ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 FALAITE NOVEMA 24, 2023

Eastern Departure, Eastern Return

Ha’ele Hake mei he Hahake, Ha’ele Mai ‘i he Faka-Hahake

EZEKIEL 11:22-23

THEN THE CHERUBIM LIFTED UP THEIR WINGS. WITH THE WHEELS BESIDE THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS OVER THEM. AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM THE MIDST OF THE CITY AND STOOD ON

THE MOUNTAIN THAT IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY

‘ISIKELI 11:22-23

22 Na‘e toki fola ‘e he kau Selupimi honau kapakau, pea na‘e ō ‘a e ngaahi fakasāliote mo kinautolu; pea ko e Sikaina ‘o e ‘Otua ‘o ‘Isileli na‘e taupotu ki ‘olunga ‘iate kinautolu. 23 Pea hā‘ele hake ‘a e Sikaina ‘o Sihova mei he‘ene taka ‘olunga ‘i he loto kolo, ‘o ne tu‘u ‘i he mo‘unga ‘a ia ‘oku ‘i he potu hahake ‘o e kolo.

Israel had befouled the Lord's temple, transmogrifying it into a swamp of idolatry. So God packed his bags and left, trailing east. From the threshold (10:18), to the east gate (10:19), and finally to the "mountain that is on the east side of the city" (11:23), his glory departed, shaking the dust from his feet. With his prophetic eye, however, Ezekiel saw an end-time temple, and "the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east" (43:4). Various "east" words are used by Ezekiel-qedem, qadim, qadmon-all formed  from the root q-d-m. From his temple, the Lord had an eastern departure  and would have an eastern return.

And there he is, at the beginning of Passover week, approaching Jerusalem from "Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives," on the eastern side of the city (Mark 11:1). God's glory left Jerusalem, riding eastward on cherubim. That same glory returns, riding from the east on a donkey. He comes to build and inhabit a new temple of living stones, his church (1 Pet. 2:5).

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to be ever watchful for your return in power and glory.