When the Glory Departs

Ezekiel 8-11

Kid’s Sermon: When God Shows What’s Wrong

Going beyond kids story to kids sermon. Adults feel free to listen and respond.

Have you ever been on a field trip?

Definitions

Idol / Idolatry: A fake god or thing people worship instead of the real God.

Abomination: Something very wrong or disgusting to God because it goes against His holiness.

Temple: The special place in Jerusalem where God’s presence lived among His people.

Glory of the LORD: God’s bright, powerful presence that shows who He is.

Cherubim: Powerful heavenly beings (angels) that guard God’s throne and worship Him.

The Mark: A special sign God gave to protect those who were faithful and know they have sinned.

Remnant: The small group of people who keep trusting God even when most others don’t.

Prophet: A prophet is someone God chooses to speak for Him.

Vision: A vision is like a dream God shows to teach something real.

Sanctuary: A safe place or shelter — a place where you’re protected and close to God.

Heart of Stone / Heart of Flesh: A heart of stone is hard and cold toward God. A heart of flesh is soft and ready to love and obey Him.

Once upon a time..

Ezekiel was sitting in his house one day with some leaders from Israel when God’s power suddenly came on him. The Spirit of God lifted Ezekiel up—almost like being carried by a strong wind—and took him, in a vision, to Jerusalem, to the Temple.

That’s the place where God’s glory was supposed to shine brightest. But what Ezekiel saw broke God’s heart.

1. The Temple Full of Idols (Ezekiel 8)

Ezekiel 8:6 “6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.”

God said, “Ezekiel, look around. Do you see what the people are doing?” At the gate of the Temple, Ezekiel saw an idol statue that made God jealous. It was probably the false goddess Asherah—something people were worshiping instead of God.

Then God told him, “You’ll see even worse things.”

So Ezekiel dug through a wall and found a secret room. Inside were pictures of animals and creepy creatures carved all over the walls—things that people were bowing down to instead of the living God!

Seventy of Israel’s leaders were inside burning incense to these pictures. They said, “God doesn’t see us anymore. He’s left the land.”

Then Ezekiel saw women crying for a fake god named Tammuz, a make-believe god who was said to die every year when the crops died and come back when they grew again.

Finally, he saw men standing in the Temple court, bowing to the sun! Their backs were turned to God’s Temple—they were facing the sunrise instead.

God said, “Do you see, Ezekiel? They’ve filled the land with violence and turned their backs on Me. They think I won’t notice. But I do.”

2. The Mark of Mercy (Ezekiel 9)

Ezekiel 9:4 “4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.”

Then Ezekiel saw six angels with weapons come from the north gate, and one man dressed in white carrying a writing tool.

God said to the man, “Go through the city and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who is sad and cries over all the wrong things happening here.”

Then He said to the others, “Follow him and destroy everyone else—but don’t touch the ones with the mark.”

Ezekiel was shocked. He fell down and cried, “Lord, are You going to destroy everyone?” God answered that the people’s sins were very great, and their hearts were far away. But He would protect those who still cared and stayed faithful.

3. The Glory Begins to Leave (Ezekiel 10)

Ezekiel 10:18 “18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.”

Next, Ezekiel saw the same amazing chariot-throne of God he had seen before—the one with the shining wheels and angel creatures (called cherubim).

God told one of the angels to take coals of fire from under the throne and scatter them over Jerusalem. This was a sign that the city would be burned and judged for its sin.

Then Ezekiel watched as God’s glory moved—first from above the Temple to the doorway, then to the east gate. It was like God was slowly walking out of His own house because His people didn’t want Him there anymore.

4. The Corrupt Leaders and God’s New Promise (Ezekiel 11)

Ezekiel 11:19 “19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”

Ezekiel was taken to another part of Jerusalem, where he saw leaders talking proudly. They said, “We’re safe here. Jerusalem is like a pot protecting the good meat inside.”

But God told Ezekiel, “No, they’re the ones who have filled the city with death. They’ll face judgment.” As Ezekiel spoke God’s words, one of those leaders fell down dead—proving that God meant what He said.

Ezekiel was heartbroken again, but God gave him a message of hope.

He said, “I will bring My people back. Even though they’re far away, I will be a sanctuary for them wherever they go. And when they come back, I will give them one heart and a new spirit. I will take away their hard hearts and give them hearts that love Me. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.”

Finally, the vision ended as God’s glory left the Temple completely and went to a mountain east of the city. Then the Spirit brought Ezekiel back to Babylon, and he told everyone what he had seen.

What It All Means

God sees what’s really happening, even when people hide their sin.

Idolatry isn’t just about statues—it’s anything we love or trust more than God.

God cares about justice. When people forget Him, they hurt each other.

God always saves a remnant—those who love Him and grieve over sin.

The day the glory of God walked out of His own house.

1. When we trade holiness for hypocrisy, the sense of God’s presence begins to fade.

Ezekiel 8:1–6 (KJV)

1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.

Ezekiel 8:16–17 (KJV)

16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

More details

Ezekiel is physically lifted by the Spirit into the Temple courts.

He sees four rooms of idolatry, each darker than the last.

The “idol of jealousy” stood near the very gate meant for sacrifice.

Seventy elders secretly burn incense to carved animals.

Women cry for the false god Tammuz, begging for fertility.

Twenty-five men stand between altar and porch, backs toward God, faces to the sunrise.

The closer Ezekiel walks toward the Holy of Holies, the greater the darkness becomes.

A. Secret sin always convinces us God doesn’t see.

When the leaders said, “The Lord seeth us not” (8:12), they replaced awe with arrogance.

The “image of jealousy” means a rival that provokes divine zeal.

Darkness cannot hide from His sight. Psalm 139:11–12 “11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

What we hide from people still echoes in God’s sanctuary.

B. You will always live like the god you worship.

When worship is twisted, ethics collapse.

Ezek. 8:17—“They have filled the land with violence.”

The word ḥāmās (violence) in Genesis 6:11 describes a world ready for judgment.

Idolatry doesn’t just change altars; it changes attitudes.

C. When God’s glory leaves, darkness doesn’t stay neutral it expands.

Romans 1:23-25—They “changed the glory of the incorruptible God.”

Every idol demands what only God deserves; soon, people can’t tell light from shadow.

The tragedy isn’t that God leaves—it’s that no one notices He’s gone.

Because the people kept breaking God’s law, His visible presence (His glory) left the Temple. But God’s promise to Abraham still stands. One day, when Jesus returns, God’s glory will come back to a new Temple on earth (see Ezekiel 43:1–5).

2. Repent and grieve over sin before God has to judge it.

Ezekiel 9:3–6 (KJV)

3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Details adults need to notice:

Seven angels enter through the north gate—six with swords, one in white linen with an inkhorn.

The man in linen moves first to mark mourners before judgment falls.

Judgment begins inside the sanctuary, not outside the city.

Ezekiel hears cries, smells blood, and still prays for mercy.

Every person marked shares one trait—they grieve over sin.

A. God marks the broken, not the impressive.

The mark wasn’t for the flawless but for the faithful who sigh and cry.

Godly sorrow works repentance, worldly sorrow works death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 “10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” .

B. Judgment always starts with the people who knew better.

“Begin at my sanctuary” (9:6). God holds His people to His truth.

Judgment begins at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17 “17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Discipline in God’s family isn’t rejection—it’s restoration.

The closer we stand to holy things, the more accountable we become.

C. Even when the city is burning, God still hears the cry of the intercessor.

Ezekiel cries out as the city burns: “Ah Lord GOD! Wilt thou destroy all?” (9:8).

Prayer cannot always stop judgment, but it can shape mercy.

The man in linen reports, “I have done as Thou hast commanded” (9:11)—judgment complete, yet covenant intact.

God listens to the tears of those who care about what He cares about.

This previews the divine sealing seen throughout Scripture—believers today are sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13); Israel’s remnant will be sealed during the Tribulation (Rev. 7:3-4). God always identifies His own before wrath falls.

3. When God’s glory moves away, it’s His last call to come back.

Ezekiel 10:18–19 (KJV)

18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Details:

Ezekiel again sees the “wheels within wheels” from chapter 1.

Cherubim move like lightning—living reflections of God’s holiness.

Coals of fire are taken from under the throne and scattered over Jerusalem.

The glory rises: from the inner court → threshold → east gate.

God doesn’t storm out; He steps out slowly, inviting repentance.

A. God’s slow departure is mercy giving you time to turn around.

God pauses between steps so people can follow Him out or turn back to Him.

Ezek. 10:4—the house filled with cloud; presence lingers before departure.

2 Pet. 3:9—He is “not willing that any should perish.”

Every time conviction lingers, every time the Spirit won’t leave you alone that’s God giving you one more chance.

B. The path of departure points to the place of return.

The glory leaves eastward—toward the Mount of Olives.

Ezek. 11:23—the glory “stood upon the mountain which is on the east.”

Zech. 14:4—Christ’s feet will stand there again.

Acts 1:11-12—the same Jesus will return “in like manner.”

The same mountain where the glory departed is the mountain where Christ will stand when He comes again.

C. When His presence feels gone, His promises go with His people.

He tells the exiles, “I will be to them as a little sanctuary” (11:16).

A holy dwelling—God Himself replaces the building.

Ps. 139:7-10—no distance cancels divine presence.

When the presence left the Temple, it went with the remnant.

The visible Shekinah has not yet returned. During the Church Age, His glory indwells believers spiritually; in the Kingdom, it will again dwell physically in Jerusalem’s Temple (Ezek. 43).

4. God always humbles the proud, but He renews those who surrender.

Ezekiel 11:22–23 (KJV)

22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

Details

Ezekiel stands at the east gate and sees twenty-five officials mocking God.

They boast: “This city is the caldron, and we be the flesh”—they believe judgment won’t touch them.

As Ezekiel preaches, one ruler, collapses dead mid-sentence.

God turns from the arrogant in the city to the humble in exile.

The final vision shifts from wrath to restoration.

A. Pride dares God to act and He always answers.

The rulers trusted walls; God proved He ruled the walls.

Ezek. 11:2-3—“These are the men that devise mischief.”

Prov. 16:18—“Pride goeth before destruction.”

Every time we make ourselves the center, God will redraw the circle.

B. God becomes a sanctuary for people who feel forgotten.

To the displaced He says, “Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary.”

When you lose your place, God offers His presence.

Exile can become encounter if you look for God instead of home.

Heb. 13:5—“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

C. God transforms rebels into worshipers with new hearts.

He doesn’t just polish the old; He implants the new.

Ezek. 11:19-20—“I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you.”

Jer. 31:33—God writes His law within.

Rom. 11:26-27—“All Israel shall be saved.”

God’s story always ends with renewal, not ruin.

This reveals the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34)—given to Israel, shared spiritually by the Church, and fulfilled nationally when Israel turns to her Messiah

Closing Challenge

Ezekiel shows us how easy it is to keep the rituals of religion while losing the reality of God’s presence. He shows us the danger of treating sin lightly, the mercy of a God who still marks the faithful, and the promise that glory will return.

So:

Root out idols before they root you out.

Grieve sin before God has to judge it.

Respond while you still re aware of his presence and conviction.

Humble yourself now, so He can renew you later.