The picture above is a screenshot from a 10 minute video about Solomon's temple. It may be helpful to watch this video a couple of times as we read  Ezekiel. Watch it here.

Our Old Testament lesson (Ezekiel 9-11) continues a vision in which Ezekiel sees the Glory of the LORD (described in detail in Ezekiel 1) depart from the temple, and even from the city of Jerusalem.

• First the Glory of the LORD moves from the Most Holy Place to the threshold of the temple (10:4). 
• Then the Glory of the LORD moved from the door of the temple to the east gate of the temple compound (10:19).
• Finally the Glory of the LORD departed from Jerusalem and moved to the Mount of Olives east of the city (11:23).  

See the maps below and trace the movement of the Glory of the LORD. 




In Ezekiel 43, a vision will show the Glory of the LORD returning to Jerusalem. 

"Put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

In Chapter 9, Ezekiel's vision helps understand references in Revelation to the "mark of the beast" (Revelation 13:17) and "the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God" (Revelation 7:3). I'll explain more next month when we read those sections of Revelation. The key thing to notice today is that Ezekiel is seeing a vision. Ezekiel is in Babylon and sees a vision of the judgment that will come up on Jerusalem. But before the judgment comes, Ezekiel is assured that the LORD knows those who are his even though they are facing “the judgment day” coming on Jerusalem.

The New Testament truth of Revelation is that John is seeing a vision of present day reality. The LORD knows those who are his. He has marked us with his seal, the promised Holy Spirit, and will rescue us from the judgment. 

Archeology corroborates Ezekiel 11:17-19. 

17 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’
18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.



Judean Pillar Figurines pictured above are found in the ruins all over Jerusalem and Judea before the Babylonian exile. But when the Israelites return and rebuild, these idols are no longer present. The LORD changed the hearts of his people just as he foretold. 

New Testament Lesson

Every miracle that Jesus did "revealed his Glory" (John 2:11) so that we might put our faith in him. With Jesus' coming, the Glory of the LORD returned to God's people.



The New Testament lesson (John 9:1-23) records the miracle of the man born blind. Jesus told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam in the bottom left corner of the city in the picture above.



The Pool of Siloam was discovered in Jerusalem about 20 years ago. The picture above is what I was privileged to see in 2008. Whenever I read this lesson, I'm reminded that the accounts we are reading are history, rooted in time and space. I am planning another pilgrimage to Israel in January 2027. I will have more information in a week or two. 

Has the Glory of the LORD departed from me?

This morning as I carry my own burdens and my care and concern for those around me who are suffering, the question of the apostles comes to my mind. 

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Is God punishing me? Punishing those whom I love? Has his Glory departed from me? Will he never forgive and forget my sin? Must I remain "born blind"?

Join with me in taking comfort in these words of our Savior:

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

The love of the Savior remains constant. His forgiveness is full and complete. God is not punishing me with the burdens on my heart this morning. They are there so that "the works of God might be displayed in" me.

In Jesus, the Glory of the LORD has returned and remains among us.

In Ezekiel, we saw the Glory of the LORD taken from his people in judgment. In our reading from John's Gospel, we see the Glory of the LORD return to His People. A blind man not only saw people, but he saw his Savior. God's works were displayed in him. 

Rejoice that the Glory of the LORD has appeared to us again this morning. We pray only:

Let the works of God be displayed in us this day. Let God's Glory be seen by others through us. Amen. 

Your brother in the suffering and kingdom and endurance that are ours in Christ Jesus (Revelation 1:9),  

Pastor Pete