The glory leaves the temple

10:1 As I watched, I saw on the platform above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. 10:2 The Lord said to the man dressed in linen, “Go between the wheelwork underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” He went as I watched. 10:3 (The cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) 10:4 Then the glory of the Lord arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory. 10:5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the sovereign God when he speaks. 10:6 When the Lord commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood by one of the wheels. 10:7 Then one of the cherubim stretched out his hand toward the fire which was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. 10:8 (The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.) 10:9 As I watched, I noticed four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; the wheels gleamed like jasper. 10:10 As for their appearance, all four of them looked the same, something like a wheel within a wheel. 10:11 When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow without turning as they moved, 10:12 along with their entire bodies, their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around. 10:13 As for their wheels, they were called “the wheelwork” as I listened. 10:14 Each of the cherubim had four faces: The first was the face of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle. 10:15 The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings I saw at the Kebar River. 10:16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not move from their side. 10:17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 10:18 Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 10:19 The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the Lord’s temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. 10:20 These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. 10:21 Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings. 10:22 As for the form of their faces, they were the faces whose appearance I had seen at the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Ezekiel sees God’s glory leave the temple in a slow and solemn way. This shows that Jerusalem is under God’s judgment because of sin. The Lord is still sovereign and holy. He is not trapped in the temple, and he is not defeated by what people have done there.

Ezekiel sees a throne-like vision above the cherubim, the heavenly beings linked with God’s rule. God tells the linen-clothed man to take burning coals and scatter them over Jerusalem. This is a sign of coming judgment.

Then the glory of the Lord rises from the temple and moves to the threshold. The cloud and brightness show that God is truly present, but his presence is departing from a defiled place. The long description of the cherubim and wheels shows that God’s throne is holy, alive, and able to move wherever he wills. He is never limited to one building.

At the end, the glory moves to the east gate. This is a serious sign that the Lord is withdrawing from the temple because of Israel’s sin. The passage is a warning. Religious privilege does not replace repentance and obedience. God remains in control, even when he judges.

• God’s glory is holy and cannot be treated lightly.
• The temple was under judgment because of covenant unfaithfulness.
• The coals point to coming judgment on Jerusalem.
• God is sovereign and not confined to the temple building.
• The vision shows ordered judgment, not chaos or defeat.
• Religious forms do not cancel sin or remove the need for repentance.

• Warning: God withdraws from a defiled temple.
• Warning: outward religion cannot replace holiness and obedience.
• Warning: judgment is coming on Jerusalem.
• Command implied by the passage: fear the Lord and repent.
• Promise: even in judgment, God remains enthroned and in control.

This passage belongs to the covenant story of Israel. The temple was meant to show God’s presence among his people, but persistent sin brought judgment. The departure of the glory shows that God keeps his holy standards. It also leaves room for later restoration, when God will return to dwell with a purified people.

Do not assume that religious places, rituals, or history guarantee God’s favor. God cares about holiness, repentance, and obedience. This passage should make readers take sin seriously and trust that the Lord rules even when his people fail.

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