Ichabod No Longer

[Sung Psalm: 78]

[We regret the imperfections in this recording]

When we looked into the Most Holy Place in Ezekiel 41-42 last week, what was missing?

There was no glory! There was no gold anywhere – just carved wood. There was no Ark of the Covenant – just an empty space.

Why did Ezekiel see the vision of an empty temple? A temple that was truly ichabod – having no glory?

When Moses built and consecrated the tabernacle, the glory of the LORD came and filled the tabernacle;
but then Eli and his sons (together with all Israel) emptied the tabernacle of its glory.

Ichabod!

When Solomon built and consecrated the temple, the glory of the LORD came and filled the temple;
but then the house of David (together with all Israel) drove the glory of the LORD out of the temple.

Ichabod!

Now, when Ezekiel sees the heavenly temple (notice that this is a temple made without hands – there is no builder – nor any command to build it), the glory of the LORD comes and fills the temple.

If you want to understand the gospel, understand this:
this is a temple made without hands; this is a temple filled with the glory of the LORD that cannot be driven away!

This is what Jesus has done! What Ezekiel sees in Ezekiel 43 is the final answer to Ichabod.