Ezekiel 10:9-22: The Presence of God Prepares to Leave the Temple
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Succinct Summation
Succinct Summation
Diagnosing the Problem
Diagnosing the Problem
Outline
Outline
Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People
Ezekiel 1-24 - Oracles against God’s People
Ezekiel 1:1-3 - Ezekiel the Priest
Ezekiel 1:4-28 - The Glory of the Lord
Ezekiel 2:1-3:15 - Ezekiel Commissioned
Ezekiel 3:16-27 - Ezekiel the Watchman
Ezekiel 4:1-5:4 - The Dramatization of Jerusalem’s Siege
Ezekiel 5:5-17 - The Dramatization Explained
Ezekiel 6:1-14 - Israel Will Know the Lord
Ezekiel 7:1-9 - The Land of Israel will face Judgment
Ezekiel 7:10-27 - The Day of Destruction
Ezekiel 8:1-18 - Abominations Upon Abominations
Ezekiel 9:1-11- Idolaters Killed and the Righteous Saved
Ezekiel 10:1-8 - Jerusalem’s Destruction Prophesied
Ezekiel 10:9-22 - The Presence of God Prepares to Leave the Temple
Ezekiel 10:9-17 - The Cherubim Await The King to Sit Enthroned
Ezekiel 10:18-22 - God’s Presence Returns to the Chariot
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord. In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.
The purpose of Ezekiel is Yahweh rebukes His people for their sinfulness and He promises to restore His glory so all nations will know He is the one true Lord. In short, the purpose of Ezekiel is the glory of God.
Main Point
Main Point
Yahweh mounts His chariot-throne as He prepares to leave the temple entirely
Yahweh mounts His chariot-throne as He prepares to leave the temple entirely
Ezekiel 10:9-17 - The Cherubim Await The King to Sit Enthroned
Ezekiel 10:9-17 - The Cherubim Await The King to Sit Enthroned
Exegesis
Exegesis
9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl.
9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl.
A new phase of the vision sequence begins
The chariot vision of Ezekiel 1 continues to be seen in this passage - the very presence of God is in sight
The chariot will play an integral role in this vision phase - REMEMBER THIS IS A VISIONARY EXPERIENCE
10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went.
10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without turning as they went.
12 And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around—the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing “the whirling wheels.” 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
12 And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around—the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing “the whirling wheels.” 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Significant change from Ezekiel 1 in this vision passage
10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.
The ox has been removed and a cherub face added… why?
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
The cherubim lift off the ground with the chariot/throne above them
Though there are significant differences in how the cherubim look, Ezekiel makes it clear they are the same creatures
Once again, the Spirit of God is enabling the cherubim to move in unison and to perform His will
The Conscience
The Conscience
Application
Application
Ezekiel 10:18-22 - God’s Presence Returns to the Chariot
Ezekiel 10:18-22 - God’s Presence Returns to the Chariot
Exegesis
Exegesis
18 Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
The narrative section of the vision returns from vs. 7 revealing step two of God’s glory departing
The manifest presence of God stands over the cherubim - the King is on His chariot and Ezekiel watches the glory slowly leave the temple
The glory of the Lord is moving once again further away from the Most Holy Place, but stops at the entrance of the east gate - about 50 yards
The house of the Lord is now no longer His house - The King is leaving
Ezekiel’s vision of the glory departing happens in stages so the reader can savor each step
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. 22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the likeness of human hands. 22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.
The Conscience
The Conscience
Application
Application
Main Point
Main Point