It was his contagious smile, his warmth, his energy, his love for life, and his love for God that won my sister’s heart a million times over.
Cheron McNeil Boyd was his name, and there was a winsome glory about him that was not really about him but about the God who lived within him. The day Cheron went to be with the Lord, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight. Family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors all wept copiously, united in the intense sadness and sobering reality of my brother-in-law’s departure. Though his body was present that day, the glory that had distinguished him and made him so affectionately magnetic, had departed. The only hope left to hold on to was memories shared with Cheron and the promise of a future glory to come.
The sobering reality of loss and departure is where we find ourselves in Ezekiel 10. Ezekiel sees a vision similar to the one he saw in chapter 1, but this time there’s a significant difference. God’s kabowd—His manifest glory—is not dwelling but departing, step by step making its way to the temple exit, by way of a familiar cloud. In Exodus, this cloud served as God’s manifest presence by which He led His people by day and as a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 40:34–38). In Ezekiel 10, we see punishment coming by fire and God’s glory leaving the temple by cloud.
Pause to take in this moment in today’s reading:
“Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple…” (Ezekiel 10:18).
It can be easy to breeze past the significance of this verse, but I pray we don’t miss the grave warning God communicates here: sin hinders our ability to truly behold God’s glory. Always. It was true for these Israelites then and it’s true for you and me now.
As we consider this truth, my encouragement for us today, during this Lenten season, is to ask ourselves what sins (pride, jealousy, anger, bitterness, materialism, comparison) have been hindering us from truly beholding God’s glory.
Though God’s glory departed (Ezekiel 10:18), His promises did not. A greater glory and temple came in the fullness of Jesus Christ to dwell among God’s people, just as it was prophesied. And though we eagerly await Christ’s final return, today, God’s glory continues to dwell in His temple—His body, the Church. That’s you and me—believers, imperfect yet indwelt with God’s Spirit!
And one day, we will perfectly dwell with God—unhindered, undisturbed, unmoved by sin but propelled by His glorious presence, surrounded by a multitude of believers. And I’m confident that amongst the multitude I will see Cheron again—healed, restored, and radiant with the glory of His creator.
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78 thoughts on "God’s Glory Leaves the Temple"
Lord reveal and remove all sin so I can see your glory!
May God help me see the areas of sin in my life, and then prune them.
I am always amazed at how God always has a plan. I don’t think that my little human brain will ever be able to comprehend the complexity of His glory and reign. I am just grateful and honored that he sees me and meets me where I am to do the work in my heart that only he can do.
Sin hinders our ability to see Gods glory
I’m praying for you now Jessie. May God be glorified through your story.
God’s desire is to be present and known, to be with us. But He will not abide with resident evil. And what a lousy trade we make when we choose to live with sin instead of reside in God’s goodness and glory!
Lord, remove sin from us
I am thankful that when I mess up and sin in words, thoughts or deeds, if I am honestly repentant and ask for forgiveness He will give that forgiveness and allow me to have a clean slate.
I am thankful that God will
I try so hard sometimes to not sin in my words or thoughts but some days I mess up so bad. I’m thankful He is always present and will forgive me if I am honest about my sin and truly ask for forgiveness with a heart that is
This devotion was really eye opening to me, I have struggled in this season of having breast cancer at such a young age and have so many questions for God that has created this bitter spirit in me and I don’t want it to hinder my relationship with the Lord. I was deeply encouraged today… I want to see God’s glory in my life!
Same here! It’s so hard. I have so many questions. I’m hoping as I continue reading those questions resolve. Trying to remember “God doesn’t change.”
God moved out of the temple but now He will never leave ours! Amen! Praying that I become dead to sin, and continually stay dead to it to remain and abide in life with Christ. Hallelujah, His Spirit lives in us, so we can see His glory in our temple! Also, Praying for you & your hubby Angie. Believing for strength, healing, wisdom, all that is needed, in Jesus’ Name!
Thank you Mercy!!
I feel the same way. Having such a hard time understanding it.
I feel the same way!
Hi. I’m a new digital subscriber & just discovered the comments section here. Behind a bit.. So if I don’t have the book, I would not see The Holy Spirit in Ezekiel, right? Thank you. I will pray for Finley too.
*book, not boom
Feeling the same. Honestly feeling discouraged trying to read this book. I was so excited to read after John and Do Not Fear but Ezekiel is a VERY hard read. Praying for a revealing of wisdom as we push through this boom and focus on The season of Lent.
Amen!
Amen Churchmouse. I have read SRT for years but never comment. I pray for the prayer requests and feel as if I know many of the women here. Thank you Churchmouse for the wisdom you share daily. I carry many of your thoughts with me throughout the day. Today, leave any tangled nets of sin behind and follow Him! Because you can. Because He lives in you. It’s things we know but some days you just really need that reminder. Thank you
Praying for you, Angie and your situation with the bully. Prayers for your husband. Thank you for your post and words of wisdom
So good this afternoon, I always need the reminder that sin is what separates us from the savior
Oh God, it’s overwhelming to count out my sins and how they make me distant from you. I have a prideful, envious, and lust heart and I compare myself to everyone a lot. These things weigh me down everyday and distract me from your glory and your purpose for me. Please help me to see what matters most.
The imagery is tripping me up. I read passages over and over and then have to go look for commentary. Hard to decipher. I was so focused on Cherubim vs Cherubs that I actually missed the Lord spirit leaving the temple. I had to go and reread again. I suppose I’m not letting the main thing be the main thing.
This is so powerful! I’m falling in love all over again. This time it’s hitting my soul
I did the same thing; so helpful!
Reading about the glory of God leaving the temple, makes me realize the promise of the Holy Spirit for us in the New Testament – as a seal/ a down payment ( 2 Corinthians 1:22) is such a generous gift. Especially with the promise that His Spirit /the Comforter will not leave us ( I will pray the Father, He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever, John14:16). How good is this! Glory to Him. There is so much grace, abundant grace, amazing grace here, that us now – we won’t suffer wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9), but His Spirit works through us with many many course corrections the moment we fall, guide us daily and consistently to lead to our repentance, because He who started the good work in us will continue to completion until the day of the Lord. Amen.
@Jennifer loves Jesus: happy belated birthday to you. Hope you had an amazing one.
@Angie: praying for your husband and for the improvement of your relationship with the “bully”. May you win her over for the Lord’s glory.
@Heidi: praying for your nieces and everyone involved.
@Victoria E: please be strong. The enemy also planted fear and confusion in my head in the last few weeks of my pregnancy too, a whole lot of what-ifs, it’s just ridiculous. And it got to me. I went through the same. I was reciting scriptures to counter these fear, day in, day out (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:31, Psalm 91, Psalm 23). Victoria, you got this! You will be victorious because of God. To God be the glory.
Angie, praying for your husband and for you as you both deal with his bad hip and the pain.
Churchmouse, thank you for your thoughts today. It brings a new light to this sadness in Ezekiel.
I think that I get distracted from God’s glory by trying to attain perfection in myself and by the things the world offers.
Saile, same here! I am really thankful for that resource
In the book, beside the Bible reading for today is an area titled “The Holy Spirit In Ezekiel”. It talks about how in the Book of Ezekiel there are 52 uses of the for the Hebrew word for “spirit”. It goes on to say, “Because of this, Ezekiel has been referred to as the prophet of the Spirit.” This shines a whole new light on reading Ezekiel for Lent.
I still am having problems deciphering parts of it but now I want to see further the parallels of the Holy Spirit.
Please continue to pray for Finley and her parents, her surgery is Thursday if she stays healthy.
Sisters, be blessed and keep spreading the Word.
I actually am really loving this study because I have never read it through, and probably could never understand it on my own without a study guide and commentary! Plus, I know the end story- Jesus! Sent for us- to renew us with His blood!
The podcast was really helpful listening to that today!
Interestingly, a daily broadcast I listen to in the morning about prophesy and end times was referring to Ezekiel (but later on in the book) pointing to things that are happing today. I had never seen Ezekiel referred to as a picture by picture of how things come together at end times, so that was really eye-opening as well.
The old-testament can be intimidating and scary for a lot of people, but let me encourage you, we have a Savior! Yes, we have to be willing to see our sin, recognize, and repent. But God is in the sanctification biz! He will cleanse if asked. Sometimes it’s not easy, to be pruned and see our sin revealed in our face, but we are a stubborn people! I do get saddened by so many people and family living in sin and death, but we still have time to set an example of light, I pray that we can each do that and be a part of God’s great redemption story! How exciting!
Ally M, praying for you with this study. Shaena Elizabeth, Searching, and everyone who is praying for me thank you! The enemy is certainly trying to use fear to get to me in these last few days before the baby is due. Angie, praying for you and your husband. I pray that all of us will continue to experience God’s presence which is so good.
Thanks I just did, so helpful!
I am thankful for every lady on this Lenten journey and the presence of the Holy Spirit as we process the readings. While we have the promise of His continuing presence, we too can face the “sobering reality” of missing all that God wants us to see, do and become when we go our own ways.
As many have suggested, the weekly PODCASTS are invaluable resources to help us grasp the goodness of these chapters. I am grateful for the honesty, wisdom, humility and boldness with which Amanda, Raechel and their guests discuss the passages each week and proclaim God’s glory.
Woe- sobering warning of how sin hinders the glory of God! So humbled; so thankful for the glory of God in Jesus Christ- where our sins are like scarlet, are made as white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 Thank you JESUS!♥️
Good morning my dear sisters:
I think today’s reading teaches us a great lesson to remove anything in our lives that is preventing us from putting God first. When we stop being stubborn and selfish and stop putting ourselves first, we open our hearts to God more, and have a better relationship with Him. but when we follow our horrors and abomination, then our hearts will always be closed against God. It’s not worth to live a life without God. Faith is the real reason why we are alive. So I hope that today, we can all choose to take a step to remove anything that is preventing us from worshipping God with all of our hearts
That’s the reason why I love Ezekiel, it really does forces us into conversations we need to hear and it forces us to change the things about ourselves that prevent us from putting God first place in our lives. Which in turn not only makes us better people,but more mature followers of God.
I love you dear sisters, be safe ❤️
❤️
So humbled that the King of Glory would dwell in me. The culmination of these passages up to this moment of seeing the LORD depart the temple has left me speechless and sobered by how flippantly I have regarded His presence in my own life. I ask for more of Him, not realizing the depth of what I ask. Rather than plead for more, may I be more devoted, more focused on setting myself apart as holy—not by my own strength but by faith in Jesus perfect work. LORD, turn the hearts of your people back to you! May we be a temple where you are pleased to dwell in all of your fullness & beauty so that the WORLD WOULD KNOW that you are the LORD.
Praying for you!
This commentary is powerful. It’s a NT Wright moment. We read it over and over. It’s not only for Lent but is a daily prayer. Thank you.
Watch the Bible project : Ezekiel
I had to watch the Bible Project : Ezekiel to fully understand what was happening during these times. Highly recommend. May we recognize our sin & acknowledge the impact it has in our relationship with the indwelling spirit of the Lord.
I had to watch the Bible Project : Ezekiel to fully understand what was happening during these times. Highly recommend
Amen sister! Where we focus is where we go.
…..Christ in me the hope of glory.
May we keep soft hearts inclined toward the Lord and not hardened hearts. May we keep our ears attuned to His voice and respond in worshipful obedience. He deserves all the glory and praise, for He alone is worthy, our good and gracious Father, full of mercy and faithfulness and truth.
Psalms 95; Hebrews 3:15
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
“For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.” Psalms 96:4-6
Thank You Jesus that you now dwell in me and as a believer nothing can separate me from You!
If you are like me and these verses are hard to read, understand on a deeper level and interpret, I highly suggest using The Bible Recap podcast with Tara Leigh Cobble for Ezekiel along side of this. So helpful! (Day 241) And make sure you are listening to the She Reads Truth weekly podcasts as well.
“God leaves the temple, but not his people”
I never want God to leave me. I thought of the following line from a hymn: “In His presence daily live.” That is my plea. I never want to be away from God. Help me draw closer to You everyday.
Every time the people we’re revéales to be doing evil, God’s cloud of spirit would move. It’s crazy to think that the spirit of the Lord and His living creatures from above are always moving and existing above us with a deeper understanding of what happening and the consequences of it. My mind is so small compared to what God called it to be. God gives wisdom to those who seek and receive it but it’s like first I have to make sure my foundation in Faith is based on His knowledge not my own. It’s so amazing to realize the beauty of faith- further than just blessing and a new life in Christ but the unity that we are graced with. God breathed these words into Ezekiel so we can understand further that we don’t know a lot but the thing required from us firstly is to seek knowledge and then have faith for further to live it out according to His will and not my own
Two verses to expand our thinking of this study :
(Sorry the program won’t let me cut and paste them ). I wrote them out in my book. 2 Corinthians 4:6 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. We have this glory within us in Jesus. How awesome is that!
I am reminded today that it is impossible to see God’s glory when I have sin in my heart – sin that blinds. It not the sins that are so easily recognized, especially by others. They are the sins that no one sees, but God, that so easily “besets” me – pride, jealousy, judging, comparison. I wish that I could say after being saved for 50+ years that I have conquered them all – but I have not. Yes, there are victories – and many at that, but they still plague me from time to time. Every day I must be in the word, every day I must commune with my Father, every day I must begin new and seek to see His glory! Praise God that He has redeemed me and that all my sins – past, present and future are forgiven! Praise God that He forgives my sin and remembers them no more! So thankful that God always gives an opportunity for repentance before He brings judgement. What a merciful, loving, God we serve!
Praying for you all this morning and all of your requests. Have a blessed Tuesday sisters.
Thanks for the birthday wishes yesterday! Such sweetness in getting to know some of you through your comments and prayers. We are living in wide awake times in some ways just due to the media we are exposed to. So much is happening at once, and we see so much of it we would have otherwise been shielded from in times of pre-tech. Even more so now, strength comes in waiting on God. Even as I pray “Maranatha, come Lord Jesus”, I am strengthened by waiting with hopeful expectation, an obedient heart, watchful eyes, and ears tuned to my Shepherd. In the noise of war and rumors of war, in sickness, in health, in plenty and without, I praise our Lord Jesus for showing us how to live in the middle of this holy war between the two gardens. The glory of God cannot be held back or removed from us forever. His creation will be redeemed and restored. Ezekiel has the number 4 in his visions many times signifying totality and equilibrium in the accompaniment of God’s glory. We have this promised to us, total salvation. We will know a time that will last forever where there are no more tears. In the meantime, I will walk with this joy in knowing that all things will be as they should be with God. Maranatha.
ANGIE adding your husband to my prayer list ❤️ I’ll be adding you for strength to continue showing Christ like love to you coworker and adding your coworker for God to soften her heart
Through this study and the Lent season my goal is to fast from extra sleep/comfort of my warm bed in the morning to spend more time in the word and praying. I started a prayer list in the back of my study book that has helped me spray more specific prayers. I have also started a list of my idols…..both lists are growing quickly! I am finding that unless I get disciplined and devote time to looking at my sin/idols they sneak in like weeds and choke out all the good in my life. This list making discipline has been very helpful….I think I will add a gratitude list as well to help me shift from a focus on my idols to focusing on giving gratitude to God for the good things he has placed in my life. Praying over you all today ❤️ HEIDI praying for your niece, her father and siblings ADRIENNE praying for the WW users who do not know Christ especially B.J.C VICTORIA E prayers for you and baby for a safe delivery, however baby decides to make their entrance DOROTHY for Olathe Easy High School and your entire community following this tragedy, healing prayers ❤️
Father God forgive my sins. In Jesus name, Amen
I’m so relieved that yesterday other people also shared that they are struggling with this book. This is the one of the first books that I’ve read the whole way through in the Bible (I became a Christian in 2021), and I am struggling. This whole book is so convicting and heart-wrenching. I am so grieved by my sins of idolatry and rejection of God. But… God! I have confessed these sins, and I know that I am forgiven. Shame is just pride. I pray that God would help me to overcome my sinful shame and help me to know His full glory. If you could pray for me as well, that I might submit fully to the Lord, feel His presence, and follow all His commands, I would appreciate it so much. :) Praying for y’all!
One day we will dwell perfectly with God, unhindered by sin. Amen!
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the imagery in Ezekiel. As I read the Scripture selections for today, an image came to my mind. There is a sign on the exit door of our church. It says “You are heading into your mission field.” It is a reminder that the church is not to be confined to a building. I read today in Ezekiel of the glory of the Lord moving out of the temple and that God is about to exact judgment on the wicked. But that’s not where my thoughts stay. I think how each believer carries the glory of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit within them. We ARE to move out, not to judge, but to be witnesses of God’s goodness, grace and mercy. We are not to sit in His presence on Sunday morning and then walk out leaving Him behind. He is in us to reveal His glory in our mission field. Confess sin, repent and thank God for His forgiveness. Leave any tangled nets of sin behind and follow Him! Because you can. Because He lives in you. The glory of the Lord and worship of Him is not building bound. At the cross Jesus tore the veil of separation. The Way made the way. He is with us. Let His glory shine! Our mission field is at our feet.
❤️
ANGIE- praying for your husband and relief from his pain… I’ve had temporary chronic pain in my past and it’s so emotionally/mentally exhausting beyond just the physical aspects. Praying his hands to touch and relieve the discomfort.
Praying for you and your husband Angie. That your husband’s plan be gone. That God provide the means for it to be gone today. In the verse For Nothing will be impossible with God every whole ( pas- Greek- Strongs G3956) rhema Stongs G447 means utterance. What God speaks to you.
Angie I am praying for your husband, my son in law’s grandmother just had her’s done, she is 92, and is praising God for the fact she is pain free, I Pray this for your husband.
Thes, that’s exactly how was thinking. We don’t think to translate what happened in the Old Testament to present time, but it’s so relative to what we are all going through,thinking or experiencing. Lord, open my eyes to sin all my sins that of clouded my vision of your path for my life!
How does the Lord coordinate even our conversations!! My Pastors wife said just yesterday, if you are physically hungry you eat and are feed and are satisfied. If you are spiritually hungry and eat You want MORE! If you are physically hungry and don’t eat you become sick and eventually die. If you are spiritually hungry you don’t eat you just FORGET – in todays reading it means the Glory of the Lord leaves “you” the temple! Help me Lord to Eat the spiritual food!! Never let your glory leave me and fill my physical and spiritual homes with your glory!!
Another hard read, but that’s the struggle with the Lenten season. Thankful for these lessons in the Old Testament and these explanations! ❤️
Father, may Your Spirit fill this temple in such an unhindered way that it is undeniably recognizable to anyone whom I encounter today. Amen.
The “bully” sent me an email. There are ways I could respond that I know would come off “nice” but really get at her. My flesh wants to do that. My spirit knows that would mess with the witness for Jesus I try to live. And, that is what matters.
We are a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is such an amazing honor and blessing that The One and Only God chooses to dwell in us on earth until we see Him face to face in Glory. I am so thankful for this reading today. On my own, I might have responded back to her email with passive/aggressive “niceness,” knowing it would get at her but she couldn’t really condemn it. That would dishonor God. All the right words that God places in our hearts and minds must be followed up, honored with right actions. Not that I won’t make mistakes…but, the choice to live for Jesus today…matters. It matters in my heart and daily life. It matters in my witness. It matters in God’s purpose for me. Guide me Lord Jesus. And, thank you for showing me what not to do…please show me now what is best. Will I be “washing someone’s feet” today Lord. Please empower me to live for You and not self. May I bow in humble obedience please. And again, thanks for letting me see the email this morning and process it through Your Word.
My husband is having a hip replacement on the 16th. He is in tremendous pain waiting for the surgery. This is his 2nd hip to be replaced – he was born with a hip displacement issue. They gave him pain medicine the first time to help him “wait” for surgery. This time the government has changed some of the rules and that is not an option. Starting Wednesday he cannot even take Ibuprofen to take the edge off. He has a physical job and is trying to work until the surgery. I would appreciate your prayers, if you think about it, for God to help him through to the surgery and in the healing afterwards. My husband never complains, but he is struggling to walk, and the pain is evident in his eyes. I know there is power in prayer and so I ask humbly and with thanksgiving to God for His plan, purpose, and care.
What grabbed my attention in today’s Scripture reading were vs 10:4 & 10:18. In NKJV, vs 10:4 says that the Glory of the Lord “paused” over the threshold, other versions say it in various ways – moved toward the threshold, rose from above the cherub to the threshold, went up from the cherub to the threshold – and then in vs 10:18 the Glory of the Lord crosses over the threshold and leaves/departs. I started thinking that we are in a “pause” of sorts, as we wait for Christ’s second coming and the importance of sharing Christ with others while we can.
Praying for your requests, HEIDI, for you and the baby, VICTORIA E. Also praying for MARTHA HIX, LYNNE FROM AL, GRAMSIESUE.
MIssing you, FOSTER MAMA.
I am thankful for God who forgives my son even though I don’t deserve his forgiveness. Lord help me to keep my sight on you and live like you
Amen
From HRT “What made Israel the people of God was the presence of God dwelling among them (Exodus 40:34–35). They were not special because of their wealth, power, land, or military, they were special because the one true God made His home with them. From the tabernacle in the wilderness to the temple in Jerusalem, God’s presence with His people was a sign that in and through them, He was restoring creation to His original intention. God’s presence was essential to them being who God called them to be.”
Only with Your indwelling Spirit can I be who I was created to be. Thank You Jesus for making that even a possibility by Your sacrifice.
Believers, imperfect yet indwelt with God’s Spirit! What a wonderful gift. Even though our sin separates us from God, Jesus Christ‘s sacrifice allows the Holy Spirit to stay in us, even though we are sinful and should be forever separated from God’s perfection. What a lovely reminder of his GRACE.
The Israelites were so blinded that they didn’t even realise God’s glory was leaving the temple. In the times of Moses and Solomo, God’s presence had been so overwhelming that they weren’t able to come in the table or bring sacrifices. Now the people didn’t even the notice the difference between God’s presence and absence. How often does that happen to me? I can so easily be caught up in sin or just the busyness of life, that I don’t recognize His glory, even when it’s right in front of me.
It’s very easy to read the Old Testament (or sometimes the bible in general) as something of the past; we/you feel the tragedy, sadness, or joy, yet don’t automatically translate it to the now. This reading to day was that for me, until I lay the connection of us being God’s temples under the new convent. That made me read, feel, and understand it in a whole different way. So let us pray that we may be the people of Ezekiel 11:18, and pray that he will never have to depart but make Ezekiel 11:19-20 true in us!