Ezekiel’s First Vision
Chapter 1
“In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God”
(Ezekiel 1:1).
Ezekiel, a priest whose name means God is strong, was one of the thousands of exiles taken into captivity by Babylon during Nebuchadnezzar’s second siege of Jerusalem, along with Judah’s king, Jehoaichin. He had grown up in Palestine, near Jerusalem and was taken into exile around 597 B.C. Biblical scholars believe he was around twenty-five years old when he was first taken into captivity, but had been in exile for five years before his first vision occurred.[1] It was during this time that God called him into the office of a prophet. Ezekiel was tasked with ministering to the exiles during Jerusalem’s most sombering time as a priest and prophet at thirty, the age when priests often began working in their calling.[2] Despite Ezekiel being in a foreign land, we can understand from the text that the Lord is not limited by geographical locations. He is omnipresent, thus working wherever He deems fit.[3]
The Kebar River, also known as the Chebar Canal, was located in Babylonia and was one of the sites designated for the Jewish exiles to reside during their captivity. Its waters ran into the Euphrates River and is only mentioned in the book of Ezekiel. The priest and prophet lived in his own house, along with his wife, near this river.[4]
“On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him” (Ezekiel 1:2-3).
So, on the fifth day in the month of Tammuz (June/July), five years after having been exiled along with King Jehoiachin, the Lord gave a message to Ezekiel. The exact time was deemed important to the prophet, as it details how many years they had been exiled before the Lord finally spoke and who had been in captivity with him. King Jehoiachin had been the nineteenth and second to last king of Judah and was the son of Jehoiakim and grandson of Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15-16). King Nebuchadnezzar had placed him on the throne after the Babylonians raided Jerusalem. However, his reign was very short-lived; after only three months and ten days, Nebuchadnezzar replaced Jehoiachin with his uncle, Zedekiah, and he, along with thousands of other Jews, was exiled to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:9-10). Additional information regarding this family of dethroned kings is in the Historical Background section after this chapter.
The Lord’s hand was on Ezekiel. What does it mean to have the Lord’s hand on you? Here are a few verses to give context to this meaning.
a.) “I will uphold you with My righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:10). The Lord told Israel in this text that He was their strength, which meant they could rely on Him for support. Similarly, Ezekiel was able to rely on the Lord for his strength despite being in a foreign land.
b.) “Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). The Lord had chosen Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Therefore, He used His hand to place His divine words in the prophet's mouth to speak. The Lord was about to give Ezekiel a word that came directly from Him for the people, and it was to be given exactly as the Lord proclaimed.
c.) “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13). Just as a parent takes a young child by the hand when crossing the street for safety, the Lord takes His chosen by the hand to keep us safe from danger, and so we can take comfort in Him. Likewise, Ezekiel was in the care of the Lord as His chosen vessel.
d.) “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:16). When something is engraved on you, that means that it stays with you no matter what. The Lord made this promise to Israel through the Prophet Isaiah that they were forever engraved in the palms of His hands and were always before Him. In other words, they were never forgotten, and in keeping with that Word, Ezekiel was a benefactor of that promise, for the Lord’s hand was with him just as it is with all who honor and follow the Lord. Jesus had this to say: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).
Isn’t it amazing that despite Ezekiel’s circumstances, the Lord was still with him? Ezekiel was in a foreign land due to the sins of Judah, but the Lord had not forgotten His faithful, and His hand was still with His people. Even So, God’s hand can either be for or against you. The Bible says: “And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed” (Judges 2:14-15). The Lord protected Israel from their enemies as long as they served Him alone and honored Him with their lives. Unfortunately, Israel often caused the Lord’s hand to turn against them. Thus, He allowed them to be delivered into the hands of their enemies because of their rebellious ways, as was the case with their present state of captivity.
The Jewish calendar is centered around the lunar cycle,
which occurs approximately every 29 ½ days. Since there are no half days in a
month, each month is marked as having 29 or 30 days.
“I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal” (Ezekiel 1:4).
While Ezekiel was among the other
exiles by the Kebar River, the Lord gave him an open vision. Now, you may ask:
“what is a vision?” According to the King James Version Dictionary, one of the
definitions of a vision is a revelation from God presented in the mind of His
servants by which they are told of future events.[5] To elaborate further, a vision is a dream that one has been given by
the Lord while awake. The Bible says: “For God does speak—now one way,
now another—though no one perceives it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on
people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify
them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to
preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword. God often spoke to His servants through
dreams and visions” (Job 33:14-18). As one can
see, a dream takes place while one is asleep, but a vision occurs while a
person is awake with moving images and/or words from the Lord coming before
them.
The Lord is the One who decides how He will speak and to whom and when the message is to be given. The Bible says: “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29). Not everyone has the gift of prophecy, but God can and will speak prophetically to those of His choosing. The important thing is for the believers of God to be in a position to receive the message for and to whom it is appointed.
Ezekiel saw a windstorm coming from the north with flashing lightning. Windstorm in the Bible often means the presence of God and can also symbolize His anger and wrath. The Bible gives several instances when the wind signified the Lord’s presence. One of them was on the day of Pentecost. The Bible says: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1-2). The Holy Spirit had come and fallen on all present in the room on that day, which was preceded by the sound of a mighty wind. The wind also represents the Lord, such as when the Prophet Elijah was taken away in a fiery chariot. The Bible says: “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (2 Kings 2:1). As one can see, the wind can the Spirit of the Lord in a positive light. However, the wind of God can also signify His displeasure. The Bible says: “A whirlwind will sweep them away, and their sacrifices will bring them shame” (Hosea 4:19). The wrath of God can be shown through the wind that He allows to come as a part of His judgment. Nevertheless, this was not Ezekiel’s individual case, as the Lord chose him to be His mouthpiece, but the Lord’s wrath was against His people who had repeatedly defied Him since the time of their deliverance from Egypt. The wind coming from the north was the direction from which most of Judah’s enemies came against them, as was the case of their Babylonian captors.[6]
As explained by some biblical translations, the Lord was showing Himself as a mighty warrior through the wind and cloud that was engulfed with fire or lightning and demonstrated with the brilliance of the Lord’s light shown through amber surrounding it. God’s holiness is represented in the fire with the cloud of reckoning, which details God’s judgment of His people. The Bible describes God as a consuming fire, which is associated with wrath for those who are in defiance of Him. The Bible says: “ If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26-27). God is holy and is a righteous judge who abhors and judges sin, for it is unacceptable in His sight and will not enter into His presence. Even now, there will be a time of reckoning for all people who live sinfully before the Lord. He will not allow sin to continue its reign forever, and all sin and evil doers will have a fiery end.[7]
“And in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved” (Ezekiel 1:5-9).
The four living creatures described above are cherubim, guardians of the Lord’s holiness and referred to throughout the Bible, such as when the Lord instructed Moses to make two cherubim out of gold for the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22) and when the Apostle John described the cherubim he had been shown who worshiped around God’s throne day and night in Heaven (Revelation 4:6-9). Cherubim are first mentioned in Genesis, as they guarded the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were kicked out, thus acting as a security force to keep sin from the presence of God. The Bible says: “After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). Adam and Eve were no longer allowed to eat from the Tree of Life due to sin, for they were cursed to live a life of mortality instead of immortality. Therefore, this tree was only permitted to be eaten by those who had not been corrupted by sin. As such, the cheribum were necessary to maintain order by keeping sin outside of the garden.
Before his fall from Heaven, Lucifer was also a cherub, which we will discuss further in another lesson. According to Pseudo-Dionysius, a 6th-century unidentified Christian theologian, philosopher, and the author of theological works formerly attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite, he believed Cherubim to be in the top tier of the spiritual hierarchy.[8] In other words, unlike many baby angel images with wings portrayed in some contemporary paintings, these angels are very powerful beings tasked with guarding the holiness of the Lord. Angel in name means messenger, which is derived from the Hellenistic Koine Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos) and in Hebrew מַלְאָךְ (mal'ach, mal’ak elohim), which also means angel and messenger of God, as they serve the Lord’s will.[9] Similar to Genesis, the cherubim are depicted with fire in Ezekiel’s vision.
* Dionysius the Areopagite, a Christian convert and follower of the Apostle Paul was an Athenian judge at the Areopagus Court in Athens (Acts 17:34.
“Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle” (Ezekiel 1:10).
You would probably be right to find these four living creatures (Cheribum) strange. Ezekiel’s description is like something we have never seen before, with a creature having a four faces. Yet, each face is symbolic of Jesus’ attributes and character. Let’s study each one so we can fully understand who and what the four living creatures symbolize.
The Face of a Lion
The lion is called the king of the jungle for numerous reasons. He is known for his beautiful features, power, loud roar that can be heard up to five miles, and strength. A lion has exceptional night vision and can hear prey up to a mile away. Many scientists categorize them as being at the top of the food chain, and although they may encounter larger and faster animals, they are known to stalk them until they get close enough for the kill. Their beautiful manes are not just for looks, but help to protect their head and neck in battle. [10] Even though lions live together in groups called the pride, only one male can be the king. Nevertheless, the dominant one must be careful to protect his territory in case another male tries to overtake the pride, which can pose a security risk to male lion cubs due to the successor killing them, as they are not a part of his bloodline.[11]
Just as the lion is considered the king of the jungle, Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all mankind and the heavens above. He came to earth and overcame sin and death. Despite the devil’s effort to kill, tempt, and sabotage His earthly mission, Jesus’ did not falter but remained subservient to the Father unto death. In Him, we find our strength, and there is nowhere where He does not see nor hear the cries of His children, for His senses are more exceptional than those of an earthly lion. Jesus is the One who protects His children from the evil one, and although there are many imitators, there is only one true King, and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. He was given all authority and power from God the Father. When Jesus first came to earth, He came as a humble Lamb. Yet, upon His return, He will come as the Lion of Judah. The Bible says: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
The Face of an Ox
The ox is a hard-working animal, often used in pairs, since 4000 B.C. to help farmers plow, haul wagons and carts, separate grain, and more.[12] The ox operates as a service animal to do the will of its master. They are naturally calm and often trained as calves to become used to a yoke. However, male oxen are usually castrated to make them easier to control. Although the ox is not known for its speed, it can be satisfied with doing a repetitive job, as long as it is well-fed and cared for, thus making it a great agricultural animal that can perform jobs for longer periods of time.[13]
To accomplish the Father’s will, Jesus became like an ox. He bore the world's sins upon himself and was subservient to God, modeling the type of loyalty and dedication that all of God’s children are to possess. Jesus put on the yoke of sin, even though He had not committed any sin, and endured much suffering for our sakes. And even though He will never be put on the cross again, He repeatedly intercedes on our behalf and washes our sins away whenever we come to Him with a sincere heart. The Bible says: “Who, being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Face of a Human Being
The book of Genesis details Adam as the first man God created in His image. Having been placed in the Garden of Eden, Adam was given the job of naming all the animals and tending to the garden. God did not have to create man, but He did so for His own pleasure and glory.[14] All humanity is a descendant of Adam and Eve. God desired to have a special relationship with mankind, but man fell into sin, thus causing the whole world to become sinful. Yet, not wanting His creation to be eternally lost, God had already devised a plan of salvation to atone for the sins of the entire human race. That plan consisted of sending His son, Jesus, to come to earth in human form to become the perfect sacrifice for sin. What lambs and goats were unable to do, Jesus’ blood fulfilled the requirements needed to atone for man’s sins.[15] This ultimate selfless act required Him to leave His Heavenly place and be born of a woman as the Savior of the World. The Bible says: “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God’ ” (Luke 1:35).
Face of an Eagle
Parallel to the lion being deemed the king of the jungle, the eagle is a fearless bird that has been labeled as the king of the skies or king of all birds. Eagles are one of the largest birds in the world and are also at the top of the food chain. They have excellent vision that is believed to be five times better than humans and can see prey over a mile away. Eagles can fly up to 15,000 feet high and 100 miles per hour.[16] They never give up but rise above their challenges. They are not scavengers, so they only eat what they catch, and when they mate with another eagle, it’s for life. Eagles are very attentive to their young and are known for their swiftness, but when they feel their young should be ready to go out on their own, they slow their feeding schedule down.[17] Just as the eagle, Jesus rose above all challenges to see, care, and provide for His children.
Jesus could have left mankind to fend for ourselves, which would have resulted in eternal damnation. Thankfully, He did not abandon us or leave us to our own devices, which would have made us totally defenseless against the enemy. He was both God and man who lived in the flesh and experienced every temptation and trial known to man. As a result, He empathizes with our weaknesses and guides us every step of the way along this life’s difficult journey. Jesus continuously draws us near to God and intercedes on our behalf, operating as our Priest, King, and Lord.[18] He helps us rise above all life's challenges and gives us fresh manna, which is His Holy Word. He sees all and is omnipresent, for His eyes scan about the face of the earth both day and night, and all power is in His hands. The Bible says: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:15-20).
“Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went” (Ezekiel 1:11-12).
Angels are mighty messengers of God, and these wings shown in Ezekiel’s vision signify safety, guidance, refuge, faithfulness, and strength. The psalmist uses similar references in describing the Lord’s saving abilities to encourage those facing trials, uncertainties, and fear. The Bible says: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4). Even though Ezekiel and the other exiles were in a distant land, they were not too distant for God to see them. He was still their God and had not abandoned them.
Like birds, these Cherubim wings allow them to fly wherever the Spirit led them to go. Their wings touched one another as they worked in unison to quickly fulfill the Lord’s commands. Angels are messengers of the Lord and have been used all throughout the centuries as God’s mouthpiece.[19] Therefore, whatever they are instructed to do or go is done without hesitation or delay. Even in Ezekiel’s vision, these Cheribum operated as messengers to deliver the reminder that God was still active in the lives of His people regardless of their geographical location, circumstances, and spiritual deficit, for He had much to say about their present situation and future.
“The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning” (Ezekiel 1:13-14).
One may notice that Ezekiel’s description of the living creatures looking like fire is partially similar to the Apostle John’s description of Jesus in Revelation. The Bible says: “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters” (Revelation 1:14-15). Fire can have multiple meanings in the Bible, but for this text, it represents God’s purity, righteous judgment, guidance, refinement, and presence. The Lord is pure and holy, which are traits that were lacking in the Children of Israel, thus causing God to render His righteous judgment as a refining process for them. Nevertheless, His presence was made known through Ezekiel’s inaugural vision.
“As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel” (Ezekiel 1:15-16).
The wheels described in this vision are called Ophanim (אוֹפַנִּים) in Hebrew and are also referred to as the wheels of God. Some Jewish writers consider the wheels as a particular class of angels within their own right entrusted with defending God’s throne. Although the Bible does not suggest this, the book of Enoch supports this common ideology. The book of Enoch states: “And round about were Seraphin, Cherubic, and Ophannin: And these are they who sleep not And guard the throne of His glory.”[20] Even though the canon does not describe Ophannin as a class of angels as the book of Enoch does, the wheels display God’s power and authority to move about in any direction He chooses in the Heavens above or the earth below because He is omnipotent and omnipresent.
The living creatures sparkled like topaz. Topaz is a rare mineral but a popular gem and birthstone used to commemorate people born in November and sold throughout the United States. Its color is often associated with a golden yellow or blue but is found in other colors.[21] Topaz was used to adorn Lucifer, according to the Bible, and was one of the gemstones affixed to the high priest’s breastplate, representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel, which gave answers from the Lord. Such was the brilliance of the Ophanim that shined like a yellowish, precious stone or a stone of fire, as topaz is called, in the presence of the Lord.
“As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around” (Ezekiel 1:17-18).
Whenever the Lord determines to do something, He is not one to change His mind as humans do unless He is operating out of His grace and mercy regarding a judgment as He did with Ninevah (Jonah 3:6-10) or an answer to prayer as the Lord graciously extended King Hezekiah’s life by fifteen years (2 Kings 20:1-6). The Bible says: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). The wheels in Ezekiel’s vision are representative of the Lord’s unchanging course in the lives of His people, as the eyes on the wheels show that He sees everything in all directions. The wheels in Ezekiel’s vision did not change course but went according to the direction and purpose they were intended in obedience to the will of God, as the angels and all of the heavenly hosts are subject to His will.[22] The Bible says: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11). Just as the heavenly hosts are obedient to God's will, so are we as believers to be subservient to His will.
“When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels” (Ezekiel 1:19-21).
The spirit that Ezekiel describes in this vision is none other than the Spirit of the Lord. The living creatures had the Spirit of God reigning on the inside of them, where they moved in sink with the Spirit. They did not try to go their own way, but was reflective of how Jesus honored the Father by doing His will. God’s will was very important to Jesus, while on earth. Even as Jesus was about to bear the sins of the world upon His shoulders, the Father’s will over His own was on His mind. The Bible says: “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Jesus could have decided not to go through the crucifixion, but He was subservient to the Father’s will in all areas of His life. Therefore, the wheels moved in sink with the Spirit who is one in the Godhead. As believers in Christ, we must also be in sink with the Spirit by not going on our own inclinations but following the Father’s will and allowing Him to be our life’s Global Positioning System (GPS).
Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings”
(Ezekiel 1:22-24).
Ezekiel describes what seems to be a vault, firmament, dome, or part of the sky that curved and sparkled above the four living creatures. There have been many debates amongst biblical scholars and lay people regarding the earth's shape, flat or round. However, in Ezekiel’s vision, the description details a dazzling curvature above the living creatures in Heaven. This is similar to what the Apostle John described in his vision. The Bible says: “Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back” (Revelation 4:6).
These living creatures had mighty outstretched wings with two touching one another at the top and two covering their bodies below. God made every part on our bodies, each serving a purpose. Similarly, He created the Cheribum with wings that are not bound by the laws of physics, yet they symbolize God’s strength and protection. The Bible says: “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalm 57:1). The biblical writers regarded angels’ wings as a shield, an emblem of safety, and security. Their movement was as if the Lord himself was talking with great power and force. The Bible says: “Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (Psalm 93:4).
Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking (Ezekiel 1:25-28).
Ezekiel describes hearing a voice from above the living creatures with whom they gave great respect by lowering their wings. Those who have served in the military understand what it means to show respect to a senior officer entering a room of junior enlisted personnel. Everyone present understands that they will come to attention until the senior officer tells them to be at ease and carry on. Similarly, the four living creatures respected being under the authority of their Creator, as heard through the voice that spoke over their heads, detailed in Ezekiel’s dream. The lowered their wings as a sign of reverence to the Lord their God.
Above the four living creatures was the Lord’s throne that looked like lapis lazuli, also known as sapphire, a deep blue (כחול) semiprecious stone, and in modern times, valued for its rich pigment.[23] The Apostle John also described what he saw of God’s throne while in a vision in the book of Revelation. The Bible says: “Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal” (Revelation 4:6a). Blue, as seen in Ezekiel’s dream, is believed by biblical researchers as representing God’s presence, Heaven, and His healing power.[24] Blue (כחול ) also symbolizes royalty, riches, something dedicated to holiness, and is described as being under the feet of God, according to the book of Exodus. The Bible says: “ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky” (Exodus 24:9-10). Therefore, Ezekiel describes what Moses and others saw as the Lord being on His throne with a bed of sapphire under His feet. One thing to understand is that Ezekiel does not describe His face, but he does let his readers know that he understood the figure on the throne to be a man, which most biblical researchers believe to be the Lord.
The Apostle John's description of the Lord parallels Ezekiel’s account, detailing His shine and brilliance. The Bible says: “And among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters… His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Revelation 1:13-15, 16b). The sight of the Lord’s appearance caused both Ezekiel and John to fall down in His presence. The Lord is no ordinary man to look upon, but to be in the presence of the Lord is a distinction that caused many in the Bible to be overwhelmed by His glory. After Moses had been in the Lord’s presence, his face shined so brightly, that he had to wear a veil over it , but removed it when he returned to the Lord’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). If people only knew how serious it was to be in the Lord’s presence, many may not be as careless to ignore that nothing is hidden from His view.
[1] William S. LaSor, David A. Hubbard, and Frederic W. Bush, Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996), 356-358.
[2] Martin Luther, Luther's Works (Philidelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1960), 282-290.
[3] Leonard P. Maré, "Ezekiel, Prophet of the Spirit: רוח in the Book of Ezekiel," Old Testament Essays 31, no. 3 (2018): xx, doi:10.17159/2312-3621/2018/v31n3a9.
[4] Chad Brand, Eric Mitchell, and Holman Reference Editorial Staff, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2015), 535.
[5] KJV Editorial Staff, "VISION - Definition from the KJV Dictionary," AV1611.com, last modified 2023, https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/vision.html.
[6] Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 58.
[7] Landon Dowden, Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2015), 9.
[8] Adam J. Carlill, "‘Angels and archangels and all the company of heaven’: the Old Testament background to Cherubim and Seraphim," International journal for the Study of the Christian Church 14, no. 1 (2014): 41-53, doi:10.1080/1474225x.2014.900713.
[9] Zamfira Birzu, "About Angels," Anastasis: Research in Medieval Culture and Art 8, no. 1 (n.d.), 255-263, https://doi.org/10.35218/armca.2021.1.14.
[10] James Ball, "Why Are Lions King Of The Jungle? [7 Reasons Explained]," WildlifeBoss.com, last modified January 30, 2023, https://wildlifeboss.com/why-are-lions-king-of-the-jungle/.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Jo Jackson, "What Are the Characteristics of an Oxen?," Pets on Mom.com, accessed October 31, 2023, https://animals.mom.com/characteristics-oxen-6065.html.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Wayne A. Grudem and Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (New York: HarperCollins, 1994), 440-441.
[15] Ibid., 626-627.
[16] Michael Bryan, "50 Cool Eagle Facts You Probably Never Knew About," Facts.net, last modified September 23, 2023, https://facts.net/eagle-facts/.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid., 626-627.
[19] Michael B. Hundley, "Of God and Angels: Divine Messengers in Genesis and Exodus in their Ancient Near Eastern Contexts," The Journal of Theological Studies 67, no. 1 (2016): 1-10, doi:10.1093/jts/flw066.
[20] Robert H. Charles, The Book of Enoch: Or I Enoch (Oxford: Oxford Academic Press, 1912), Chapter LXXI.
[21] Joel E. Arem et al., "Topaz Value, Price, and Jewelry Information," International Gem Society, last modified October 6, 2021, https://www.gemsociety.org/article/topaz-jewelry-and-gemstone-information/.
[22] Bible Hub Editorial Staff, "Ezekiel 1:17 Commentaries: Whenever They Moved, They Moved in Any of Their Four Directions Without Turning As They Moved," Bible Hub: Search, Read, Study the Bible in Many Languages, last modified 2023, https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ezekiel/1-17.htm.
[23] Encyclopedia Britannica Editorial Staff, "Lapis Lazuli | Ancient, Healing, Protection," Encyclopedia Britannica, last modified July 20, 1998, https://www.britannica.com/topic/lapis-lazuli.
[24] Jacob Olesen, "Biblical Meaning of Colors," Color Meanings, last modified October 3, 2021, https://www.color-meanings.com/biblical-meaning-colors/.
No comments:
Post a Comment