What is the meaning of Ezekiel 11:23? And the glory of the LORD • Scripture treats the glory as God’s tangible presence. Exodus 40:34–35 recounts, “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” The same presence filled Solomon’s temple in 1 Kings 8:10–11 and is earlier seen in Ezekiel 10:4. • That identical glory now features in Ezekiel 11:23, underscoring that God Himself, not merely a symbol, is involved. rose up • Ezekiel 10:18–19 has already shown the glory beginning to lift; here the movement continues. • The action signals judgment. Israel’s persistent rebellion forced the holy God to withdraw (cf. 1 Samuel 4:21, “The glory has departed from Israel”). • Yet the motion is deliberate and observable, reminding the people that God’s decisions are purposeful, not random. from within the city • “The city” is Jerusalem, once privileged by God’s nearness (Psalm 48:1–2). • Ezekiel 9:9 exposes why departure became necessary: “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great.” • When holiness confronts unrepentant sin, separation results—an unavoidable spiritual law mirrored in Isaiah 59:2. and stood over • The glory does not instantly vanish; it pauses. This pause reveals mercy: God is slow to anger and gives space for repentance (Joel 2:13). • Similar moments appear when the LORD “stood with him” at the entrance to the tent (Exodus 33:9) or when Jesus “stood” knocking at Laodicea’s door (Revelation 3:20). God waits, appealing to hearts even in judgment. the mountain east of the city • The location is the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14:4 later identifies it as the very spot where the LORD will return: “On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem.” • 2 Kings 23:13 notes that the mount had become defiled by idolatry under kings like Solomon, making the glory’s stop there both a rebuke and a promise of cleansing. • Acts 1:9–12 records Christ’s ascension from this mountain and foretells His return “in the same way,” tying Ezekiel’s vision to the Messiah’s future reign. • Ezekiel 43:2 pictures the glory coming back “from the east,” assuring the people that departure is not final; restoration is certain. summary Ezekiel 11:23 describes the solemn yet hopeful departure of God’s glory. Sin forced the holy presence to rise from the heart of Jerusalem, but the glory paused on the Mount of Olives, signaling both judgment and the promise of return. The vision warns against complacency in sin while assuring that God’s ultimate plan is to restore His people and dwell among them again. |
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