In yesterday’s text, we saw the plans for the future temple which continue in chapters 41 and 42. Then, in chapter 43 there comes a wonderful promise that the Lord’s glory would return! His glory left the temple through the east gate back in chapter 10 and now in chapter 43 we see a future hope of the glory of the Lord, His manifest presence returning to the temple through the east gate (43:4). The Lord promised that He would dwell there forever (43:7). If the people were ashamed of their former sins involving the temple, the temple plans would be revealed and there would be this future day of glory (43:10-11).
It’s truly amazing to think of how gracious our God is. The people had committed abominations in the temple. They had forsaken the Lord. They served other gods. They worshipped idols. They committed sexual immorality. They lived entirely altogether godless lives. The last time that Ezekiel was given a visionary tour of the temple it was filled with abominations. In response, the Lord visited them in judgment, but He didn’t abandon them forever. His glory would one day return, and as I shared yesterday one day the eternal Word of God would come, become flesh, as Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23; John 1:14).
The Scripture again and again presents the picture of a God who is gracious and merciful. He is holy, yes. He is just, yes. He will bring about judgment upon sin, yes. But as David once wrote,
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us”
Psalm 103:8-12, ESV
The people’s sin was egregious, but God’s grace and mercy were greater. There was a day coming when their punishment would end, and when they turned back to the Lord, He would receive them back with open arms. No matter how many times they failed Him, He would never fail them. I am thankful today for the hope of cleansing and forgiveness upon our confession of sin (see 1 John 1:9). I am thankful that we serve a gracious and merciful God. I am thankful that we have our Lord Jesus Christ interceding on our behalf, who took our place on the cross and whose righteousness is graciously granted to us, and that we have the help of His Spirit. God was gracious then, and He is gracious now. Our sins are many, but His mercy is more.
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