SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 10
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of lapis lazuli above the vault that was over the heads of the cherubim. The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in. [Ezekiel 10:1-2]
Today’s reading is filled with symbolism.
The chariot with the throne, with the cherubim, the wheels with eyes, surrounded by the glory of God – these represent the universal rule of God.
He sees and knows everything, He rules everywhere, He is over everyone!
And what He sees makes Him angry, and His glorious presence cannot tolerate it.
Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. [Ezekiel 10:18]
Then there is the man clothed in linen Who enters the burning coals of God’s anger and scatters it over the city – a picture of Jesus, our High Priest!

It was the custom of the high priest to go behind the curtain in the temple to face the holiness and glory of God – symbolized by burning incense.
Because God’s glory was so great, it became the custom to tie a rope to the priest who went in, so that they could pull him out in case he collapsed in God’s presence.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. [Luke 1:8-10]
In Ezekiel we have Jesus, the High Priest, entering into the burning judgment of God, entering the fire in order to scatter its source.
Because Jesus enters behind the curtain, God’s judgment against the world is dealt with, and sin is punished.
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. [Matthew 27:50-52]
The curtain, symbolic of that which separates sinful people from a holy God, is removed because of the man in linen who enters in and once for all deals with God’s justice.

No longer is God’s glory confined to a small room in a temple, no longer are people separated from God.
The curtain is torn open, the penalty and the power of sin are broken, God’s glory is released and God’s justice and mercy are scattered over Jerusalem..
Judgment and mercy, sin punished and sinners forgiven, God and humanity reconciled because of the man in linen who enters the fire on their behalf.

There is a lot of symbolism in this passage, but the basic point is that the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God has dealt with our sin and makes it possible for us – through His appointed High Priest – to be forgiven and reconciled to Him.
Because of Jesus, we can approach God without fear of judgment!
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. [Hebrews 10:19-22]
Yes, God’s glory has departed from the temple, but that is because we no longer need it; we may now approach God personally and boldly in prayer, wherever we are.
Because of Jesus, we are the temples of the living God, and His glory is in us!

PRAYER:
Lord, I sometimes find the symbolism complicated and confusing, but the basic message is encouraging – You have entered the fire for me, and I am forgiven, and God rules and lives in/with me, everywhere and always!