The Book Of Ezekiel.

The Book of Ezekiel.

Glory in the Gloom.

Ezekiel 1:4-5, 28

And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. [5] Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

[28] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Verses 4-28 reveal the Glory of God. As the Glory of God had been removed from the Temple and from the Holy City, now God's Glory shines into the spiritual ghetto at Chebar.

Ezekiel 10:18-22

Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. [19] And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. [20] This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. [21] Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. [22] And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

Sometimes God's people are found in very difficult, dangerous, and intimidating situations, but God gloriously intervenes. Remember Paul and Silas in the prison,

Acts 16:25-26 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. [26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Today, as the gloom deepens about God's people as we are exposed to the ungodliness of our nation, we need to catch a glimpse of the Glory of God's presence.

When Ezekiel saw the Glory of God at Chebar there shone forth a ray of hope across the concentration camp. We remember that Moses desired to see the Glory of God in,

Exodus 33:18-19, 21-22 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. [19] And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

[21] And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: [22] and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

Just a glimpse of God's Glory lifts the hearts of God's people that are presently surrounded by gloom and despair. Dear child of God, while you are going through difficult times, and are facing enormous challenges, remember, the glory of God is revealed in the person of our Saviour and Redeemer. He said, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee'

On the Mount of transfiguration, the Glory of God shone forth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ,

Matthew 17:1-2, 5 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, [2] and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

[5] While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Let us who are saved by the grace of Almighty God, be found, 'looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith', beholding the Glory of God

Blessings in Christ. Rev Mervyn Cotton.