On Wednesday night, at our men’s bible study, we considered Solomon’s dedication of the magnificent temple which God had given him the privilege to build. We spent a bit of time talking about what it would have been like to behold the Father’s visible “Yes!” to Solomon’s question, “Will God indeed dwell with man on earth?” (2Chron. 6:18). That heavenly “Yes and Amen” being manifest when the fire comes down from heaven consuming the burnt offerings and sacrifices as God “moves in” . . . His glory filling the temple . . . His glory filling what would be known as “the LORD’s house” . . . the glory that prevented even the priests from entering . . . the glory that drove the people of God facedown in worship and thanksgiving . . . “For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” (2Chron. 7:1-3)

Fast forward some 400 years or so . . . and the glory of God which inhabited the house of God is going . . . going . . . gone!

I’m reading again in Ezekiel this morning. And, as I read through chapters 9 to 12, what catches my eye is that the glory that filled the temple is now at the threshold (9:3) . . . and then at the east gate (10:18-19) . . . and then departs from the city altogether and rests “on the mountain that is on the east side of the city” (11:23).

Ichabod (1Sam. 4:12) . . .the glory has departed . . . the glory has left the building . . . how sad.

What a contrast from Wednesday to Friday . . . from Solomon to Ezekiel . . . from descending fire to departing glory.

And the glory “stands” on the mount across from the city . . . just as Jesus would centuries later and lament over the city and it’s again certain destruction . . .

It is the plight of man apart from the grace of God. Left to ourselves we are simply unable to accommodate the glory. No matter how hard we work . . . no matter how religious we get . . . all our righteousness deeds are as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6) . . . our speech and our deeds are against the LORD, “defying His glorious presence” (Isa. 3:8).

But praise be to God who is rebuilding His temple . . . out of living stones . . . workmanship crafted by God Himself through the finished work of Christ on the cross and by the sanctifying work of the Spirit . . . that the glory should dwell again on the earth. God ensuring that His glory “will stick” as he reconstitutes hearts and rewires spiritual DNA . . .

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.   (Ezekiel 11:19-20 ESV)

O that God’s glory would be known among and through His people . . . not on the mount beside us . . . not at the eastern gate . . . not even just at the threshold . . . but that it might fully rest on the household of God . . .

. . . until that day when faith gives way to sight . . . and we’ll be going . . . going . . . gone!

Amen?