Thursday
Evening Bible Study
July 14, 2005
Introduction
Author: the prophet Ezekiel
Written: 592-570 B.C.
Ezekiel lived at the same time as the prophet Jeremiah, though he would
have been a bit younger than Jeremiah. This was the time of the destruction of
the nation of Judah
and the Babylonian captivity.
While Jeremiah stayed in Jerusalem
and ministered to the people there, Ezekiel was one of the captives taken to Babylon.
His ministry was with those in captivity in Babylon.
There were various groups were taken captive off to Babylon.
The first group that was taken in 605 BC included some of the royal family,
and included captives like Daniel.
A second group, containing 10,000 captives taken in 597 BC included the
King Jehoiachin and Ezekiel the prophet.
The final group was taken at the time of Jerusalem’s
destruction, which took place in 586 BC.
The first section of Ezekiel, chapters 1-24 deal with prophecies concerning
the coming destruction of the nation of Judah
and the city of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 1
– Ezekiel’s Vision of God
1:1-3 The date of the call
:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the
fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that
the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
the thirtieth year – possibly Ezekiel’s age. As a priest, this would
be the year that he would enter into serving the Lord (Num. 4:3).
River Chebar – a river in Babylon.
Some have suggested that it was actually the “Grand Canal”
that Nebuchadnezzar had dug to connect the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers.
See maps – it’s not a
straight trip from Jerusalem to Babylon.
You would normally travel directly north until you came to the river Euphrates.
Then you would make your way along the river to Babylon.
As the F-16 flies, it’s only about 500 miles from Jerusalem
to Babylon. As the ancient traveler
walked, it was closer to 800 miles.
Ezekiel will catch a glimpse of heaven.
:2 On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King
Jehoiachin's captivity,
This particular vision will come in 593 BC.
:3 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; and the hand of the
LORD was upon him there.
Ezekiel – “God
strengthens”
It would seem that Ezekiel grew up in the land
of Judah, but was taken captive at
the age of 25 and taken to Babylon.
In Babylon, he settled in his own
house in a village near Nippur,
along the river Chebar (3:15, 24).
He prophesied for at least 22 years (1:2 and 29:17-21). His wife died in 587
(24:16-18).
the priest – Ezekiel was a descendant of Aaron, of the line of
priests. There are going to be things that he will write about that will show
his priestly perspective. He will give us insight into things happening back at
the Temple in Jerusalem.
He will receive a vision about a future Temple
with it’s rules and regulations for the priests.
:4-14 The Cherubim
:4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a
great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it
and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the
fire.
I looked … – Ezekiel was a guy who saw things. A dream is when you
see something while you’re asleep. A vision is when you “see” something while
you’re awake. Through his ministry he had several “visions” where he caught
glimpses of God, of things going on in other parts of the world, and where he
saw things that were going to happen in the future.
As this vision begins, Ezekiel sees a huge storm cloud that is glowing from
inside.
:5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this
was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
Four living creatures –
Ezekiel will be informed later that these creatures are the “cherubim”
(Eze. 10:15).
The singular is “cherub”. When you hear the word “cherub”, don’t think of
little babies with wings.
There are two cherubim molded onto the lid of the Ark.
They use their wings to cover the “mercy seat” or the representation of God’s.
These are angelic beings that surround God’s throne and seem concerned with
protecting God’s holiness.
A cherub was appointed to guard the way into the garden of Eden to keep man
out after he had sinned (Gen. 3:24).
Satan was once one of the cherubim (Eze. 28:14, 16)
Isaiah saw them and called them “seraphim” (Is. 6).
John saw them (Rev. 4-5).
There is a human-like appearance to them.
:6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
They weren’t “two-faced” but “four-faced” creatures.
Isaiah said they had “six” wings, but it’s possible that Ezekiel doesn’t
see all the wings.
:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the
soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.
Their legs were straight like human legs, but instead of human feet they
had calves hooves. They glowed.
:8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each
of the four had faces and wings.
:9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they
went, but each one went straight forward.
The cherubim wings touched each other, perhaps as the wings of the cherubim
did on the mercy seat. Each cherub had four wings, and two of those wings were
touching the wings of the cherubim on either side, forming a sort of square.
They didn’t need to turn their head when they changed directions. Because
each being had four faces, they had eyes in front, on the side, and in the
back. Every direction they moved was moving “forward”.
:10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of
the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the
face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.
Why does each cherubim have these particular four faces? Who knows?
Some have tried to apply these to the four gospels, but I’m not sure about
how you can prove that.
Some interpreters feel that these represent intelligence (man), power
(lion), service (ox), and swiftness (eagle).
Others feel that these faces represent the highest forms of life in God’s
created realm. Man was mentioned first because he was the best of God’s
creative work. He was followed by the lion, “king” among wild beasts; the ox,
one of the strongest of domestic animals; and the eagle, the “lord” of the
birds.
:11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each
one touched one another, and two covered their bodies.
:12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit
wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.
wherever the spirit wanted to go … I like that idea.
(John 3:8 NKJV)
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot
tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the
Spirit."
:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like
burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth
among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went
lightning.
:14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash
of lightning.
These guys move fast, as fast as lightning.
:15-21 The wheels
:15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth
beside each living creature with its four faces.
Some have suggested that this whole picture in front of Ezekiel is that of
a huge chariot – resting on some type of wheel structure.
It’s interesting to note that when Elijah was taken up into heaven, it was
in a chariot of fire:
(2 Ki 2:11 NKJV)
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of
fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah
went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
:16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of
beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings
was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
beryl – A rare silver-white metal similar to aluminum. Beryl ranged
in color from bluish green to yellow, white, pink and deep green.[1]
a wheel in the middle of a wheel – the general consensus is that
each cherub had two wheels, with one wheel inside the other, but turned at a
right angle. The idea is that the device could roll in any direction without
turning.
:17 When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did
not turn aside when they went.
:18 As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims
were full of eyes, all around the four of them.
full of eyes – perhaps a picture being able to see everything?
:19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when
the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
:20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit
went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the
living creatures was in the wheels.
:21 When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when
those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with
them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
1:22-28 The Throne
:22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures
was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads.
firmament – raqiya‘–
extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament. Perhaps something like a
“platform” stretching out over the heads of the cherubim. The platform is
dazzling like crystal or ice.
(Ezek 1:22 NIV) Spread out above the heads of the
living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and
awesome.
John said that the throne of God was surrounded by a “glassy sea”
(Rev 4:6 NKJV)
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of
the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in
front and in back.
:23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward
another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which
covered the other side of the body.
:24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of
many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an
army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.
noise of many waters – not that these are “jets”, but I wonder if
the sound was similar.
:25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads;
whenever they stood, they let down their wings.
The voice is God’s voice. When they lowered their wings and stood still,
God spoke.
:26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne,
in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a
likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.
:27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the
color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the
appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire
with brightness all around.
:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the
appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the
likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I
heard a voice of One speaking.
See pictures
There have been plenty of ideas over the years as to what Ezekiel saw.
A popular idea nowadays is that he actually saw UFO’s.
But this is not what the Bible is describing – unless you consider God’s
throne an unidentified flying object.
Ezekiel was seeing the very throne room of God, just as Isaiah and John
saw.
The idea is that Ezekiel’s call to the ministry is coming from God Himself.
Who did Ezekiel see on the throne?
The Bible tells us that it could not have been God directly.
(John 1:18 NKJV)
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of
the Father, He has declared Him.
It’s possible that he saw Jesus on the throne.
Isaiah saw the “Lord” on the throne (Is. 6:1), and John tells us that
Isaiah saw Jesus (John 12:41).
Ezekiel tells us that it was the “appearance of the likeness of the glory
of God”. (vs. 28)
Ezekiel’s response was to fall flat on his face before God.
Ezekiel 2
2:1-10 Ezekiel commissioned, Spirit enters Him
:1 And He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will
speak to you."
son of man – a term used 93 times in the book of Ezekiel. God is
God. Ezekiel is man. It refers to his human limitations. Jesus was called the
“son of man” and the “son of God”.
:2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet;
and I heard Him who spoke to me.
Ezekiel has an encounter with the Holy Spirit. He is filled with the
Spirit.
:3 And He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of
Israel, to a
rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have
transgressed against Me to this very day.
Isaiah and Jeremiah had similar callings, being sent to a stubborn,
rebellious people.
:4 "For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to
them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
:5 "As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse; for they
are a rebellious house; yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Whether or not they listen to what Ezekiel has to say, they will walk away
knowing that a prophet has spoken.
:6 "And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of
their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among
scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though
they are a rebellious house.
It doesn’t sound as if Ezekiel is going to have much fun in the ministry.
When God begins to use you in the lives of those around you, some pretty
neat things happen. To see God at work through you is an amazing thing.
And for the most part, people appreciate what God is doing in you.
But if you want to go further in learning to serve God, you are going to
find out that there are also going to be many, many times when you will be
facing “briers, thorns, and scorpions”.
I’ve heard many a long time pastor say, “If you can do anything else rather
than full-time ministry, do it”.
:7 "You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether
they refuse, for they are rebellious.
Ezekiel needs to pay attention to say what God has given to him. Ezekiel’s
duty is to speak, not to make them listen.
:8 "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious
like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
:9 Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a
scroll of a book was in it.
:10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on
the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
This scroll in the vision is a symbol of all that God is going to give
Ezekiel to say. In a sense, it is a picture of the Word of God.
Scrolls were typically made of animal leather. They usually only had
writing on one side, but this one has writing on both sides (“inside and on the
outside”) because God has so much to say.
Lesson
Godly Ministry
Ezekiel’s own call to the ministry gives us some great lessons as to what
ministry is all about.
Ministry is not just for “paid professionals”. It’s for all of us.
My job as a pastor is:
(Eph 4:11-12 NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the
equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body
of Christ,
Ministry is done by all of us.
1. Knowing God – having an encounter
with Him (ch. 1)
I hate to say it, but there are people in places of ministry who have never
actually met Jesus Christ.
I wonder why people even want to be involved in the church without knowing
the head of the church.
Perhaps it’s because they want to do something good with
their life.
Perhaps it’s because they want to stand up in front of
people and be recognized and loved.
Some people enter into professional ministry because they
have failed at everything else and it looks like an easy job.
Any kind of ministry, professional or volunteer, starts with an encounter
with God Himself.
You must be born again.
You must believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He died for your
sins. You must open your heart to Him.
2. Being filled with the Spirit (2:2)
(Ezek 2:2 NKJV) Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to
me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me.
Jesus told the disciples not to do anything until they had been filled with
the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 1:4-8 NKJV) And being assembled together with them, He
commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait
for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard
from Me; {5} "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be
baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." {6} Therefore, when
they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
{7} And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which
the Father has put in His own authority. {8} "But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth."
Paul found some disciples who did not know about the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 19:1-6 NKJV) And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having
passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some
disciples {2} he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you
believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether
there is a Holy Spirit." {3} And he said to them, "Into what then
were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." {4}
Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying
to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that
is, on Christ Jesus." {5} When they heard this, they were baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus. {6} And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy
Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit, nothing we do is worth much at all.
3. Being filled with God’s Word (3:2)
(Ezek 3:2 NKJV) So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat
that scroll.
In teaching the Corinthians about communion, Paul wrote,
(1 Cor 11:23 NKJV) For I received from the Lord that which I
also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was
betrayed took bread;
He had been taught by the Lord.
Spending time in God’s Word. Letting
God’s Word touch your life first.