Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. 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. When they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. 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. 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.
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: 22-28 ESV
Ezekiel 1: 22-28
…13The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth. 15He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works.… Psalm 33: 13-15
14And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” 15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. 16For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.… Isaiah 57: 14-16
Over the heads of the living creatures - Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. It is the glory of His holiness, or as that means "otherness", set apart and above. Ezekiel sees God's glory above that of the angels. In western culture it is popular to discuss everyone's uniqueness, and how everyone is a snow flake, and while this is true that we are individuals, yet it is also true that we are made. Can we even discuss levels or degrees when it comes to the contemplation of God? We are finite, He is infinite, we are creatures, he is spirit. This is a Being Who is, not called into being, but Is, the self existing God, eternal Being and first cause of all else that comes to exist. Rightly we look up, rightly we exalt, worship and praise our Creator, Who was and is, and is to come.
…10But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You— majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up.… Exodus 15: 10-12
Shining like awe inspiring crystal - It is awe inspiring, every contemplation of God, every reading of scripture, the air up here is hard to breathe, and maybe you have stopped, it is a lot for the prophet or anyone to take in.
…9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.… Exodus 24: 9-11
5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spirits of God. 6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.… Revelation 4: 5-7
Like the sound of many waters - The mind searches for things within the human experience, and most especially when it is new and unexpected. I remember heading down a trail during deer season, and I came out from a part that was concealed by laurel thickets and into an opening of a holler. All of the sudden there was a sound like thundering, but not, drums maybe, but no, and I was hunting deer, straining to see deer and sign, but instead wings, brown and working hard to lift turkeys into the sky. You can hear the voice of the river, you know when you are coming close to the falls, or the roaring of the sea against the land on a stormy day, an army marching, it is quite a spectacle that Ezekiel is seeing.
The noise of their wings was loud and terrible, as the noise of great waters (like the rout or roaring of the sea), and as the noise of a host, the noise of war; but it was articulate and intelligible, and did not give an uncertain sound; for it was the voice of speech; nay, it was as the voice of the Almighty, for God, by his providences, speaks once, yea, twice, if we could by perceive it, Job 33:14. The Lord's voice cries, Mic. 6:9. - BLB Matthew Henry
1Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.… Revelation 14: 1-3
Like the sound of the almighty -
…14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.… Revelation 1: 14-16
Like the sound of an army -
5Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike!” 6And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.… Revelation 19: 5-7
When they stood still, they let down their wings - We stand at attention, hush does not need said, they crave the sound of His voice, let every atom come to rest, that the silence is that of the deadness of a frozen night, so not a word is missed.
…28And I will give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2: 28-29
…6But you have this to your credit: You hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God. 8To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.… Revelation 2: 6-8
…26But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.… John 10: 26-28
A likeness with a human appearance - Likeness of a throne, like sapphire, likeness of a throne again and a likeness with a human appearance, much likeness and appearance. It is a fitting form for the God of the Universe to display, tied to the glory of His redemptive history. They have already the most remarkable word picture, detailed account of the suffering Servant, long before He comes. Read Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12. We know that it is not God Who is in breech of His covenant with man, but rather man who is, and needs a mediator, a Redeemer. Since God is infinite, He is infinitely opposed to sin, man is infinitely dead in his trespasses and sins, unable to redeem himself. To be a kinsmen and yet able to take the infinite wrath of a holy God, this One will have to be both God and man.
“In the Book of Isaiah we have the principles of the throne of God; in Jeremiah we have the practice of that throne; but in Ezekiel we have the Person who is on the throne.” (McGee)
All the other parts of this vision were but a preface and introduction to this. God in them had made himself known as Lord of angels and supreme director of all the affairs of this lower world, whence it is easy to infer that whatever God by his prophets either promises or threatens to do he is able to effect it. Angels are his servants; men are his tools. But now that a divine revelation is to be given to a prophet, and by him to the church, we must look higher than the living creatures or the wheels, and must expect that from the eternal Word, of whom we have an account in these verses. Ezekiel, hearing a voice from the firmament, looked up, as John did, to see the voice that spoke with him, and he saw one like unto the Son of man, Rev. 1:12, 13. The second person sometimes tried the fashion of a man occasionally before he clothed himself with it for good and all; and the Spirit of prophecy is called the Spirit of Christ (1 Pt. 1:11) and the testimony of Jesus, Rev. 19:10. - BLB Matthew Henry
…12Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. 14The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.… Revelation 1: 12-14
…12As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time. 13In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. 14And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.… Daniel 7: 12-14
13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ”… John 1: 13-15
Like the appearance of fire enclosed all around -
“Unlike the gods of the nations depicted on ancient seals and carvings, the glory of Yahweh defies human description, verbally or visually. And unlike the images of the heathen, which require constant attention and polishing, Yahweh’s radiance emanates from his very being.” (Block)
Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain - This takes us all the way back to Genesis, and here is a visual reminder of God's covenant with man, that He would never destroy the earth by flood again. Sin begs for that answer, the flood, the pouring out later of God's wrath on Sodom and Gomorrah, and the captivity that Ezekiel and his people now find themselves in. The reason that God can promise peace to a remnant, as He saved 8 of our ancestors in the ark, is because of that, or Him, Who He promised in the garden. The promise of Christ comes first in the Seed of the woman, and if not for Him then history ends in the garden, there is no ark, Lot and his family are smashed by brimstone, and the Jewish people have no promise. That next breath you take is paid for by Christ, all of history past pointed to Him, every accusation of our accuser was answered in Jesus Christ, there is nothing missed in this time, every day I wake up to Christ.
…44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?… Matthew 5: 44-46
…13I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.… Genesis 9: 13-15
It is so in St. John's vision, Rev. 4:3. The brightness about it was of divers colours, as the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, which, as it is a display of majesty, and looks very great, so it is a pledge of mercy, and looks very kind; for it is a confirmation of that gracious promise God has made that he will not drown the world again, and he has said, I will look upon the bow and remember the covenant, Gen. 9:16. This intimates that he who sits upon the throne is the Mediator of the covenant, that his dominion is for our protection, not our destruction, that he interposes between us and the judgments our sins have deserved, and that all the promises of God are in him yea and amen. Now that the fire of God's wrath was breaking out against Jerusalem bounds should be set to it, and he would not make an utter destruction of it, for he would look upon the bow and remember the covenant, as he promised in such a case, Lev. 26:42. - BLB Matthew Henry
Such was the appearance -
What notion the prophet himself had of it: This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Here, as all along, he is careful to guard against all gross corporeal thoughts of God, which might derogate from the transcendent purity of his nature. he does not say, This was the Lord (for he is invisible), but, This was the glory of the Lord, in which he was pleased to manifest himself a glorious being; yet it is not the glory of the Lord, but the likeness of that glory, some faint resemblance of it; nor is it any adequate likeness of that glory, but only the appearance of that likeness, a shadow of it, and not the very image of the thing, Heb. 10:1. - BLB Matthew Henry
The glory of the Lord -
…18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.… Colossians 1: 18-20
…8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.… Colossians 2: 8-10
…2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.… Hebrews 1: 2-4
I fell on my face - This is the normal response to deity, this is the only response to the glory of God in the person of Christ, crowned by His holiness. You are holy and I am not. Ezekiel prostrates himself, and then what? Then he hears the voice.
…9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4: 9-10
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