The text this week is four chapters long! It is Ezekiel chapters 8 to 11, which tells the story of the departure of the God’s glory from the temple in Jerusalem. We will be worshipping based on the recognition that sin separates us from God, but that we are reconciled to God through the work of Christ.
Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted
Offertory:
O My Soul – Audrey Assad
Invitation to Communion:
Benedictions:
Before the Throne of God Above
Scripture for Meditation
Romans 3:23-25 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Ezekiel 9:3-5 Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” 5And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
Ezekiel 11:16-23 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ 17Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ 18And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.” 22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. 23And 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.
