Page 1151 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_11_MacArthur_Bible_Nov.qxd 8/8/03 17:10 Page 1132

NOVEMBER 9
all to come confidently before God’s throne to receive mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. The
ark of the covenant was viewed as the place on earth where God sat enthroned between the cheru-
bim (2 Kin.19:15; Jer.3:16,17).Oriental thrones included a footstool—yet another metaphor for the
ark (Ps. 132:7). It was at the throne of God that Christ made atonement for sins, and it is there that
grace is dispensed to believers for all the issues of life (2 Cor. 4:15; 9:8; 12:9; Eph. 1:7; 2:7).

sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who
7
November 9 were before the temple. Then He said to
them, “Defile the temple, and fill the courts
with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and
killed in the city.
Ezekiel 9:1–10:22 8 So it was, that while they were killing them,
Then He called out in my hearing with a I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried
9 loud voice, saying, “Let those who have out, and said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will You destroy
charge over the city draw near, each with a all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your
deadly weapon in his hand.” And suddenly six fury on Jerusalem?”
2
men came from the direction of the upper 9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the
gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly
in his hand. One man among them was great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and
clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The
at his side. They went in and stood beside the LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD
bronze altar. does not see!’ And as for Me also, My eye will
10
3 Now the glory of the God of Israel had neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will rec-
gone up from the cherub, where it had been, ompense their deeds on their own head.”
to the threshold of the temple. And He called 11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who
to the man clothed with linen, who had the had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and
writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the LORD said said, “I have done as You commanded me.”
4
to him, “Go through the midst of the city, And I looked, and there in the firmament
through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a 10 that was above the head of the cherubim,
mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh there appeared something like a sapphire
and cry over all the abominations that are stone, having the appearance of the likeness
2
done within it.” of a throne. Then He spoke to the man
clothed with linen, and said, “Go in among the
wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with
coals of fire from among the cherubim, and
scatter them over the city.” And he went in as I
9:3 the glory…had gone up. The glory of
God departs before the destruction of the city watched.
3 Now the cherubim were standing on the
and temple. The gradual departure of God
from His temple is depicted in stages: the south side of the temple when the man went
4
glory resides in the temple’s Most Holy Place, in, and the cloud filled the inner court. Then
between the wings of the cherubs on each the glory of the LORD went up from the
side of the ark of the covenant over the mercy
seat, then leaves to the front door (9:3; 10:4),
later to the east gate by the outer wall
(10:18,19),and finally to the Mount of Olives to
the east, having fully departed (11:22,23). The 10:2 fill…with coals. God specifies that the
glory will return in the future kingdom of marking angel (9:2,11) reach into the war
Messiah (43:2–7). machine and fill his hands with fiery coals in
the presence of the angels of chapter 1.These
coals picture the fires of judgment which
5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go God’s angels are to “scatter” on Jerusalem. In
after him through the city and kill; do not let Isaiah 6,“coals” were used for the purification
your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay of the prophet;here they were for the destruc-
6
old and young men, maidens and little chil- tion of the wicked (Heb. 12:29). Fire did
dren and women; but do not come near any- destroy Jerusalem in 586 B.C.
one on whom is the mark; and begin at My

1132