Lesson 2

Chapter 1
Part 1
Ezekiel 1:1-14

I wrote so much on Ezekiel Chapter One that I decided I needed to divide it into 2 parts.
So Ezekiel Chapter 1, Part 2 will be next time and then after that I will have closing comments on the study for this chapter, in another seperate post.

Now on to this post's study.

I would recommend that you read all of Ezekiel Chapter One.
Even if you do not understand it all, it is a powerful vision Ezekiel had.
Ezekiel had many visions, many commentators liken his writing style and visions as a precursor to John's book of Revelation.
In fact many of them recommend the study of Ezekiel and of course Daniel
to better understand the Revelation John had.
I knew that many of the things Daniel saw and wrote corresponded with John's Revelation
but I never thought that about the whole book of Ezekiel before being important for understanding the book of Revelation but now it is like my eyes are opened because I can see how that would be!
As we already mentioned Ezekiel was in captivity in Babylon and with the exceptions of Daniel
and Jonah most of the prophets ministries were in the lands of Israel, Judea and Samaria,
all parts of the Promise land.

Most of the other prophets were concerned with the land and the temple; trying to reform the people, reform the leadership that is kings and priests; hoping to see in their lifetime a pure people with pure leadership in true worship within the temple system of worship.
The temple is no where to be found and it looks like Ezekiel
and the others are to be in Babylon for a lifetime.
Maybe even for generations as far as they know.
So much for temple worship!
So much for the land of Israel and Judea.

This is the condition Ezekiel and the Jewish people were in as captives,
captive slaves in Babylon when by the river Chebar
"the word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest"
".... and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."
(Verse 3)

OH, that we would be open to hear and receive the Word of the Lord!
OH, to be so pliable on Jeremiah's spiritual potter wheel that God's Hand a
nd Spirit could be upon us anytime when He wants to use us
and speak through us and even speak through our lifes.

4 And I looked, and, behold,
a whirlwind came out of the north,
a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself,
and a brightness was about it,
and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber,
out of the midst of the fire.
14 And the living creatures ran
and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Ezekiel's vision is sudden and awesome.
God is an awesome God and that goes way beyond an exciting song.
To be in God's presence of power and might and holiness would
be enough to make any man, wonam or child collapse to their
knees or even fall to their face, trembling in the presence of
the God who is the Holiest of ALL!
One preacher preached a sermon "In the hands of an angry God!" or something to that affect. He actaully read it because he was near blind but he had fasted for many days.
It is said that as he read that sermon listeners were holding to the supporting poles of the structure screaming out to God to please not let them be swallowed up by Hell.
It was the beginning of one of the historic revivals in the USA!
That is the fearful awesomeness of God for those with unrepented sin.

Even Isaiah who saw God's throne in a less dramatic fashion then Ezekiel;
declared of himself:
"Woe is me! for I am undone;
because I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
Isaiah 6:5

Isaiah was a prophet hearing from God for 6 chapters of which he recorded
and when he saw God in His glory on His Throne;
it caused Isaiah to go into a deeper repentance.

Back to Ezekiel Chapter One
9 Their wings were joined one to another;
they turned not when they went;
they went every one straight forward.
11 ..... and their wings were stretched upward;
two wings of every one were joined one to another,
and two covered their bodies.

Verse 9 and 11 tell us of these heavenly creatures wings.
They had their wings two each spread
and touching one another's wings and traveling in unison.
This to me is obvious of the unity of God's creation in Heaven
and when we pray "your will on Earth as in Heaven",
it is also God's Will for His people to be in unity, here on Earth..
Their other two wings cover their body this would be
representative of modesty and humilty in God's presence.

Should we not take a lesson from the angels
and be modest in our clothing,
as well as in our speech and actions?

Comments welcomed.

Though scripture tells us because of Jesus propitiation (mecy seat sacrificial offering) for our sins that we can go boldly to the throne of grace with our prayer requests,
We need to remember that God is till our Creator and the Almighty
and as King of Kings He deserves respect.

Let us be respectful when we are in times of seeking God
whether by ourselves or as a group.

Amen!