And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what
they are doing -- the utterly detestable things the house of Israel is doing
here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things
that are even more detestable. 8:6
Footnote: In scene after scene, God revealed to Ezekiel
the extent to which the people had embraced idolatry and wickedness. God's
Spirit works within us in a similar way, revealing sin that lurks in our lives.
How comfortable would you feel if God held an open house in your life
today?
Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from
above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the
temple. 9:3
Footnote: What is God's glory? It is the manifestation
of God's character -- his ultimate power, transcendence,and moral perfection.
God is completely above man and his limitations. Yet God reveals himself to us
so that we can worship and follow him.
They will return to it and remove all its vile
images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new
spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a
heart of flesh. 11:18, 19
Footnote: "Undivided heart" indicates a unanimous
singleness of purpose. No longer will God's people seek many gods; they will be
content with God. The hard, deaf, immovable heart of stone will be radically
transplanted with a tender, receptive, and responsive heart of flesh. This new
life can only be the work of the Holy Spirit. It is God's work, but we must
recognize and turn from our sin. When we do, God will give us new motives, new
guidelines, and new purpose. Have you received your new heart?
Keep reading -- 110 days left!
All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV
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