At the end of the week he received another message from God. This time it was more explicit. He was called to be a watchman. I have made thee a watchman...give them warning from me...If thou givest him [wicked man] not warning...his blood thou hast saved thyself (see Ezekiel 3:16-21).
Then the whir of the wings and the roar of the wheels was heard when the glory of Jehovah rose from the place and the chariot departed, leaving the prophet in a state of bitterness and heat of spirit. In this mood he found his way to Tel-abib, a colony of his fellow exiles and remained for a week in a state of utter stupefaction.
The prophet's authority is suggested by the symbolic swallowing of a book-roll. He must make the message his own. He must "eat it." (Read Ezekiel 3:3). Bitter as its contents were to his mouth, they were sweet as honey, for it is sweet to do the will of God and to be trus
Following the vision the awful silence was broken by the Almighty upon the throne. The prophet was receiving his call. God told the prostrate prophet to rise and accept his commission for service. God wants more than inactive submission. He wants loving service. God called Ezekiel "son of man." One hundred times this phrase is used. Ezekiel was called to declare the message of God --a message of doom to the people. (Read Ezekiel 2:1-10). This doom was justified by their rebellion. Ezekiel had every temptation to "rebel" but he went without flinching to
The mysterious whir of the mighty wings was followed by an equally mysterious silence. The wings dropped. The chariots stopped. Above the heads of the creatures was a crystal floor on which rested a sapphire throne, and on the throne Almighty God Himself, a figure of supernatural brilliance and glory. The terror of divine majesty was softened by the sight of a lovely rainbow around the throne. Little wonder that when Ezekiel saw this vision he fell prostrate. The vision was to destroy all self-confidence that the prophet might have.
The prophet saw a fiery cloud approaching. From out of the glow were four living creatures, suggested by the cherubim of the temple. (See 1 Kings 6:23-28; Genesis 3:24; Psalm 18:10.) Each had four wings and four faces: that of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle, symbolizing intelligence, dignity, strength and speed. They faced east, west, north and south suggesting that all parts of the universe are open to the gaze of God. The wings showed that there was no spot inaccessible to divine power. There were eyes in the wheels-wheels so equipped cannot miss their wa
The pivot of the book is the destruction of Jerusalem.
1. Pre-Siege....(1-24)
Ezekiel began six years before the destruction of Jerusalem with his prophecies and kept prediction its certainly until it occurred.
2. Siege....(25-32)
After that his prophecies deal with Judah's enemies and the overthrow of these heathen nations.
3. Post-Siege....(33-48)
Finally the restoration and reestablishment of Judah is pictured.
Ezekiel gives us a very dramatic picture of his vision and call to service. The Holy Being who appeared to him could go everywhere. He was all powerful, could see everything and could rule the entire universe by His mighty hand.
The vision which he saw was unusually complicated and elaborate. Notice how many times Ezekiel uses the words "appearance" and "likeness." He knows he is trying to describe things impossible to picture.
