Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 9

3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the entryway of the temple.
Ezekiel 9:3

This is a tough chapter; one of those times in scripture that we rightly call a “text of terror.” 

These are challenging points of scripture, yet they demand as much attention as the easier parts, for all of scripture can instruct us, even if through negative examples. Here, we see people being murdered at God’s command. The ancients ascribed all actions, for good or bad, as coming from God. Our modern day theology draws a harder line between what is of God and what is of our own doing.

Ezekiel here affirms our modern reading, understanding that sometimes humans can act outside of God’s will. Note the focus verse: the glory of God is leaving the temple. Our ancient forbears in the faith believed that God’s glory literally lived in the temple, protecting and providing for them. This is what they believed resided behind the large curtain that famously tore after the death of Jesus. 

With God’s glory leaving the temple, the people are left to their own devices, which includes murder. The tale tells us that, without God in our midst, human nature tends toward destruction. We know this from our own experience, understanding from news reports and perhaps even lived experience that human nature does, indeed, tend toward destruction.

This reality proves the need for God. We are the temple today; God resides within each of us, and we need God’s glory residing within, lest we tend ourselves toward destruction.

Think
Where do you have self-destructive tendencies, thus revealing the need for God? Where do you see the need for God in the world today?

Pray
Confess those areas and ask for God’s healing, both individually and corporately.

Do
Using a study bible, read about Ezekiel in general, learning more about this fascinating prophet.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.