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Lifted up and brought in.
Jeff WeinkaufEzekiel 43:1-5
1 Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, 2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he[a] came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.4 The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
The presence of God is a powerful thing. To witness His glory is awesome and intimidating. Those who do experience it are compelled to fall facedown in reverence or fear, or both. We see this exampled through out scripture, so it's a known quantity. Human, in the presence of God, facedown. I understand the cause and effect. I can see why it is what it is.
What was interesting to me today was what happened after Ezekiel fell facedown.
Vs 5 says, "Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple." Ezekiel's response was to shrink back, to reverence God by genuflecting (wise choice), but God reaches out, lifts him up and invites him in. That's significant. Why? I think it speaks to God's consistency. Relationship is not just a new testament idea. Hebrews 13:8 tells us Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. So if God is unchanging He didn't just decide one day that relationship with humanity was a good idea, and then pow! The new testament started. No! clearly not. It was His intent from the beginning. In the garden in Genesis He literally walks and talks with Man. Yes, the introduction of sin into the world made that impossible with out significant sacrifice, but it was never out of the picture. Jesus being the perfect sacrifice allowed us to return to the ease of walking in the garden with God again. So in Ezekiel 43, we see the consistency of God's character and intentions as He reaches out, lifts up, and draws in.
Application wise, I think it's good to be reminded that God is relational, and we are invited (because of Jesus) to enter into the inner court and sup with Him. Too often I can think of God in a transactional way as opposed to a relational way. I need, I pray, I want, then thank you for the thing I needed etc. That's not a relationship, that's a trip to the ATM. I'm grateful that God has extended His hand towards me. That He has lifted me up and invited me in. I want to abide with Him and be near Him. I want to treat Him like a real person, not a distant entity.
God, first thank you for being consistent. Thank you that I don't have to guess your mood or intentions. You are always pure and Holy. Thank you for Jesus and for making a way that we can spend time together. Please help me to treat you both with reverence but also as I would a real person whom I love deeply. Thank you. Amen
