The Presence of the Lord (Ezekiel 42:10-43:21)
What struck me today was the high point of Ezekiel’s temple description, which is the return of the glorious presence of the Lord to the temple. This is, after all, what the temple is most all about. Beyond the sacrifices and rituals, architecture and accouterments, it is really all about the presence of the Lord.
The central feature of the covenant was that the Lord would be their God and they would be His people and He would dwell among them. This is why the destruction of the temple was such a powerful statement of judgment. It was much more than an interruption in the sacrificial worship life of the people of God. It was the withdrawal of His gracious presence.
And so it is fitting that in this symbolic representation of the fulfillment of God’s promises and the restoration of the people that the key feature would be the restoring of the presence of God among His people in a perfect temple. This is pictured as completed at the end of Revelation as well, where God is described as dwelling with His people.
But this beatific vision is accomplished by the “temple” presence of God as well. In Jesus Christ, the Word has “tabernacled” with us. That’s the direct translation of the word that is used in John 1:14. It’s much more than merely that God came to visit. He was initiating the return of His gracious presence. This is the main point of the Palm Sunday Procession: God returning. And this is fulfilled for us when we are brought into the covenant through faith in Christ, and the Triune God makes His dwelling within us.
So my prayer today is one of thankfulness for such a gracious God, but also that I might live this day in the awareness that I am constantly in His gracious presence, because He has made of my life a temple for His glory. I pray that I may live a life today that is fit worship of my saving God who dwells within.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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