At men’s Bible study last week I was trying to be a bit facetious in order to make a point. In our “fly over” of the Old Testament we were “touching down” in Psalms. And so, to make the point that the book of Psalms is probably among the better known of the OT books, I asked, “Who has a favorite chapter in Leviticus? Who has a favorite chapter in Ezekiel? Now, who has a favorite chapter in Psalms?” Ain’t I witty! But what got me was a brother came up to me after the study and said, “You know, I do have a favorite chapter in Ezekiel . . . Ezekiel 43!” This morning it was clear to me why . . . the glory has entered the building!

In the eleventh chapter of Ezekiel’s prophecy, the prophet witnesses the glory departing from the temple. Of all the awful judgments leveled against hard-hearted, idol-worshiping, adulterous Israel, perhaps the worst was God’s personal evacuation of the temple. The glory in their midst was withdrawn . . . the presence of God was removed . . . the seat of His Holy Name was emptied. Oh, of all the consequences of their sin, I’ve got to think this was the worst.

But in chapter thirty-six, there’s a shift in the prophetic vision given to this “son of man.” It is a vision of restoration . . . of wholesale renovation . . . of sprinkling of clean water to rid Israel of their filth . . . of hearts of stone replaced with hearts of flesh . . . of a new spirit infused within their spirits . . . of dry, dead bones being brought to life . . . and of the assurance that a King would again rule (ch. 36-37). The vision continues with predictions of a returning conqueror . . . and the promise that God will again set His glory among the nations (ch. 38-39). And then, the prophecy slows to snails pace as Ezekiel is given a vision of a new temple . . . a detailed, you can draw blueprints from it, type of vision (ch. 41-42). So consistent with God’s past revelations concerning the place where He would determine to dwell.

And then, chapter forty-three . . . my friends favorite Ezekiel chapter . . . the glory re-enters the building!

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory. . . . And I fell on my face. As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. . . . I heard One speaking to me out of the temple, and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever . . . “   (Ezekiel 43:2-7a ESV)

The glory will again fill the temple. And this time it won’t be in the form of a pillar of fire. It won’t be an enveloping cloud falling upon the ark in some inner sanctuary which drives people from the inner courts so that the glory can only be beheld from afar. But the glory of the Lord will enter as a person. A person who’s presence will cause the earth to shine . . . a person who will claim the holy of holies as the place for His throne . . . a person who will speak make Himself known from the temple . . . a person who will dwell in the midst of His people. Behold, the glory of the LORD!

Can there be any doubt this is Jesus of Nazareth . . . the babe in the manger . . . the carpenter’s son . . . the radical rabbi . . . the Lamb of God . . . the Resurrection and the Life! The glory will return . . . bodily . . . boldly . . . and brightly. The glory will emanate from this Son of David and shine forth in majestic light. And you got to think that the response of those who behold the glory will be that of the prophet . . . “And I fell on my face.” What a day that will be!

But, as I pause, I’m reminded that the glory has already entered this temple. That God, by His Spirit, has taken up residence within this sinner-saved-by-grace . . . that He has “shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” . . . that the glory is dwelling within this jar of clay (2Cor. 4:6-7). And so this morning, I too would fall on my face . . .

Praise God that the Glory has entered the building! Amen?