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

Ezekiel is in jerusalem, in the spiritual realms, god along with cherubim appear at the temple, where the idolatry is taking place. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory. 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. After pausing there, the heavenly chariot moves east of the city altogether to the mountain east of it and ezekiel s vision ends 11. Ezekiel 43 gods glory returns to the temple bible gateway.

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. Followers of this type of mysticism sought to recreate similar experiences and ascend into god s realm. This is ezekiels inaugural encounter with god s glory. 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. The glory of the lord appeared to moses, in the burning bush on mt. 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. What is the significance of ezekiels description of gods. In ezekiel s visions, hes transported back to jerusalem, which is the real geographical center of the book. Ezekiel s name, in hebrew, means something like may god strengthen him. 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.

Ezekiel 43 new international version niv god s glory returns to the temple. The first chapter of ezekiel is about the vision of god. For the people thought that god s glory was always in the land and that god was not with the exiles 11. Ezekiels vision in ezek 1 is an example of the fact that god is a god who reveals his glory to his people. Each vision and description unveils reveals more details upon the one who created the universe, the source of matter and all reality. Ezekiel also noted that each cherub had four faces a face of a man, a lion, a bull, and an eagle. The messenger gives ezekiel a tour of the temple, measuring the various walls, gates, and courts. In this vision ezekiel sees the glory of the lord leaving the temple in jerusalem. Sounds a lot like what john saw in the opening chapters of his book of revelation. In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth. In this passage, the glorious humanlike figure reveals to ezekiel the abominations in the temple and why god s glory. Take an aweinspiring journey as ezekiels vision of god is brought to life in all its glory. Last week, we explored ezekiels prophetic calling as he was confronted by the awesome glory of god s temple presence, his kavod, in babylon.

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. This section of ezekiel is a sad era in the history of israel. Ezekiel 1, after a brief introduction, describes ezekiels vision of god and his glory. If your heart needs to be set on fire by the revelation of the character and glory of god, read ezekiel. If you are going to read the book, it demands theological reflection. Ezekiel 1 the appearance of the likeness of the glory of. 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. Ezekiels ministry in many ways is an extension of what began with the word of god through jeremiah. Ezekiel, perhaps more than any other biblical prophet, wanted to know god and god revealed himself to this prophet in mysterious and mighty ways. Ezekiel chapters 8 through 11, the glory of the lord departs. What did we learn from this weeks reading is the glory of the god of israel. 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. Folks, this vision of god deserves hours of study and chapters of.

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. God s people had rebelled and disobeyed him so many times. Best commentaries and books on ezekiel logos bible software. 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.

Ezekiels vision of the four wheels dramatically illustrates the omnipresence and omniscience of god. 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. 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. 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.

Ezekiel 4344 records how god s glory came back and filled the temple with god s presence once more, this time eternally. 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. What might be significant about ezekiels being exiled to the river chebar. The word, the vision, and minute prediction are combined in a manner that is found nowhere else in the scriptures.

It is housed in the palatine gallery of palazzo pitti, florence, central italy. The work is remembered by renaissance art biographer giorgio vasari as property of a bolognese nobleman, vincenzo ercolani. 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. 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. And behold, the glory of the god of israel was there, like the vision that i saw in the valley. The artist of the rabbula gospels has incorporated several details from ezekiels vision into his rendering of the ascension. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. This sovereign god resolved that he would be known and acknowledged. 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. The book of ezekiel closes with a vision of a temple and its associated rituals. Analysis the thronechariot of god is a powerful symbol of gods presence and glory in this book. 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. 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.

Ezekiels vision of god s chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. The appearance of the glory of god the vision of ezekiel youtube. Ezekiel was give a glimpse of god s glory in a vision. The darkness and awfulness of mans sin is presented against the brilliant light of the glory of god. Cherubim at the river chebarkebar ezekiel s vision of clouds with the bow appearing from the north.

Pentecostal explorations of the glory and holiness of yahweh basdeo hill, rebecca on. 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. At first glance, ezekiel seems a little eccentric, but getting to know him is worth the effort. It records a vision ezekiel is given, one depicting almighty god. These wheels were associated with the four living creatures ezekiel 1. God appears to ezekiel in ezekiel chapter one surrounded by a glorious heavenly chariot while seated on his throne. Ezekiels first vision four living creatures accompany a. 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. Berean study bible and there i saw the glory of the god of israel, like. The appearance of the likeness of the glory of the lord. The four living creatures with four facesezekiel chapter 1. Oct 27, 2016 holiness is ezekiels concern as both priest and prophet.

The book opens with a unique vision of 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. Well, the title is ezekiel s name, and it s his prophecies that make up the whole of the book. 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. While he punishes israel for their idolatry and disobedience, his love for his creation mankind prevails in the end. These verses present a stunning vision of the majesty of the lord, with a chariot of living creatures and a glorious throne. Daniel along with shadrach, meshach and abednego had been taken captive to babylon daniel, when nebuchadnezzar tried to secure the judahs submission to babylon. Ezekiels vision of the glory of godits departure and returnis first set within israels history, then in the culmination of gods promises in christ.

God revealed in ezekiel bridges for peacebridges for peace. 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. Ararat known in armenian legend as the mountain of the gods. The governing perspective is the majesty of yahweh as glimpsed by ezekiel on the babylonian plain. Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. Ezekiel1 nkjv ezekiels vision of god now it came bible. As terrifying as this vision was, it vividly displayed the majesty and glory of god ezekiel 1. These purposes involved a far more extensive program than that fulfilled in the book of ezra and nehemiah. In the process, the word appears in the realm of the circumlocutions surrounding the. 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. Outline of the book ezekiel s vision and commission ch. Two decades later, god returns from the east, enters the east gate and enters the temple. His instructions for worship were made known to his people.

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. The heavens opened to the prophet ezekiel theology in. A comment on ezekiels vision of godthe chariot of the lord. 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. In the days of ezekiel, israel had turned away from god. Students will discover details from the vision in ezekiel 10 that describe gods glory departing from the temple. Ezekiel means god strengthens, a rather appropriate name for the ministry god called him to and the situation the people of judea faced. Students will discover details from the vision in ezekiel 10 that describe god s glory departing from the temple. What was the vision that he saw and what does it tell us. 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. Ezekiel tells us that three things happened when god called him to become a prophet. One of the major themes of the book of ezekiel is the glory of god. 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.

All narration is quoted directly from the holy bible, which details the magnificent vision of god. In the use of the range of formulae and motifs in ezekiel we. May 19, 2017 and above them a figure radiant in glory. So let us take a closer look at what ezekiel sees and hears. In ezekiels vision, this throne sits atop the expanse. Mar 31, 2014 this lesson was prepared for a small group of students and was inspired by the the gospel project lesson. 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. The glory of the lord departs from the temple enter the bible.

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. This lesson was prepared for a small group of students and was inspired by the the gospel project lesson. Ezekiel 1 new king james version nkjv ezekiels vision of god. It has never been an easy thing to think about god. This phrase is used fiftynine times in the book of ezekiel and is. One alternate translation suggests the thirtieth year dated from the recovery of the book of the torah from the temple in jerusalem. His glory was at the temple as a visible reminder that god was with his people. In both cases, the purpose was to identify with humanity. The theme of the glory of god in ezekiel berith road.

Some scholars maintain that the proper translation is, may god provide him with a rigorous strengthtraining regimen, but that s highly controversial. 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. The first part of ezekiels vision of god is his description of the cherubimthe. I can say he is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, glorious, love and righteousness. Ezekiel 1 net a vision of gods glory in the bible gateway. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 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 vision of the glory of god article contributed by. Embedded in the pattern of the strange, the bizarre, and the wonderful is a word that still speaks to gods people today. Yet god is not a god who has hidden himself away, but a god who reveals his glory. The glory of the prophet ezekiel was that he saw god more clearly than any of the other prophets. Ezekiels vision of god s glory departing from temple scripture. The phrase you shall know that i am the lord recurs 33 times throughout the text.

God approaches ezekiel as the divine warrior, riding in his battle chariot. From gods point of view, things were moving exactly on schedule. Ezekiel would have been standing and looking toward mt. 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. Ezekiels vision of gods glory departing from temple scripture. More than other prophets, his book focuses on ritual holiness that israel lacked. Ezekiel was a fascinating man who wrote a wonderful book filled with strange and powerful visions. The temple was built according to god s instructions. This book of ezekiel begins, then, with a mystic vision of god. Granted the book that bears his name says, i saw visions of god ezek. 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. 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. A deity would traverse the heavens in his chariot throne, inspecting his domain and exercising authority over it.

Folks, this vision of god deserves hours of study and chapters of writing. Feb 01, 2011 the true glory of god is something that no mortal person can fully observe. Ezekiel 1 the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the lord. Ezekiel 1 new english translation net bible a vision of gods glory. The revelation of gods glory is developed in four stages in this chapter. If today in the lords recovery you are one of the ezekiels, you will be despised. The story of the prophet encountering god spawned merkavah mysticism, aptly named for the merkavah or chariot on which ezekiel rode to the heavens. Ezekiels vision in ezek 1 is an example of the fact that god is a god who.

May, 20 ezekiel was give a glimpse of god s glory in a vision. Reading the book of ezekiel theologically is not merely one approach to reading among others. It reminded them of his holiness and power as the lord of all creation. While jeremiah speaks to those still to go into captivity, ezekiel speaks in parallel to those already there. 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.