"THE RESTORATION OF GLORY"
I. THE PRESENCE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
A. God created the nation of Israel.
1. They were to be a special people to whom God would reveal Himself and His law.
2. They were intended to be a light to the nations, to reveal the truth of God to the nations.
3. Through them God wanted the nations of the world to see how blessed they could be if they only worshipped Him and lived by His commandments.
B. God led them out of Egypt with a fiery pillar by night and a cloud by day.
1. They had this continual reminder of the presence of God and the glory of God.
2. They knew that they were following God.
C. Later God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle where the people might come to meet with God.
1. The Tabernacle was a model of the throne of God in heaven.
2. When the Tabernacle was completed, and Moses and Aaron to wash themselves in order to offer the sacrifices, the glory of the Lord came down and filled the tabernacle so that Moses was not able to enter because of the glory of the Lord.
3. The cloud that had led them now rested on the tabernacle.
D. The camp of Israel was so set up that the tabernacle was in the middle of the camp, and the entrances of the tents all faced the tabernacle.
1. Any time a person came out of their tent, day or night, they would see the cloud or fire of the glory of God reminding them of the presence of God in the midst of His people.
2. God was truly at the heart of the nation, and central in their consciousness.
E. Later when Solomon had built the temple in Jerusalem as a place for the people to come and meet with God, we read that the glory of the Lord filled the house, and the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.
II. THE DEPARTING OF THE GLORY.
A. Through the years Israel gradually grew further and further away from God.
1. They forsook the Word of God.
2. They began to disobey the law of God.
3. God had given to them repeated warnings the dangerous path they had chosen, that it would lead to death.
a. The flesh life may be exciting at first, but it leads to heartache and disaster.
b. Through the prophets God sought to call them back to Himself.
4. They mocked the prophets, scorned their warnings, and finally.
B. The people finally became so obdurate in their sin that God removed his presence from them.
1. Ezekiel tells of the vision in which he watched the glory of God depart from the temple and the city.
2. There seemed to be a reluctance in leaving, first he saw the glory of God leaving the temple, resting for a time on the threshold, then he watched as the glory left the threshold.
3. He next described how that the glory of the Lord then went up from the midst of the city and rested on the Mount of Olives east of the city.
4. It was on this same mountain that Jesus cried over the city of Jerusalem declaring, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you have killed the prophets and all that have been sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her chicks, but you would not."
5. I am grateful for the reluctance of God to remove His glory and presence from a person's life.
III. THE RESTORATION OF THE GLORY.
A. In our text today we read of the glory of God returning to the rebuilt temple at a still yet future day.
1. Chapters 40-42 give a description of the temple and its measurements that is to be built.
2. Ezekiel was brought to the gate that looked toward the East.
a. It was on the mountain to the East of the city that the glory was last seen.
b. Now it is from the East that the glory of God returns.
c. Note the voice like the sound of many waters, and compare with the description of Jesus is Revelation chapter one.
d. Zechariah tells us that when the Messiah comes, He will set His foot in that day on the Mount of Olives, and that it will split in the middle forming a great new valley through which a river shall flow from the city to the wilderness.
B. God does not forsake His purposes and plans for His people.
1. We may for a time place ourselves outside of the place of blessing because of our sin, but God is not going to forsake His purposes for us.
2. In the Psalm we read today, David spoke of the misery he went through because of his attempt to hide his sin.
a. His bones waxed old.
b. Their was a groaning all day long.
c. God's hand was heavy on him.
d. He became dried up inside.
3. What a change when he finally confessed his sin.
a. The prophet said, your sin is forgiven.
b. Oh the happiness of the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
c. You are my hiding place.
d. You will preserve me.
e. You will surround me with songs of deliverance.
IV. WHERE ARE YOU IN RELATION TO THE GLORY OF GOD TODAY? THE BIBLE SAYS THAT OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
A. Maybe some of you have never experienced the joy and blessing of having the glory of God upon your life.
1. The things we are talking about seem foreign and strange.
2. You may even feel a little sorry for us because we think that God speaks to us.
3. You do not feel nearly as sorry for me as I do for you if you have never felt the presence of God or known the joy of having God speak to you.
B. Maybe you are in the place where the glory of God is about to depart from your life.
1. You have been caught up in a sin, God has been dealing with you about it, but you just can't seem to let it go.
2. Maybe the glory of His presence is lingering on the threshold of your heart giving you one more opportunity to repent.
C. Maybe the glory of God's presence has departed from your life.
1. That joy that you once knew in Christ is gone.
2. You like the psalmist are dried up inside, the heavy hand of God is upon your life, and you are in misery because of your unconfessed sin.
3. It seems that we have all gone through these cycles at some time in our lives.
D. I hope that you are in the place of the glory of His presence.
1. God wants to restore His glory upon your life.
2. He wants to return to His temple that He might dwell there.
3. Before the glory returned there was made the sin offering, and the burnt sacrifice offering.
4. It is necessary to confess your sin, and renew your commitment to God. The burnt sacrifice was the offering of consecration.
5. Confess your sin, renew your consecration, and the glory of God will return to your life. Moneyback guarantee.