Because of the people’s idolatry, God’s glory departed from the temple and went to Babylon. God revealed his throne to Ezekiel. He gave Ezekiel the task of revealing to Israel their sin of idolatry and judgment. Now God had prepared a holy city with a new temple. The glory of God was restored in God’s holy temple coming through the east gate, where it had previously departed (Ezek 11:3).

God told Ezekiel to share this news with his people so that they would be ashamed of their sins. God’s hope was that they would be moved by the temple’s perfection and want to restore their pure worship of him. God’s hope is to restore people from their sins to worship him. He accomplishes this hope through Jesus’ death and resurrection. When we look at Jesus, we may also repent our sins and worship him perfectly.

Next, God foretells the great altar being restored. The altar is where sacrifices to God were to be made. God’s hope is to remove our sins and restore us to be his holy creation.
Application: Father, “Let Your glory fall in this room, let it go forth from here to the nations, let Your fragrance rest in this place, as we gather to seek Your face.” (D. Ruiz)
One Word: God’s glory restored among us