Ezekiel was a voice God raised up for his generation but if you read his book the first chapter sounds like an acid trip from the nineteen seventies.
"In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.
As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, ..." - Ezekiel 1:1-5 ESV
After verse five things really get rolling but I love the first part of the book. Ezekiel is speaking but verse two and three almost sound like the narrator in a movie spoken by someone else giving an affirmation in a resonate official voice. I gives the who, what, where, when and how of what Ezekiel is going to continue to speak about.
These four creatures represent the four Gospels that would be written about Messiah but these books are not just books. They are alive. If these four angels have DNA the Gospels would be that DNA. Just listen as you read the chapter... but beware... if you hear what He is describing you can't remain the same. Unlike acid this will expand your very soul.
"...but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 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." - Ezekiel 1:6-10 ESV
Four face. Four Gospels. Jesus as a man. Jesus as a royal lion. Jesus as a hard working ox. Jesus as an eagle soaring with divine perspective. Each book walks straight. Each book touches the other books. Each book sparkles like burnished bronze.
I just want to worship God that He would reveal Himself to us with such clarity in these Gospels! Thank You God.
"Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went." - Ezekiel 1:11-17 ESV
I wish I could remember and post the visual representations of these wheels with wheels. Just imagine a crank that you turn but as you turn clockwise the gear touching it turns counter clockwise and that gear touches another larger one and turns that. These are the wheels that touch the Earth. The likeness of the wheels is like the likeness of the four creatures. The Book touches the Earth in an intricate working.
"And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels." - Ezekiel 1:18-20 ESV
Are you still listening or have your eyes glazed over?
The Spirit is in full control. If the book is read in a place where the character and nature of God has been revealed then the Spirit of God is present and moving the mechanism of spirituality.
"When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance." - Ezekiel 1:21-26 ESV
Above the book is the Throne. Above the sound of the wings of the creatures is another sound that is heard when they let down their wings. It is the voice of God. The person of God is revealed.
"And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking." - Ezekiel 1:27-28 ESV
Yes. He fell on his face. Who wouldn't?
That is just chapter one.
Are we listening? If we hear the Gospels they bring us to the place where Ezekiel lives in this book. Our consciousness expands. Connections that have no physical representation in our vocabulary form in our soul.
Thank You God for your great book! It amazes us. It reveals who You are and we are in awe You.
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