A Study of Ezekiel: Pt. 2
In Yesterday’s post we looked at the people, places and circumstances that lead to Ezekial ministry in Babylonian Exile. Today I’d like to read look at Chapter 1:1 and go through Chapter 3:27. In my study UNASB Reference Edition bible this section is noted as Ezekial’s Call and Commision.
Dates
The 5th day, fourth month in the year 584 BC, the 13th year in exile for Ezekiel as compared to King Jehoiachin’s 5th year in exile. Remember Ezekiel was exiled in 597 BC and Jehoiachin was exiled in 588 BC.
“…by the River Chebar among exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” (Ezekial 1:1)
I’m reminder of the NT scriptures where Jesus is getting baptized and similiar wording appears.
“9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan (river). 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water,He saw the heavens breaking open and theSpirit descending on Him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”… (Mark1:9-11)
In Mark, we see Jesus as the one by the River, seeing the heavens opened and seeing visions of God. He sees God’s spirit as a dove descending upon him. In Acts 7:56 Stephen also sees the heavens open.
“55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and theSon of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56)
John also sees a vision of heaven
“After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.” (Revelation 4:1)
So what are visions (mar·’ō·wṯ) ?
mar'ah: Appearance, vision, sight Derived from the root verb רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G545: ἀποκάλυψις (apokalypsis) • Often translated as "revelation" or "unveiling," this term is used in the New Testament to describe the disclosure of divine mysteries, akin to the concept of a vision.• G3701: ὅραμα (horama) • Meaning "vision," this Greek term is used in the New Testament to describe supernatural visions, similar to the Hebrew מַרְאָה.• G4088: πρόσωπον (prosopon) • While primarily meaning "face" or "countenance," it can also imply a reflection or appearance, akin to the reflective aspect of a mirror.
Context: • מַרְאָה is a noun that appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe both literal and figurative forms of seeing. In its literal sense, it refers to a mirror, an object used for reflection…In a figurative or prophetic sense, מַרְאָה is used to describe visions granted by God to His prophets. For instance, in Numbers 12:6, God speaks of revealing Himself to prophets through visions (מַרְאָה). This usage underscores the divine communication and revelation aspect of the term.
As we continue, we see Ezekiel’s vision of God is not a dove or even the Son of Man in the throne room.
“4As 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.b5And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10As 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. 11Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.12And each went straight forward. Wherever the spiritc would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13As 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. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.” (Ezekial 1:4-14)
The Wind, the Cloud and Fire are all indicators of God’s presence as we saw in the Garden wind and the column of cloud and fire that lead the people in the exodus from Egypt.
4 Living Creatures with Human likeness, just as God made Adam in His likeness, so these creatures have Human likeness. However these creatures are unique.
Each had 4 faces (fronts, surfaces, presences)…Human, Ox, Lion, Eagle
Each creature had 4 wings; 2 were spread out above and touched another creature and 2 covered their body.
Each of their 4 sides hid arms/hands under their wings
They moved as one unit wherever the Spirit went, without turning, darting like lightening. They appeared as a glowing torch or coals that moved among themselves. Immediately I think of the torch that passed between the dead creatures in the covenant that God makes with Abraham when the darkness surrounds him and God alone makes guarantee on the promises.
“17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, behold, a smokingfirepot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the halves of the carcasses.18On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram…” (Gen 15:17)
I also thing of the Supernatural whirling fire that guards the East gate to Eden where Cherubim are stationed to keep humans from the tree of Life.
24He 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.” (Gen 3:24)
Are these creatures Guardian? Are they a perpetual covenant of Life? Their movement suggest unity and connection, submission to God and cooperation. Let’s see further what they do.
“15Now 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.d 16As 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. 17When they went, they went in any of their four directionse without turning as they went. 18And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. 19And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creaturesf was in the wheels. 21When 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. 22Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 23And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. 24And 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. 25And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.”
4 Wheels on Earth: each for a creature, each was a wheel within a wheel (their spirit was in their wheel)
Rims were tall, awesome and full of eyes, gleaming beryl
Moved with creatures without turning, rising with them from earth (where the Spirit went the spirit of the creatures went)
Over their heads was an expanse of crystal
Their wings made sound like an army and when they stood (on feet like calves) they dropped their wings at His voice…
“26And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire;g and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27And 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.h 28Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.
Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.” (Ezekiel 1:26-28)
Ezekiel does see into the throne room after all! A likeness of a throne of Sapphire anyway. A human-like figure glowing amidst fire and rainbow…likened to the Glory of the Lord…with a voice that humbles him instantly.
“1And he said to me, “Son of man,a stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.b Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.” (Ezekiel 2)
1And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. (Ezekiel 3:1-2)
4And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.5For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—6not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” 10Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears.11And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” (Ezekiel 3:4-11)
12Then the Spirita lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voiceb of a great earthquake: “Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!” 13It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great earthquake. 14The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me. 15And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling.c And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.
This initial contact between The Divine Son of Man/God and Ezekiel is marked by the phrase “Son of Man” directed at Ezekial 8 times. Each is followed by a command
Stand on your feet and I will speak to you
I send you to Israel… and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’
Do not be afraid (this exhortation is repeated
Hear what I say to you
Eat what you find here
Fill your belly with this scroll (lamentations, mourning and woe)
Go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them, Go to the exiles, your people and speak to them
Receive all my words that I shall speak to you into your heart and hear with your ears
The interaction overwhelms Ezekiel and it takes 7 days for him to process it. He describes it as “bitterness in the heat of my spirit” attributed to the “hand of the Lord being strong upon” him. (Marah: angry, bitterly chafed, discontented, great, heavy) I’ve definitely felt this in my chest before. The great intensity, or heaviness, of a spiritual nature, upon me. (chemah: Wrath, fury, heat, anger, is the word used for the heat of his spirit. It seems that this vision left Ezekial infuriated. Was he angry with God for this commission? Angry with the people for their rebellious spirit? Angry with the circumstances? Angry with the Lord’s wrath? Was it the scroll of woe working on him from the inside out.
16And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: 17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die ford his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
Ezekial is the Watchman of God for the House of Israel. He is liable for their blood if he remains silent. Just as a watchman of a city is responsible for the timely cry that gives the people inside warnings which would save them against an attacker, so Ezekiel is to give the people a timely warning to do what is necessary to defend themselves against evil, flee from it or agressively attack it.
22And the hand of the LORD was upon me there. And he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley,eand there I will speak with you.” 23So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. 24But the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house. 25And you, O son of man, behold, cords will be placed upon you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people. 26And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. 27But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.
Here the Lord speaks to Ezekiel by the Chebar Canal but reveals himself as he did before in the Valley where The fiery glowing rainbow God man stands before him to speak. The same phrase as before was used, “the Spirit entered me, set me on my feet and spoke with me,” just as it was in the last vision. This time the “son of man” command is odd.
Ezekiel is to go home and shut himself in
he’ll be bound by cords (so he can’t leave and go among the people)
he will be mute (so he can’t warn the people)
eventually God will open his mouth to prophecy “Thus says the Lord.”
This idea of cords and bonds has a very spiritual implication. As does the muteness. In the NT we see Jesus expelling mute spirits and spirits that have bound people for years. Namely the women who couldn’t stand upright fro 18 years.
16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (Luke 13:16)
“And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” (Mark 9:25)
Check out the next post to see the continuation of Ezekiel’s mission in Pt 3.