The Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place where I sit on my throne. It is my home where I will live among Israel's people. Israel's people and their kings will never again spoil the honour of my holy name. They will not turn away from me and worship other gods. They will not put the graves of their kings in this place.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, God is speaking to Ezekiel and tells him that He will make His home among the people of Israel forever. God promises to dwell there, and expects the people and their leaders to keep the place holy and not defile it with their wrong actions.
Explained for Children
Imagine God as a loving parent saying, 'I want to live in your house forever, but I want you to keep it clean and nice, and not do naughty things that would make me sad about living there.'
Historical Background
This verse is from the book of Ezekiel, written by the prophet Ezekiel around 593-571 BC. It was given to the exiled Israelites in Babylon to encourage them and to remind them of God's promise to return and dwell among them.
Living It Out Today
Today, this verse can remind us to keep our hearts and homes clean and holy, just as God wants His people to keep their temple holy. Think of a time you invited someone special to your house, and how you would make sure everything was nice and welcoming for them.