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This statement is repeated in 8: 4 with the alteration, "in the plain", for the words
"by the river of Chebar". The prophecy of Ezekiel, involved as it appears, upon close
examination is simple as to its main plan and theme. He shows us in association with the
cherubim the departing and returning glory of the Lord from the city and temple of
Jerusalem. Let us mark the progress both of the retiring and the returning glory of the
Lord:--
"And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherubim, whereupon he
was, to the threshold of the house" (Ezek. 9: 3).
"Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherubim, and stood over the threshold
of the house" (Ezek. 10: 4).
"Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood
over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and they mounted up from
the earth in my sight; when they went out, the wheels were also 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" (Ezek. 10: 18, 19).
"And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the
mountain which is at the east side of the city" (Ezek. 11: 23).
The glory of the Lord is here seen departing from the temple first of the threshold,
then to the east gate, then to the mountain on the east side of the city. From this point
onward for thirty chapters the prophet by signs (12: 11), symbols (13: 10), riddles,
parables (17: 2), proverbs (18: 1, 2), lamentations (19: 1), which are repeated in
subsequent chapters, together with denunciations against the nations, the great
lamentation over the anointed cherub, and judgments against Egypt and other types of the
evil one, unfolds the causes of the departing glory and the promises and means that must
bring about the restoration.
From chapter 36: the restoration of Israel begins to dawn. The valley of dry
bones (Ezek. 37:) will be remembered, and the two sticks joined together in that same
chapter. Chapters 40:-42: are occupied with a description of a temple, and when that
description is completed, then do we get the cherubim and the returning glory:--
"Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looked toward the east (note
the eagerness of the prophet). And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the
way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined
with His glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw when I
came to destroy the city . . . . . and the glory of the Lord came into the house by way of
the gate whose prospect is towards the east" (Ezek. 43: 1-4).
Here we have the beginning of restoration. If we are right in our thought that the
cherubim and the glory are intimately connected with the idea of a dwelling place, here is
the occasion to test it. What are the words that shall be spoken to Ezekiel from this
returning glory?
"And He said unto me, Son of man, the place of My throne, and the place of the soles
of My feet WHERE I WILL DWELL in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and