Ezekiel 43:6-11: a reflection

6I heard one speaking to me out of the house, and a man stood by me. 7He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell among the children of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their prostitution and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places; 8in their setting of their threshold by my threshold and their door post beside my door post. There was a wall between me and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed. Therefore I have consumed them in my anger. 9Now let them put away their prostitution, and the dead bodies of their kings far from me. Then I will dwell among them forever. 10“You, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, its fashion, its exits, its entrances, its structure, all its ordinances, all its forms, and all its laws; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.

After chapters of measuring the future temple, Ezekiel hears God speak from within it words full of longing: this is the place of my throne, where I will dwell among the children of Israel forever. The glory that had departed because of the people's sin is coming back. God's deepest desire, running through all of Scripture, is to dwell with his people, and here he declares his intention to make his home among them again, permanently.

But there is a condition tied to his presence. God calls the people to put away the defilements that had driven his glory out, the idolatry and corruption that had turned his house into something unholy. Let them be ashamed of their sins, he says, and measure the pattern of the house. His presence and their holiness belong together. God wants to dwell among them, and he wants a people prepared to receive so holy a guest.

The same God still desires to dwell with his people, and through Christ he makes his home in you by his Spirit. That astonishing nearness calls for the same response Ezekiel's vision required: a willingness to put away what defiles, out of reverence for the One who has come to live within. Do not treat God's presence casually. Let the wonder that he wants to dwell with you move you to prepare a fitting place, ashamed of old sins and eager to be made holy for him.

Lord, your deepest desire is to dwell with your people, and through Christ you make your home in me by your Spirit. Let so great a nearness never grow casual to me. Show me what defiles and needs to be put away, and make me ashamed of the sins that grieve you. Prepare in me a fitting place, and dwell with me forever, as you have promised. Amen.