C. The Glory of Yahweh Leaves the Temple and Jerusalem (10:1-22)

As the vision continued, it repeated many of the same features of the vision Ezekiel saw at the Kebar River (1:1-28). Now, however, “the living creatures” were called “cherubim,” a term derived from the Babylonian word for guardian figures at city and temple gates. Among these cherubim was the man clothed in linen, who in ch. 9 was the divine messenger who marked the faithful remnant. Now in ch. 10 he was the divine destroyer who was to scatter burning coals over Jerusalem in order to destroy it by fire (vv.2, 7). Then, with the imagery of the wheels within wheels, etc., as in ch. 1, the same imagery depicted the departure of the glory of God from the burning city and temple (vv.9-19). There are no more tragic words than these: “The glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple” (v.18). This vision came true when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city and the temple in 596 B.C.E. How often have these words described the spiritual condition of churches and religious organizations throughout history.