DAILY BIBLE READING June 24th, 2020 EZEKIEL 10:1-22 (GNT)

God’s Life-Giving Word of Spiritual Renewal

INTRODUCTION

Ezekiel 10:1-22: Chapter 10 is part of Ezekiel’s second vision (which begins in chapter 8 where he is carried to Jerusalem and sees the people and the leaders punished because of their sins against the LORD). In Ezekiel’s first vision (chapter 1), he witnessed the presence of the LORD. In today’s reading, Ezekiel sees the divine glory—the presence of God—leaving the Temple because the people had made the land and the Temple impure by their idolatry and rebellion.

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 10:18A

Then the dazzling light of the LORD’s presence left the entrance of the Temple.

TODAY'S READING

The Glory of the Lord Leaves the Temple

1 I looked at the dome over the heads of the living creatures and above them was something that seemed to be a throne made of sapphire. 2 God said to the man wearing linen clothes, “Go between the wheels under the creatures and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter the coals over the city.”

I watched him go. 3The creatures were standing to the south of the Temple when he went in, and a cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4The dazzling light of the Lord's presence rose up from the creatures and moved to the entrance of the Temple. Then the cloud filled the Temple, and the courtyard was blazing with the light. 5The noise made by the creatures' wings was heard even in the outer courtyard. It sounded like the voice of Almighty God.

6When the Lord commanded the man wearing linen clothes to take some fire from between the wheels that were under the creatures, the man went in and stood by one of the wheels. 7One of the creatures reached his hand into the fire that was there among them, picked up some coals, and put them in the hands of the man in linen. The man took the coals and left.

8I saw that each creature had what looked like a human hand under each of its wings. 9-10 I also saw that there were four wheels, all alike, one beside each creature. The wheels shone like precious stones, and each one had another wheel which intersected it at right angles. 11When the creatures moved, they could go in any direction without turning. They all moved together in the direction they wanted to go, without having to turn around. 12 Their bodies, backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. 13I heard a voice calling out, “Whirling wheels.”

14 Each creature had four faces. The first was the face of a bull, the second a human face, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15(They were the same creatures that I had seen by the Chebar River.) When the creatures rose in the air 16and moved, the wheels went with them. Whenever they spread their wings to fly, the wheels still went with them. 17When the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures flew, the wheels went with them, because the creatures controlled them.

18Then the dazzling light of the Lord's presence left the entrance of the Temple and moved to a place above the creatures. 19They spread their wings and flew up from the earth while I was watching, and the wheels went with them. They paused at the east gate of the Temple, and the dazzling light was over them. 20I recognized them as the same creatures which I had seen beneath the God of Israel at the Chebar River.

21Each of them had four faces, four wings, and what looked like a human hand under each wing. 22Their faces looked exactly like the faces I had seen by the Chebar River. Each creature moved straight ahead.

REFLECT

God’s glory is often connected with bright light or fire. The four winged creatures are the same ones who appeared to Ezekiel in his first vision (chapter 1; see the reading from June 21). In today’s reading, Ezekiel watches as the LORD’s presence is carried by the winged creatures away from the doorway of the Temple to the east gate of the Temple courtyard, a main entrance to the Temple area also known as “the gate of the LORD” (see Psalm 118:20). What is the significance of this occurrence? The man wearing linen clothes is introduced in chapter 9:2 and is possibly meant to be an angel (see Daniel 10:4-11). In verse 2 of today’s reading, what is the man told to do? Coals from the Temple altar had the power to purify (see Isaiah 6:6, 7), but here the coals are to be dropped all over the city, probably to cause a judgment fire that would destroy the city (see Revelation 8:5). What does today’s reading teach you about God and God’s judgment?

PRAY

God of glory, you alone are worthy of praise. Whenever I fail to do what is in accord with your will and sense being separated from your presence, I know that I can return to you with a humble and repentant heart and be restored and reconciled to you. Thank you for your steadfast love. Amen.

PRAYER CONCERN

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