How does Ezekiel 11:23 illustrate God's presence departing from Jerusalem? The Scene in Ezekiel 11:23 “The glory of the LORD ascended from within the city and stood over a mountain east of it.” (Ezekiel 11:23) • Ezekiel sees the divine glory cloud (“kavod”) rise, move past the city wall, and pause on the Mount of Olives. • This single movement visualizes God’s tangible withdrawal from the temple courts and civic life of Jerusalem. A Dramatic Shift in God’s Presence • Earlier, the glory filled Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11). • Step-by-step departure is traced in Ezekiel 8–11: – 8:6, God shows abominations “so that I should go far from My sanctuary.” – 10:18–19, glory leaves the inner court to the threshold and then above the cherubim. – 11:23, final exit to the eastern mountain. • Literal movement underscores literal judgment: when the Lord leaves, protection and blessing leave with Him (Jeremiah 7:14). Layers of Meaning in the Departure 1. Divine Displeasure – Idolatry, violence, and injustice (Ezekiel 11:12) forced the Holy One to withdraw. 2. Covenant Consequences – God had pledged to “set My Name” where He dwelt (Deuteronomy 12:11); abandoning the place signals broken relationship initiated by the people, not by Him (Hosea 9:12). 3. Judicial Witness – By stopping on the Mount of Olives, the glory watches the coming Babylonian siege (2 Kings 25:1–10), affirming that judgment is deserved. Connections to Earlier Warnings • Shiloh’s loss of the ark (1 Samuel 4:21) foreshadowed this moment—Ichabod again. • Jeremiah preached, “Do not trust in deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD’ ” (Jeremiah 7:4). Ezekiel shows why that warning mattered. • Moses foresaw exile if Israel spurned the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:36); the departing glory marks the exile’s spiritual cause. Hope Beyond the Departure • The same glory returns in Ezekiel 43:1–5, signaling future restoration when repentance and renewal come. • Haggai 2:7–9 promises a later, greater glory filling a rebuilt house—fulfilled ultimately in the incarnate Christ (John 1:14). • Acts 1:12 locates the Ascension on the Mount of Olives, the very hill to which the glory moved, hinting that God’s presence would soon spread worldwide through the Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). Takeaway Truths • God’s presence is precious yet conditional on loyalty and holiness. • When sin persists, He may withdraw His manifest favor, though His covenant plan endures. • Even in departure He positions Himself to return—inviting repentance and promising restoration. |
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