Ezekiel used 20 verses to relate a vision of heavenly beings that held the throne of God. He then described his vision of God in only three verses.
And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form.
Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around.
Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking (Ezekiel 1.26-28).
In these verses, the words “like” and “likeness” are used 10 times. This fact should help us recognize that Ezekiel is attempting to describe something that cannot be described.
God’s glory is only like some things that we can understand, to catch a tiny glimpse of what it is like. However, human language can never fully describe the actual being of God.
We should avoid trying to create a literal image of God based on the visions of Ezekiel, Isaiah, or Moses. Instead, we should focus on the key truths that these visions reveal to us about God’s nature and His glory.
Here are some thoughts on the subject.
(1) God’s presence is of great significance. Everything that takes place in Ezekiel’s life, from this time until God completes his work through the prophet, hinges on God’s presence.
Ezekiel was a priest and he knew that the place where God would most frequently meet with His people was in the temple.
The time was now 593 BC, and he had been living for four years away from the temple in exile in Babylon. Even though he was away from the temple, God’s presence was real.
One truth we can rely on is that there is nowhere that we can go to be separate from God’s presence.
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139.7-12).
(2) God initiates the encounter.
In 593 BC, Israel was the only monotheistic religion in the world. Other nations believed in many gods, and they attributed human problems to the actions of these gods in the unseen realm.
The people of the nations surrounding the Jews sought to connect with their gods through idols. Their main objective was to manipulate the idol, and in turn, manipulate the god, to secure things like protection, fertility, rain, and food.
The Hebrews understood that God was holy, meaning not only that His character was righteous and just, but also that He existed beyond the created order. God could not be contacted through idols or manipulated.
Instead, He was the one who initiated contact, according to His purposes and on His terms.
One of the great truths of the Christian faith is that God seeks us, not the other way around. When He does, it’s not only to bless us but also to give us a purpose.
While most people won’t have a calling like Ezekiel, we all have a role to play—loving God, knowing Him, receiving His blessings, and doing His will.
(3) The fear of the Lord.
Proverbs tells us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1.7).
The contrast between Ezekiel and his fellow exiles offers a powerful insight into the fear of the Lord. When Ezekiel encountered God’s presence, he fell on his face in reverence, much like a subject kneeling before a king.
In the presence of the King of Kings, Ezekiel responded with deep honor and awe, exactly as one should before such Majesty.
In the following chapters, we will see God telling Ezekiel that the Hebrews in Babylon will not listen to him because, first and foremost, they are unwilling to listen to God. This reflects the opposite of the fear of the Lord.
Ezekiel is a perfect example of the fear of the Lord. He recognized God’s immense glory and knelt before Him in submission and obedience. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, we see him listening to God and faithfully following His instructions.
The fear of the Lord involves a relationship where we are humble enough to listen to God and respond with obedience.
It would be wise for us to evaluate our own lives, ensuring that we are more like Ezekiel, rather than his fellow exiles in Babylon, when it comes to the fear of the Lord.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 