Ezekiel 1:4-28: Ezekiel's Visionary Introduction
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Introduction
Introduction
Succinct Summation
Succinct Summation
Outline
Outline
Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People
Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People
Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest
Ezekiel 1:4-28 - The Glory of the Lord
Ezekiel 1:4-14 - The Four Living Creatures
Ezekiel 1:15-21 - The Wheels
Ezekiel 1:22-28 - The Throne and the Glory of the Lord
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord. In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.
The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord. In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.
Main Point
Main Point
Ezekiel has a breathtaking vision of God. This vision reveals the judgment of Yahweh is near. This vision also sets the tone for Ezekiel’s ministry.
Ezekiel has a breathtaking vision of God. This vision reveals the judgment of Yahweh is near. This vision also sets the tone for Ezekiel’s ministry.
Ezekiel 1:4-14 - The Four Living Creatures
Ezekiel 1:4-14 - The Four Living Creatures
4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.
4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.
The first vision of Ezekiel has come and it will define his prophetic ministry
The vision starts with Ezekiel seeing a storm barreling down from the north which usually is a picture of a foreign army, but here it is a theophany - it is the Lord Himself
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
In Nahum, the Lord is coming as an avenger of His people - here is is coming as an enemy of His people to bring judgment upon their unfaithfulness
Ezekiel’s message is about fiery judgment
The gleaming metal is used to describe the glorious splendor of the Lord
5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures.
5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures.
Out of the storm four living creatures emerge
And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.
And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot.
7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot.
Calf’s foot - rounded and lacking directional orientation
And they sparkled like burnished bronze.
And they sparkled like burnished bronze.
8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.
8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.
Potentially a total of 8 hands - each set may have been used to cover their faces
And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another.
And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another.
Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went.
Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face.
The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.
The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.
These strange, unique beings are cherubim and their role is to protect God’s sacred space
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.
Their faces represent the highest attributes of all living creation
Humanity - the crowning jewel of all creation
Lion - highest of the wild animals
Ox - highest of the domestic animals
Eagle - highest of the birds
These are all created beings reminding the readers that there is a God who created all things AND, as we will shortly see, He is near!
11 Such were their faces.
11 Such were their faces.
And their wings were spread out above.
And their wings were spread out above.
And their wings were spread out above like the cherubim on the mercy seat
Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.
Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.
The creatures were covering their bodies out of modesty
2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
12 And each went straight forward.
12 And each went straight forward.
Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went.
Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went.
Yahweh’s Divine Spirit is enabling these cherubim to perform His will
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures.
This symbolizes the reality that these four creatures were close to Yahweh
And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
They immediately did the will of the Spirit of God
Ezekiel 1:15-21 - The Wheels
Ezekiel 1:15-21 - The Wheels
15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.
15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them.
The primary attention of the prophet is taken away from the living creatures towards the “vehicle”
16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl.
16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl.
And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.
And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.
17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.
18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.
18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.
19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.
19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.
The cherubim and wheels work in unison - they move together
20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
The reason the cherubim and wheels are synchronized is because of the spirit of life
21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Ezekiel 1:22-28 - The Throne and the Glory of God
Ezekiel 1:22-28 - The Throne and the Glory of God
8 Smoke went up from his nostrils,
and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him.
9 He bowed the heavens and came down;
thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub and flew;
he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
thick clouds dark with water.
12 Out of the brightness before him
hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered his voice,
hailstones and coals of fire.
14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He sent from on high, he took me;
he drew me out of many waters.
22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
A platform is noticed above the wheels
23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.
23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body.
24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army.
24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army.
When they stood still, they let down their wings.
When they stood still, they let down their wings.
25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads.
25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads.
When they stood still, they let down their wings.
When they stood still, they let down their wings.
26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.
26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.
27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around.
27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around.
And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Noah and the Flood
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
How Should we Live in Light of Ezekiel 1:4-28?
How Should we Live in Light of Ezekiel 1:4-28?
The glory of God is beyond limited, finite human words. Ezekiel, in his vision, sees the glory of God yet is unable to find words. God’s glory is clearly evident throughout the universe yet is most evident in the person and work of Christ. His glory is clearly seen in the Spirit.
The glory of God is beyond limited, finite human words. Ezekiel, in his vision, sees the glory of God yet is unable to find words. God’s glory is clearly evident throughout the universe yet is most evident in the person and work of Christ. His glory is clearly seen in the Spirit.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Main Point
Main Point
Ezekiel has a breathtaking vision of God. This vision reveals the judgment of Yahweh is near. This vision also sets the tone for Ezekiel’s ministry.
Ezekiel has a breathtaking vision of God. This vision reveals the judgment of Yahweh is near. This vision also sets the tone for Ezekiel’s ministry.
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