Sermon Tone Analysis

Ezekiel 1 Part Two

We will finish chapter one today, in reality it is more supportive of the simplicity of the element

Okay … remember that all of this is understandable to the people of the time and it is pointing to the throne room of God.

But because of ancient aliens – the propulsion of this thing is not the fire and its not the radiance.

It is the 4 creatures.

Why? Cherubim always pulled chariot thrones or they could carry them.

There are statues of this we have found, but in this case they are alive.

Everyone would have recognized this … not the spirit in the creatures … they are alive and moving it.

We know what this is, the evidence is there and apparent if you read history.

It is also drawn from the temple and some other biblical references.

No mystery here

There you are point blank – this is a chariot throne.

Babylon or Jew would know it … we tend to have a propensity to stick something modern on something from the past and we tend not to expand our knowledge much… anyway we have the pictures and the texts so….

Back to verse 26

compare to

here we have an embodied spiritual Deity — we should have not problem with this idea ....

The focus here is one the glory of the Lord… the celestial body

The cherubim are under the glory

This is the God of Isreal, in human form, sources of Paul’s concept of spiritual body… the source of the radiance is the Lord… who is in the cloud… remember Moses … going into the cloud

Now Cherubs have all these bovine features … so the order may be important … north eagle, east a bull, west a lion, south is human… but this may be influenced by were Ezekiel is standing… and so he begins with the face facing him..

Daniel 7 has some agreement… but it is a divine council meeting

So thrones, flames and wheels..

This is clearly God’s throne and his presence.. the chariot idea is in Solomans temple too..

So Ezekiel is seeing the same vision that other had seen although in a different place; the theological messaging here is the location that is important … God is God of the cosmos, and yes it is bad that you are in exile, but God is still God and in charge..

some other text

So the next question for the Jew and anyone for that matter, okay God is here, but we had covenants and a promised land so how did we get here?

well a prophet told you.....

When we learn to connect the totality of scripture the message become clearer and the affirmation of God’s power does so as well,

Suffering for their sin, but not forsaken ….

Its temporary you are still God’s, evil is not getting away with anything..

God is in control everywhere is the theological message here….

No more no less than that