“In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month, in the fourteenth year after the fall of the city—on that very day the hand of the Lord was on me and he took me there. 2In visions of God he took me to the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, on whose south side were some buildings that looked like a city. 3He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”” Ezekiel 40:1-4 NIV
“Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory. 3It was like the appearance of the vision which I saw—like the vision which I saw when I came to destroy the city. The visions were like the vision which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 4And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. 5The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Ezekiel 43:1-5
God of wonders,
The hand of the Lord! Your hand was upon him. And he was transported in a vision to a real place. Well it seemed real to Ezekiel. But it was different. And there he met a man. A divine man? We are not told who the man is but he was of bronze signifying he was not a man but divine?. The builder of the city? He had the symbols of building in his hands. A measuring rod for straight lines and linen cord for measuring round pillars and anything curved. And Ezekiel was to remember and tell about what he saw to Israel. The Jews would want to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. But this was not the same Temple . . . It was much – much larger. And so precise in the measurements given. As though this were not something to be man made . And the measurements go on for some time till he was brought to the East gate. And he saw again the glory of the Lord and it had the same effect – he fell on his face.
This was a prophetic vision and it has not yet come to pass. But it gave Israel the promise that there would be another Temple but nothing like as small as the first one. God would be in its midst and with his people. It would be beyond their imagination in wonder.
They would not fully understand Ezekiel just as we do not and cannot fully understand the book of Revelation. But we know it contains truth. The day will come when we dwell with You, God not in a man made building but a new heaven and earth. And Your glory will fill it Lord God. We trust, in faith, that we will dwell with You forever. And now today we too like Ezekiel we can know Your hand upon us through Your Holy Spirit. Amazing.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 13th September 2025
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of all creation
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of all creation
of water, earth and sky
The heavens are your Tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth
So early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
When I stumble in the darkness
I will call your name by night
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
Hallelujah! To the Lord of heaven and earth
Holy Holy Holy Holy
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
Precious Lord reveal your heart to me
Father hold me, hold me
the universe declares your majesty
you are holy, holy, holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth . . .
Lyrics: Steve J. Hindalong, Marc Byrd