How should the departure of God's glory influence our worship practices today? Setting the Scene “Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the radiance of the glory of the LORD.” (Ezekiel 10:4) Why the Glory Moved • Israel’s leaders had defiled God’s house with idolatry (Ezekiel 8) • Persistent sin drove a literal, visible withdrawal of God’s presence • The move to the threshold warned of a coming, fuller departure (10:18–19) Anchoring Truths for Today • God’s glory is real, tangible, and weighty—never abstract (Exodus 40:34–35) • His presence dwells where He is honored in purity (Psalm 24:3–4) • In the new covenant, believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) • Christ mediates God’s glory permanently, yet our fellowship with that glory can be hindered by unrepentant sin (John 15:10; 1 John 1:6–7) Personal Worship: Guarding Against Glory Departure – Pursue holiness daily; confess quickly (1 John 1:9) – Cultivate reverent awe, not casual familiarity (Hebrews 12:28–29) – Replace idols—anything that rivals devotion—with wholehearted love for God (1 John 5:21) – Feed on Scripture; God reveals His glory through His word (Psalm 19:7–11) Corporate Worship: Shaping Gatherings that Welcome Glory • Scripture-Centered: read, preach, sing, and pray the Bible (2 Timothy 4:2) • Christ-Exalting: spotlight the gospel, the ultimate display of glory (2 Corinthians 4:6) • Spirit-Dependent: rely on the Spirit’s leading, not mere production (Zechariah 4:6) • Holy Conduct: leadership and congregation alike walk in integrity (1 Timothy 3:1-13) • Genuine Unity: forgive quickly, pursue peace, display one heart before the Lord (Ephesians 4:1-3) Staying Alert: Signs We’re Drifting – Prayer becomes perfunctory and rare – Entertainment outweighs Scripture and sacrament – Moral compromise is tolerated for the sake of “relevance” – Conviction of sin is replaced by unchecked self-affirmation Hope of Restored Glory Ezekiel later saw the glory return to a purified temple (Ezekiel 43:1-5). That preview finds its fulfillment in Christ, “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3), who now dwells in every believer and promises, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, our worship must stay relentlessly God-centered, Word-saturated, and holiness-pursuing. When His glory is treasured, His presence remains manifest among His people—just as He intends. |
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