The glory of god in the book of ezekiel's vision

Last week, we explored ezekiels prophetic calling as he was confronted by the awesome glory of god s temple presence, his kavod, in babylon. Daniel along with shadrach, meshach and abednego had been taken captive to babylon daniel, when nebuchadnezzar tried to secure the judahs submission to babylon. Yet god is not a god who has hidden himself away, but a god who reveals his glory. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for the merkavah mysticsand hints at an image of god. The major part of the first half of the book of ezekiel is spent in presenting the sinfulness of the people known by his name and god s wrath against them because of that. One of the major themes of the book of ezekiel is the glory of god. The unfettered sovereignty expressed in the glory of god the interpretive key to much of the book, but especially to these chapters 811, is the depiction of the grandeur of that inaugural vision of gods glory chaps. Followers of this type of mysticism sought to recreate similar experiences and ascend into god s realm. Of all the scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of ezekiel would not register high on our list. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1. A comment on ezekiels vision of godthe chariot of the lord.

God appears to ezekiel in ezekiel chapter one surrounded by a glorious heavenly chariot while seated on his throne. Ezekiel s all about locationso much so that theres a series of chapters 4042 that do little more than describe the precise measurements of every single area in the future rebuilt temple. Oct 27, 2016 holiness is ezekiels concern as both priest and prophet. In ezekiel s visions, hes transported back to jerusalem, which is the real geographical center of the book. What did we learn from this weeks reading is the glory of the god of israel. In the process, the word appears in the realm of the circumlocutions surrounding the.

Ezekiel 1 new king james version nkjv ezekiels vision of god. Ezekiels first vision four living creatures accompany a. In this vision ezekiel sees the glory of the lord leaving the temple in jerusalem. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know god and god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. The work is remembered by renaissance art biographer giorgio vasari as property of a bolognese nobleman, vincenzo ercolani.

These verses present a stunning vision of the majesty of the lord, with a chariot of living creatures and a glorious throne. Oct 08, 2010 the meaning of the eighth day corresponds to ezekiels vision of the valley of dry bones, referring to a time when lost family members will be joyously joined together again to learn gods ways while living under utopian conditions of mutual love, peace and prosperity. Embedded in the pattern of the strange, the bizarre, and the wonderful is a word that still speaks to gods people today. Sounds a lot like what john saw in the opening chapters of his book of revelation. The prophets vision concerns four living creatures that served as a type of chariot for the divine throne, the place from which the likeness of the glory of the lord.

Ezekiel1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. What is the significance of ezekiels description of gods. Verse 28 is particularly moving, as the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Ezekiel s name, in hebrew, means something like may god strengthen him. The appearance of the glory of god the vision of ezekiel youtube. Ezekiel 1 the appearance of the likeness of the glory of. The darkness and awfulness of mans sin is presented against the brilliant light of the glory of god. God s people had rebelled and disobeyed him so many times. In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth. Cherubim at the river chebarkebar ezekiel s vision of clouds with the bow appearing from the north. From gods point of view, things were moving exactly on schedule. This lesson was prepared for a small group of students and was inspired by the the gospel project lesson.

Although the text is careful to put a couple of awkward, nominal barriers between itself and a clear statement of ezekiels vision, it is evident that ezekiel is presented as having had a vision of the divine or of the divine glory kabod yhwh in human form. The messenger gives ezekiel a tour of the temple, measuring the various walls, gates, and courts. Berean study bible and there i saw the glory of the god of israel, like. Two decades later, god returns from the east, enters the east gate and enters the temple. In a sense, the vision which followed was a reply to daniels questions concerning gods purposes for the future of israel in relation to the gentiles. These purposes involved a far more extensive program than that fulfilled in the book of ezra and nehemiah. The first part of ezekiels vision of god is his description of the cherubimthe living creatures, which are in the presence of god, the glory of the lord. Visions of judgment 411 the prophet receives a series of strange signs and visions that reveal the wickedness of the people and the coming judgment.

Students will discover details from the vision in ezekiel 10 that describe gods glory departing from the temple. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. He appeared to them in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, the very presence of god, he nurtured israel in the wilderness providing food and water. This sovereign god resolved that he would be known and acknowledged. In this passage, the glorious humanlike figure reveals to ezekiel the abominations in the temple and why god s glory. The first part of ezekiels vision of god is his description of the cherubimthe. As we learned in the preceding chapter, ezekiel was in babylon, living among his fellow exiles in a community by the river chebar evidently a navigable, manmade canal that branched off from the river euphrates and later rejoined it. This section of ezekiel is a sad era in the history of israel. The four living creatures with four facesezekiel chapter 1.

What might be significant about ezekiels being exiled to the river chebar. As terrifying as this vision was, it vividly displayed the majesty and glory of god ezekiel 1. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes god s sovereignty. In both cases, the purpose was to identify with humanity. Ezekiel would have been standing and looking toward mt. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to god s plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. The governing perspective is the majesty of yahweh as glimpsed by ezekiel on the babylonian plain.

In chapter 40, the prophet is transported in vision from his home among the exiles in babylon to israel, where a divine messenger holding a measuring rod appears to him. Ezekiel means god strengthens, a rather appropriate name for the ministry god called him to and the situation the people of judea faced. Ezekiels vision of the glory of godits departure and returnis first set within israels history, then in the culmination of gods promises in christ. What was the vision that he saw and what does it tell us. Granted the book that bears his name says, i saw visions of god ezek. The glory of the lord departs from the temple enter the bible. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river of chebar, that the heavens were opened, and i saw visions of god.

At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. While jeremiah speaks to those still to go into captivity, ezekiel speaks in parallel to those already there. The artist of the rabbula gospels has incorporated several details from ezekiels vision into his rendering of the ascension. Ezekiel also noted that each cherub had four faces a face of a man, a lion, a bull, and an eagle. Ezekiel tells us that three things happened when god called him to become a prophet. Ezekiel 1, after a brief introduction, describes ezekiels vision of god and his glory.

His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The story of the prophet encountering god spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or chariot on which ezekiel rode to the heavens. Students will discover details from the vision in ezekiel 10 that describe god s glory departing from the temple. Ezekiels ministry in many ways is an extension of what began with the word of god through jeremiah. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. One alternate translation suggests the thirtieth year dated from the recovery of the book of the torah from the temple in jerusalem. The original text begins with in the thirtieth year most take this to mean ezekiels age at the time of the vision but it could have alternative meanings.

Ararat known in armenian legend as the mountain of the gods. The word of the lord came expressly to ezekiel the priest, the son of buzi, in the land of the chaldeans by the river chebar. The theme of the glory of god in ezekiel berith road. Folks, this vision of god deserves hours of study and chapters of. All narration is quoted directly from the holy bible, which details the magnificent vision of god, the cherubim and the whirling wheels. Ezekiels vision of god above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire. If your heart needs to be set on fire by the revelation of the character and glory of god, read ezekiel. In the use of the range of formulae and motifs in ezekiel we. Take an aweinspiring journey as ezekiels vision of god is brought to life in all its glory. Ezekiels vision of god s glory departing from temple scripture. Context ezekiel s description of the progressive departure of the glory in ezekiel 811 see notes beginning on ezekiel 8 is recorded 14 months after ezekiel is called to be god s prophet to the exiles in babylon, he is carried in vision to jerusalem where we can trace the stepbystep departure of the glory of the. Folks, this vision of god deserves hours of study and chapters of writing. May 19, 2017 and above them a figure radiant in glory. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel.

The phrase you shall know that i am the lord recurs 33 times throughout the text. Here is where the mobility of the glory of god becomes important to the theme of the book. This is ezekiels inaugural encounter with god s glory. For the people thought that god s glory was always in the land and that god was not with the exiles 11. The first chapter of ezekiel is about the vision of god. Mar 31, 2014 this lesson was prepared for a small group of students and was inspired by the the gospel project lesson. So let us take a closer look at what ezekiel sees and hears. This book of ezekiel begins, then, with a mystic vision of god. The book of ezekiel closes with a vision of a temple and its associated rituals. Ezekiel 1 new english translation net bible a vision of gods glory. In ezekiels vision, this throne sits atop the expanse. May, 20 ezekiel was give a glimpse of god s glory in a vision.

The book moves on to anticipate the destruction of jerusalem and the temple, explains this as gods punishment, and closes with the promise of a new beginning and a new temple. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. More than other prophets, his book focuses on ritual holiness that israel lacked. Feb 01, 2011 the true glory of god is something that no mortal person can fully observe. Ezekiel chapters 8 through 11, the glory of the lord departs.

After pausing there, the heavenly chariot moves east of the city altogether to the mountain east of it and ezekiel s vision ends 11. The glory of god shechinah in the first chapter of ezekiel, the prophet describes an amazing experience, saying, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god ezek. If today in the lords recovery you are one of the ezekiels, you will be despised. Ezekiel is in jerusalem, in the spiritual realms, god along with cherubim appear at the temple, where the idolatry is taking place. Pentecostal explorations of the glory and holiness of yahweh basdeo hill, rebecca on. The glory of the prophet ezekiel was that he saw god more clearly than any of the other prophets. The vision of the god mobile was pretty bizarre, but by chapter 11 the point could hardly be missedisraels idolatry and violence had compelled god. It records a vision ezekiel is given, one depicting almighty god. The vision of the glory of god article contributed by. Ezekiel 4344 records how god s glory came back and filled the temple with god s presence once more, this time eternally.

As i looked, i saw a great storm coming from the north, driving before it a huge cloud that flashed with lightning and shone with brilliant light. His instructions for worship were made known to his people. The temple was built according to god s instructions. Because the glory of god and heaven are very hard to describe in the language of mortals, prophets often use symbolic terms and images to describe what they. All narration is quoted directly from the holy bible, which details the magnificent vision of god. The glory of the lord returns to the temple 1 then the man brought me back to the gate that faces east, 2 and i saw the glory of the god of israel coming from the east. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. Ezekiel 1 the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the lord. Again, ezekiel sees the vision of the cherubim, which he saw in chapter 1, when he was first called by the glory of the lord to serve as a prophet to israel. God revealed in ezekiel bridges for peacebridges for peace. If jacob had a dream angels ascending and descending on a ladder, and isaiah had a vision god on his throne, high and lifted up, then ezekiel had a nightmare.

Pentecostal explorations of the glory and holiness of yahweh. Jan 30, 2018 we are prone to make assumptions about god and his favor when life has us down due to sin, mistakes, or incomprehensible circumstances. The heavens opened to the prophet ezekiel theology in. Ezekiel 43 new international version niv god s glory returns to the temple. It is housed in the palatine gallery of palazzo pitti, florence, central italy.

Ezekiels vision in ezek 1 is an example of the fact that god is a god who reveals his glory to his people. Well, the title is ezekiel s name, and it s his prophecies that make up the whole of the book. Outline of the book ezekiel s vision and commission ch. Frank shallieu in 19871989 with notes inserted from a 19731976 study the first chapter of the book of ezekiel is a highly figurative vision of the glory of almighty god. Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. This phrase is used fiftynine times in the book of ezekiel and is. Ezekiels first vision like the rest of those recorded in that thrilling prophetic book is rich with meaning, both for him and for faithful servants of jehovah today. Analysis the thronechariot of god is a powerful symbol of gods presence and glory in this book. Ezekiel was give a glimpse of god s glory in a vision. Ezekiel 43 gods glory returns to the temple bible gateway. Each vision and description unveils reveals more details upon the one who created the universe, the source of matter and all reality. Ezekiels vision in ezek 1 is an example of the fact that god is a god who.

The word, the vision, and minute prediction are combined in a manner that is found nowhere else in the scriptures. A deity would traverse the heavens in his chariot throne, inspecting his domain and exercising authority over it. The appearance of the likeness of the glory of the lord. Ezekiels vision of god s chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about. Ezekiel 1 net a vision of gods glory in the bible gateway. If you are going to read the book, it demands theological reflection. More than 90 times in the book of ezekiel, he is called son of man, which was the title jesus preferred when referring to himself. Some scholars maintain that the proper translation is, may god provide him with a rigorous strengthtraining regimen, but that s highly controversial. And behold, the glory of the god of israel was there, like the vision that i saw in the valley. While he punishes israel for their idolatry and disobedience, his love for his creation mankind prevails in the end. It reminded them of his holiness and power as the lord of all creation. It has never been an easy thing to think about god. Reading the book of ezekiel theologically is not merely one approach to reading among others.

Its a theophany, in theological terms, an appearance of the lord. God approaches ezekiel as the divine warrior, riding in his battle chariot. If the first is a vision of god s glory leaving his people, then the other slice of the sandwich is a quite magnificent vision of a new temple, to which god s glory cloud returns. Because the glory of god and heaven are very hard to describe in the language of mortals, prophets often use symbolic terms and images to describe what they saw. The glory of the lord appeared to moses, in the burning bush on mt. I can say he is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, glorious, love and righteousness. In the days of ezekiel, israel had turned away from god.