Ezekiel 1 ~ The Voice of the Lord

William Blake ~ The Whirlwind: Ezekiel's Vision of the Cherubim and Eyed Wheels circa 1803-1805


Ezekiel 1


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The Living Creatures and the Glory of the Lord

1 In the 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.

2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin- 3 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 upon him.

4 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, 5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, 9 and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

10 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. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 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. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.

15 As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 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. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20 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. 21 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.

22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome. 23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24 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.

25 Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 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. 27 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. 28 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.



No, this is not "Prepare for the Wrath to Come" Week on Scripture for Today Blogspot. A Feedjit Scripture Partner asked what is the meaning of Ezekiel 1. It coincides with a reoccurring bad dream I've had about a troubling time in my young adult years. It's interesting when you keep having the same bad dream and you begin to wonder, what is it saying. Especially when the trouble isn't part of the dream and there are bits of humor in it. I think partly it means that I am just another disciple of Jesus Christ wandering about, not understanding all of it. Eventually the sun (Son) will shine, the fog lifts and voila, the Holy Spirit was able to send that thought into the gray matter. My sympathies to You, O Lord. (Remember I am Your creation and be merciful!)

So what does Ezekiel mean? The Voice of the Lord is heard even when circumstance wouldn't suggest His there.

Ezekiel ~ The Book of Ezekiel mentions Exekiel only twice: 1:3 and 24:24. Ezekiel is a priest, the son of Buzi (“my contempt”)(what a name), and Ezekiel's name means "God will strengthen". (!) He was one of the Israelite exiles turned into slavery, settled at a place called Tel-abib, "in the land of the Chaldeans." Not the modern city Tel Aviv, which is named after it. He was carried away captive with King Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:14-16) in the first of 3 waves of captive taken.

Thanks to archaeology (all gifts are from God) we now know the date was March 16, 597 BC. This cuneiform tablet is found in the British Museum. These tablets are called the Babylonian Chronicles.

According to other Jewish literature, Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, is said to have been a descendant of Joshua by his marriage with the well-known, well-spoken of, prostitute and gentile Rahab (Talmud Meg. 14b; Midrash Sifre, Num. 78). Until recently, most Ezekiel scholars were primarily interested in discussing whether the Book of Ezekiel should be included in the Biblical canon. There was concern 'unlearned' Jews or Christians might misinterpret the book. Historically, the first chapter was not to be read in synagogues and the private reading of the prophecy was not allowed until a person's 30th birthday. So, read today's reading with zeal! I recommend listening to it.

Surely William Blake's painting today has some of the feel of Ezekiel! A man, a priest, taken captive in the 1st of 3 roundups, enslaved in the collapse of Judah. In the middle of complete and utter hopelessness, Ezekiel vision, in the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, realizes this is not hell! The absence of God. These children of Israel are still in God's palm. Far from allowing Judah and God's people to place Him in a box and behind a curtain; His right hand giving them His discipline and His path. They are not forgotten, but will be remembered in God's mercy. Hope for them as well. Ezekiel's vision is God, giving hope to His people.

It is vastly important to realize how unique this portion of time is. (T.R.O.U.B.L.E) The most prolific amounts of Scripture are written from the 2nd captivity of the Children of Israel. How would we ever know the thrill of victory without the agony of defeat? It would just be another day of sunshine in the desert. Just as the Children of Israel, now had the capacity to look up from their chains, God will not be kept in a box behind a curtain. In History, it is unheard of that an entire country of slaves are returned to an obliterated nation to rebuild. Nothing is too hard for God.

Deuteronomy 31:8
It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Matthew 28:20
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age

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