April 24 | Ezekiel 43:1-9

---

DAILY READING

Ezekiel 43:1-9

---

REFLECTION

Good News in Bad Times

By Gene Pierce

After almost forty chapters of judgment and condemnation of the Israelites’ adultery and idol worship, God gives Ezekiel a vision of the new temple where God Himself will live.

This was rare good news for faithful Jews. For more than 100 years, God’s Chosen People seemed to be “on their own.” The northern and southern kingdoms had fallen to foreign invaders and thousands of Jews were killed, enslaved or exiled.

Ezekiel was one of those exiles in Babylon, where there was little evidence of God or His kingdom. They had

• no Temple to gather for worship,

• no Ark of the Covenant holding the Ten Commandments,

• no annual sacrifices in repentance for sins,

• no walled city for safety.

In this darkness, God speaks to His people. In radiant light and a voice like the roar of rushing waters God tells Ezekiel, “I will live among the Israelites forever,” though they “defiled My holy name by their detestable practices.” 

This is good news!!! God has not forgotten them, He will restore their relationship with Him and end their exile.  His grace will prevail over sin and exile.

We can find Ezekiel’s message of God’s steadfast love in other, more familiar Bible texts:

• the prodigal, wastrel son welcomed by his father,

• the widow who turns her house upside down to find one lost coin and

• the good shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to find one who is lost.

  
  

More than two thousand years later we can still rely on God’s promise to Ezekiel. His vision is still true, no matter what kind of exile you’re in. God will live in the temple of our hearts and we will live in His Royal City, not in a Temple of stone and mortar.

Now and forever.

PRAYER

Lord, cleanse our hearts and restore us to Your presence every day. Let us rest in your forgiveness and hear your voice thundering out your love for us, no matter our circumstances. Grow our faith that we can serve You and enjoy You forever. Amen.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gene Pierce is a longtime member of UALC and our International Missions Committee, still learning how to balance life, work and faith. Gene and his wife Elaine are blessed to be parents of four and grandparents of nine.