightenment; the land that lived so long under darkness would shine. And as the apostle Paul says: “For you were once darkness, but you are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col 1:13). And St. Peter says: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). d- The prophet Ezekiel saw the same glory he previously saw by the River Chebar (Ez 1). And as he fell on his face in the first time (Ez 1:28), and the Spirit entered him, and set him on his feet to speak to him (Ez 2:2); now he likewise, fell on his face (Ez 43:3), and was carried by the Spirit of the Lord to the inner court. No man can enjoy the divine glory, and enter into vision and hear the voice of the Lord, without the Holy Spirit, that was promised by the Lord, saying: “He will take of what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14). Actually scholars consider Ezekiel as ‘the prophet of the Holy Spirit,’ as they consider Isaiah as ‘the prophet of the Son,’ and Jeremiah as ‘the prophet of God the Father.’ There is no talk by the prophet Ezekiel without the proclamation of the work of the Holy Spirit. 2- CONDITIONS OF THE DIVINE PRESENCE a- The return of God’s glory to His temple, the place of His throne, and the place of the soles of His feet, to dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever (Ez 43:7), has been actually realized by the coming of the incarnate Only-Begotten Son, in our midst; who “has broken down the middle wall of division (animosity) between us” (Eph 2:14, 15). This divine work is realized through the renewal of the divine covenant with man; in which God the Father has offered His Only-Begotten Son as an atonement for our sins; and in which we also are committed to act as is fitting for that great work by means of His divine grace. That is why God warns His people and their kings against defiling His holy name again (Ez 43:7); or else He would count that as taking lightly, God’s longsuffering and love. The apostle Paul says: “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:29- 31). b- If God proclaimed to them the return of His glory, to put in them the Spirit of hope; Yet, in order to enjoy this, and to recognize the dimensions of the temple, the secrets of His house, its ordinances and mysteries, they are committed first to repent (Ez 43:9-11): “Now let them put their harlotry and the carcasses of their kings far away from Me; and I will dwell in their midst forever” (Ez 43:9). Repentance is the way to be worthy of the dwelling of God in our midst, and of recognizing His divine secrets. 6 c- As His house is sanctified, the whole mountain is sanctified; saying: “This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountain top shall be Most Holy” (Ez 43:12). Let us then have our heart sanctified, so that our whole body and our souls will be sanctified, then God will sanctify all who are around us! The true believer is a source of blessing to all who are around him! 3- THE ALTAR OF THE BURNT OFFERINGS Talking about the return of God’s glory, He mentioned first the repentance as the way to enter into the Holy of the Holies; but only through the holy sacrifice; as though the sacrifice is the basis of the entry of God’s glory in our life. And as Fr. Methodeus of Olympia says: [Day after day, the Church grows in stature and beauty, through her unity and cooperation with the Logos who descends to us till now, and continues to do so in remembrance of His passions1.] St. John Chrysostom says about the sacrifice of the Lord Christ; namely, the Eucharist: [Through it, the soul is sanctified; and by it, it is beautified and flares2.] It is to be noticed, that the altar here, is bigger than it used to be before captivity (Ezra 3:3): 6 square yards at the top, 7 square yards at the base, and 4.5 yards high; It has a bench one yard high from the ground, on which some priests sit to minister; and another bench, some two yards away, on which others sit; the sacrifice is presented to those sitting on the first bench, who hand it to those sitting on the other, to place it on the altar. 4- CONSECRATION OF THE ALTAR For consecration of the altar, a daily sacrifice should be offered for 7 days (Ez 43:25); as a reference to the work of the Lord Christ, consistently slain all along the week of our life; to wipe out our sins completely; to leave no place for them in us, all along the days of our sojourn. On the eighth day, God’s pleasure will start (Ez 43:27); as though the secret of His pleasure is, that we enter by the Lord Christ into the new heavenly life (the eighth day; namely, on the first day of the new week); which is the day of resurrection of the Lord Christ from the dead. In it we rise, would be justified before God the Father, and counted as sitting with Him in the heavenliness. Throwing salts on the sacrifice (Ez 43:24), refers to the divine grace; according to the words of the apostle Paul: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col 4:6). The grace of God is the salt that seasons the tongue, all the members of the body, its senses, and feelings, as well as the soul with all its energies, and the mind. Lastly the ministering Levites are of the seed of Zadok (Ez 43:19); who are said to approach Him; Zadok means “the righteous.” Approaching the altar of God should be through the enjoyment of the righteousness of Christ, to be in His eyes, spiritually, of the seed of Zadok. 1 Banquet 3:8. 2 In Joan, hom 4. 7 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF E ZEKIEL 43 THE DIVINE GLORY IN US Great is the joy of Your prophet Ezekiel! He has realized his goal! Your glory that departed from the temple and the city has now returned! Your glory returned from the east; So as to rise in me, O the Sun of Righteousness! To scatter my darkness by your amazing light! To come with Your glory, not through the clouds; Not through the symbols and shadows; But by the dwelling of Your Holy Spirit in me! The voice of the coming of Your glory, was like the sound of many waters! The earth shone and became full of splendor! Come with Your glory in me. Let Your voice thunder in me! Let all the foundations of evil tremble before You! Shine with Your splendor in my depths; To make me enjoy an exalted spiritual beauty! Let Your glory come to my inner depths; I confess my iniquities to You; And admit my reproach! I know that repentance is the way of Your royal glory! And the holiness is the eye that beholds Your splendor! Set Your altar in me; And sanctify it with Your precious blood! Your glory is connected to Your cross! Here I am carrying it by and with You; O, You Bearer of the sins of the world by Your cross!
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