SCRIPTURE: EZEKIEL 1
INTRODUCTION:
Ezekiel means “God is strong”. Ezekiel was born to a priestly family and was included in the exile to Babylon. He was a Jewish “street preacher” in Babylon for 22 years telling everyone about God’s judgment, salvation and calling them to repent and obey. His messages were illustrated with dramatic object lessons. Ezekiel preached God’s truth and predicted the approaching siege and destruction of Jerusalem. He challenged the people to turn from their wicked ways. This book concluded with a message of hope and restoration. He portrait God’s faithfulness and foretold the future blessings of God’s people.
THE LIVING CREATURE AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD (vs. 1-28)
On the 5th month of the 5th year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel. Ezekiel saw a vision. There were 4 living creatures with 4 faces and 4 wings. Under their wings on their 4 sides they had the hands of a man. Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, 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. Their wings were spread out upward; each had tow wings; one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body, each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 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.
As Jeremiah looked at the living creatures, he saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. The wheels sparkled like chrysolite. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome and all four rims were full of eyes all around. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creature rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, Ezekiel 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.
Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. He looked like glowing metal full of fire with brilliant light surrounded him. It looked like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a raining day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel fell facedown and heard the voice of one speaking.
THOUGHTS:
God showed Ezekiel a vision and His exalted throne affirming that He is the ruler of all. A rainbow that appeared during the storm symbolized God’s grace, assuring God’s presence during a storm. The four living beings and the 4 wheels are powerful pictures of judgment. The rainbow over the throne symbolizes God’s never ending faithfulness for His people. Just as God sent a rainbow to Noah to symbolize his promise never again to destroy the earth by a flood, this rainbow symbolized God’s promise to preserve those who remain faithful to Him. The purpose of God’s judgment is to convict us and allow perfect peace and righteous to reign on earth forever.