Ezekiel 42-44

September 16

Ezekiel 42-44

In Ezekiel 10, Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord leave the temple in Jerusalem. God had enough of the idolatry and rebellion of the people. He no longer dwelt in the midst of the people of Judah. It was a sad day for Jerusalem. The One who was their protector left, while they depended on other nations to protect them from their enemies. But God did not move out forever. Ezekiel saw another vision in which he saw the glory of the Lord return to the temple and filled it with His presence.

 

Paul wrote; "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV) The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70AD, but God’s presence no longer dwelt there. Jesus spoke of His body as the temple because where God dwells is the temple. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came and dwelt in the believers and continues to fill and dwell in those who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Therefore, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

"Now let them put away from me their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings, and I will live among them forever." (Ezekiel 43:9, NIV) God’s desire is to fill us with His presence and to live in us, but He will not live in the midst of sinfulness. God comes to cleanse us and to make us whole. If we will put aside our old self and allow Him to fill us and to use us, He will dwell with us forever.