Podcast Summary: The Bible Recap

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Episode: Day 241 (Ezekiel 9–12) - Year 7
Date: August 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble explores Ezekiel chapters 9–12, walking listeners through Ezekiel’s vision of judgment on Jerusalem, the significance of divine marking, the departure of God’s presence from the temple, and prophetic acts that reveal both the severity of Israel’s situation and the persistence of God’s pursuit. The episode clarifies complex imagery, connects Old and New Testament parallels, and highlights God's ongoing presence with His people—even in exile.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. God's Judgment and the Marking of the Remnant (Ezekiel 9)

• Executioners Summoned: God calls six executioners (angels appearing as men) to carry out judgment on Jerusalem’s evildoers.
  • “God summons the executioners, who are almost certainly angels, and has them come to the temple.” (00:18)
• The Man in Linen: A seventh man, dressed in linen with a writing kit, is tasked with marking those grieved by the city's evil.
  • “His job is to go around Jerusalem marking the people who were grieved over the evil there, because those are the ones God says he's going to spare.” (00:39)
• The Mark – Tav: The ‘mark’ is from the Hebrew letter Tav, resembling a cross or X.
  • “By the way, the word mark here is the Hebrew word Tav. It's the last letter of the Jewish Alphabet… it would have looked like either a cross or an X.” (00:53)
• Parallels to Passover & Revelation: Tara-Leigh highlights connections to the Passover (Exodus) and the contrasting “mark of the beast” (Revelation).
  • “This scene may have reminded you of the Passover... Or maybe it reminded you of the mark of the beast from the book of Revelation. Except the opposite, obviously.” (01:07)
• Mercy and Judgment: Even amidst judgment, God ensures the complete salvation of those He marks.
  • “The man in linen does his job completely, saving everyone God commanded him to save.” (01:55)

2. The Departure of God’s Presence (Ezekiel 10)

• Vision of Cherubim: Ezekiel sees cherubim (heavenly beings with four faces and four wings) carrying God’s throne—identifying them as guardians of holy spaces.
  • “This time he clarifies that they're definitely cherubim, which is a type of heavenly being that is often seen guarding holy places.” (02:20)
• Holy Fire and Judgment: The man in linen sends holy fire upon Jerusalem, signaling divine judgment.
  • “God has the linen man send holy fire in judgment on the city itself.” (02:40)
• God Leaves the Temple: The glory of the Lord departs, resting on the cherubim chariot and leaving through the east gate.
  • “God's presence departs from the temple, rests on the cherubim chariot, and heads east. God has left the building, but God hasn't left his people...” (02:50)

3. Prophecy Against the City’s Leaders (Ezekiel 11)

• Leaders’ Delusion: City leaders wrongly believe death will claim them inside Jerusalem, referencing being ‘cooked like meat in a pot.’
  • “These men have been acting like they're going to be killed in the city, cooked like meat in a pot...” (03:13)
• True Judgment Explained: God declares judgment will happen outside Jerusalem, making clear He knows not just their actions but their thoughts.
  • “By the way, I don't just know what you do, I know what you think. I can read your minds...” (03:25)
• Prophetic Fulfillment: Ezekiel prophesies their fate and references earlier readings (2 Kings 25:4), clarifying Ezekiel’s timeline and the complexities of prophetic literature.
  • “This prophecy by Ezekiel was written before it actually happened. I just wanted to clarify that point because... many of them overlap timelines...” (03:35)

4. God Is the True Sanctuary (Ezekiel 11)

• Reinterpreting Sanctuary: God assures the people that He—not the temple—is their sanctuary, capable of being with His people anywhere.
  • “The temple isn't actually their sanctuary. He is their sanctuary. He says it in verse 16.” (03:58)
• Faith Beyond Borders: The people mistakenly believe God is restricted geographically. Tara-Leigh debunks this, referencing God’s acts in Egypt and the wilderness.
  • “The people of that day believe you change gods as soon as you cross the border... Of course, this is crazy inconsistent with what he's shown them through the years.” (04:15)
• Promise of a New Heart: Chapter 11 concludes with God promising internal renewal for His people.

5. Prophetic Street Theater (Ezekiel 12)

• Dramatic Prophecy: Ezekiel performs prophetic acts before the exiles to visually demonstrate coming judgment, but the people remain unmoved.
  • “Ezekiel is exiled during the first round of deportations. So he's either doing this performance in front of the other exiles...” (04:36)
• People’s Hardness: Emotional displays are added, yet the audience’s indifference persists due to years of failed prophecies, both true and false.
  • “…their response is nonchalant. When they're unmoved by this, God has Ezekiel add some emotion to it...” (04:48)
• Imminent Judgment: God emphasizes that the fulfillment of these prophecies is coming soon.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Grief in Leaving the Temple (The God Shot):
  • “My God shot was just a little blip in 10:19 when the glory of the Lord is leaving the temple with the cherubim. This wrecked me. I choked up every time I tried to write this section…It's almost like that final look back, feeling the grief over what's been lost, the pain over the way his people have broken his heart…” (05:10)
• On God’s Persistent Presence:
  • “God follows his people into the land of their exile, pursuing them still. Even in exile, he's our sanctuary. Even in exile, he's where the joy is.” (05:40)
• On Perspective:
  • “Just like most, if not all of us, their default mindset is their cultural mindset, not their spiritual mindset. And it's hard for them to adjust, so God keeps reminding them.” (04:24)

Important Timestamps

• [00:18] - God calls the executioners (angels) into the temple
• [00:39] - The man in linen marks the faithful
• [01:07] - Parallels to Passover and Revelation
• [02:20] - Vision of cherubim carrying God’s throne
• [02:50] - God’s presence leaves the temple
• [03:13] - Prophecy against city leaders and metaphor of cooked meat
• [03:58] - God declares Himself as the sanctuary
• [04:36] - Ezekiel’s street theater and the people’s response
• [05:10] - The God Shot: God's grief over leaving the temple
• [05:40] - Assurance of God’s presence with His people, even in exile

Final Thoughts

Tara-Leigh Cobble skillfully guides listeners through weighty prophetic passages, weaving in historical context, theological links across scripture, and heartfelt reflection. She underscores both the seriousness of judgment and the persistent mercy and presence of God. The emotional resonance peaks as she contemplates the grief of God’s “final look” before departing the temple and the hope of His ongoing pursuit of His people, even in exile.