#1139 Ezekiel 10 Part 2 A Beryl of Glory

 

6 And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he went in and stood beside a wheel. 7 And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.

9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl. 10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went. 12 And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around—the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing “the whirling wheels.” 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

18 Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.

20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. 22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward. Ezekiel 10: 6-22 ESV

Ezekiel 10: 6-22 Glory Departing From the East Gate

…21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes. 22Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.… John 5: 21-23

And when He commanded the man clothed in linen - The messenger, the angel with the seal in the prior chapter, that marked those set apart for mercy, I think this very likely a Theophany. I grow more convinced that this is the Angel of the Lord, Jesus preincarnate. 

Take fire from between the whirling wheels - This is God's fire, from His chariot seat between the Cherubim. His glory is moving along with His throne. The place of His foot rest will be empty, the ark of the covenant will have lost the substance of it's meaning. As the glory of God departs, His justice comes, and it will consume the temple that has been perverted. This is not Who He is or what He is about, so what does He have left here. If they repented then He was their deliverer, but they will not repent. He is holy and they despise His very nature. God will not be party to apostasy. Judgment has come to this house.

…13So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. And the third captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, “Man of God, may my life and the lives of these fifty servants please be precious in your sight. 14Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight.” 15Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.… 2 Kings 1: 13-15

…48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” 49“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “ Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.… Luke 2: 48-50

…33So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?” 34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.… John 4: 33-35

…29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 30I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 31If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid.… John 5: 29-31

…35John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light. 36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works I am doing— testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,… John 5: 35-37

A cherub stretched out his hand to the fire - This leads him to observe now that they appear to have something in the likeness of a hand beneath their wings, and it ties them to the description in chapter 1.

The appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl - Beryl has been described as clear in it's pure form, yellow/green, aquamarine, deep green as a type known as emerald and even pinks and deep blue. The colors are based upon impurities in the mix. Beryl was one of the precious stones that represented one of the 12 tribes that the priest wore on his breastplate. 

15 “You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work. In the style of the ephod you shall make it—of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen shall you make it. 16 It shall be square and doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth. 17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree. 21 There shall be twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes - Exodus 28: 15-21

The first face was the face of the cherub - Interesting, the word cherub here replaces the word ox in the description from Ezekiel 1.

These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal - He references the vision of Ezekiel 1, probably making the connection for his readers, but maybe to some degree for himself as well. 

And they stood at the entrance of the east gate - God never abdicates His heavenly throne, for that temple remains constant, unmoved. Everything is under the sovereignty of a God that is above all these things. The wheels turn as the Spirit leads, they follow the glory as it departs. It is now at the East gate.

…18to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. 19The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. 20Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.… Psalm 103: 18-20

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.… Matthew 2: 1-3

1This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me? Or where will My place of repose be? 2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.… Isaiah 66: 1-2

“The Jews dreamed that God could not depart from his temple; indeed, whilst it was his, and used as his, he did not, nor would he depart, but he will abandon it when profaned, and thereby made not his.” (Poole)

It is striking and shocking thought that the glory of God was about to leave the temple altogether. Yet, Ezekiel also will later tell us (Ezekiel 43:2-4) that it will come back. “But turn to xliii. 2-4. The glory of the Lord returned to the renovated temple. Like the dawn of a new day; like the sound of many waters, it came, it came. ‘This,’ God said, ‘is the place of My throne… and the house of Israel shall no more defile.’” (Meyer)

iii. “Note that when the Lord does finally return, He is seen coming back through the East Gate (Ezekiel 43.4).” (Wright)