Day 245: Ezekiel 10-12

(This post covered God showing Ezekiel the evil actions that twenty-five men were doing in the temple and the judgment that was coming. The vision from the previous chapter continued. Ezekiel described the cherubim throughout this chapter.)

Ezekiel 10
¹ Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

(Ezekiel saw a firmament above the heads of the cherubim. The firmament looked like a throne.)

² And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.

(God spoke to the man clothed in linen (the man with the inkhorn at his side: Ezekiel 9) and gave him three commands.
-The first was to go in between the wheels under the cherubim.
-The second was to grab coals of fire.
-The third was to scatter them over Jerusalem.
Again, the man with the inkhorn obeyed God.)

³ Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
⁴ And the glory of Jehovah mounted up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Jehovah's glory.

(The cherubim stood on the right side of the temple and faced it. The cloud filled the inner court. The Glory of the Lord went up from the cherubim and stood over the threshold (entrance) of the temple and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was full of the light from God's Glory. Clearly, God was present and leading the actions that were being taken.)

⁵ And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaketh.

(The sound of the cherubim's wings was compared to God's Voice in that it was heard from far off. The symbolism was that God was speaking, directing the actions that would be taken.)

⁶ And it came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel.
⁷ And the cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.

(We found out what God was directing to take place: The coals being scattered by the man was symbolic of judgment on Jerusalem. It looked as if the cherubim held the acts of judgment for God. However, (from verses 3-4) it was God that allowed the cherubim to release this judgment.)

(Verse 8 began another description of the cherubim…)

⁸ And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings.
⁹ And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like unto a beryl stone.
¹⁰ And as for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel have been within a wheel.
¹¹ When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

(The four cherubim looked like men, however they had wings, more hands, more faces and more eyes. This allowed them to always be facing forward no matter which way they went. However, the four cherubim moved in unison so that they appeared as one person.)

¹² And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
¹³ As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels.

(The cherubim had eyes covering their whole body. Also, the wheels had the ability to hear. These cherubim were able to take in everything that was happening.)

¹⁴ And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
¹⁵ And the cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.

(Ezekiel assured the reader that these were the same cherubim he saw in the vision recorded in chapter 1. The cherubim were also mounted up, which meant they could look down on everything and see even farther.)

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 also turned not from beside them.
¹⁷ When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
¹⁸ And the glory of Jehovah went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.

(The cherubim were completely united with the wheels because their spirit was in the wheels. The Glory of Jehovah "went forth" (departed) from the entrance of the temple. This departure of God's Glory was the symbol of God's presence departing from the temple in preparation of the destruction of the city. This was foretold in Deuteronomy 31:17. God's departure signified everything had been done in a Right and Just fashion.)

¹⁹ And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

(The Glory of God was over the cherubim. Remember, the throne was also over the cherubim.)

²⁰ This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.
²¹ Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
²² And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.

(Again, Ezekiel made sure the reader knew these were the same cherubim as he saw earlier. The next time you read the Book of Ezekiel, you may want to remember the role of the cherubim during the first chapter.)




Ezekiel 11
¹ Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of Jehovah's house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
² And he said unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise iniquity, and that give wicked counsel in this city;

(Again, the Spirit lifted Ezekiel up in the way He did in Ezekiel 3:14 and Ezekiel 8:3. God told Ezekiel about the twenty-five men that were at the door of the eastern gate during chapter 8. The men devised mischief and gave wicked counsel to the city.)

³ that say, The time is not near to build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

(These men acted as if God's Word from Ezekiel would not come to pass, just like the men acted towards Jeremiah.)

⁴ Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
⁵ And the Spirit of Jehovah fell upon me, and he said unto me, Speak, Thus saith Jehovah: Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.

(Ezekiel was told to prophesy against these men. Also, God knows everything that comes to our brain. This still makes us a first cause and shows God responds to everything through Justice.)

⁶ Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
⁷ Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron; but ye shall be brought forth out of the midst of it.
⁸ Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword upon you, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(The twenty-five men were to be judged for their wickedness…)

⁹ And I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
¹⁰ Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

(The judgment on these men would cause them to know that Jehovah was God.)

¹¹ This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; I will judge you in the border of Israel;
¹² and ye shall know that I am Jehovah: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither have ye executed mine ordinances, but have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you.
¹³ And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

(When Ezekiel prophesied, one of the men fell dead. Do you doubt the power of words? Ezekiel wanted to know if God was going to completely destroy Israel, including the remnant that was left.)

¹⁴ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
¹⁵ Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel, all of them, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from Jehovah; unto us is this land given for a possession.
¹⁶ Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come.

(God said that even though His people were in captivity and scattered, He would be a sanctuary (holy place) to them in the other countries. This has been fulfilled. The following prophecies have not been completely fulfilled...)

¹⁷ Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
¹⁸ And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

(The dispersion of Israel actually facilitated their continuation of being a united nation. God would regather them and they would be repentant. This will be fulfilled during the Millennium.)

¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;
²⁰ that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

(Those who take away the "detestable things" (idols) will be given one heart (fellowship), a new spirit, and a soft heart so that they may walk in God's commandments. Again, this will be fulfilled during the Millennium.)

²¹ But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(Those whose heart walks after their "detestable things" will be judged according to their ways. Again, this will be completely fulfilled during the Millennium.)

²² Then did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
²³ And the glory of Jehovah went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

(The glory cloud moved from the east gate to the mountain (Mount of Olives) leaving the temple behind. Notice, God Himself moved around while His ability to get information was facilitated by the cherubim. God being Omnipresent did not mean God was in everything. God being Omnipresent meant God was able to be in more than one place at a time.

**Key Point: God had the ability to be very definitely IN a place. God had the ability to be very definitely NOT IN a place.)

²⁴ And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
²⁵ Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that Jehovah had showed me.

(The vision concluded.)




Ezekiel 12
¹ The word of Jehovah also came unto me, saying,
² Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house.

(Ezekiel lived in the midst of the "rebellious house." The rebels were people who had the ability to see (be aware) and hear (understand) but they chose to be blind and deaf to God's Words. Remember, the cherubim had the ability to see and hear everything.)

³ Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.

(God told Ezekiel to move away from the place he lived. If the people saw Ezekiel leave, it could have caused them to consider their ways.)

⁴ And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.
⁵ Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.

(God made sure Ezekiel moved away so that the people could see him leaving. However, God wanted Ezekiel to do this in a manner that symbolized Ezekiel going into captivity.)

⁶ In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder, and carry it forth in the dark; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the land: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.

(Ezekiel was to cover his face so that he could not see where he was going. God wanted the people to see Ezekiel and conclude he was going into captivity.)

⁷ And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand; I brought it forth in the dark, and bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.

(Ezekiel obeyed God and served as an example to the people.)

⁸ And in the morning came the word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

(Verses 9-15: Zedekiah's captivity. Zedekiah was brought to Babylon but he would not see it and he would die there because his eyes were put out before he arrived (Jeremiah 52:11). Ezekiel's words in the people's ears would now complete the example the people had seen with their eyes.)

⁹ Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
¹⁰ Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.
¹¹ Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.
¹² And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, because he shall not see the land with his eyes.
¹³ My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.
¹⁴ And I will scatter toward every wind all that are round about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
¹⁵ And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.

(Ezekiel's example also served as prophecy for how Zedekiah would be taken captive: he would be blinded after seeing his sons killed. God continued to show how His judgment would cause people to know that He was Jehovah.)

¹⁶ But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the nations whither they come; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.

(A remnant would be saved.)

¹⁷ Moreover the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

(God told Ezekiel to act out another example...)

¹⁸ Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with fearfulness;
¹⁹ and say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and despoiled of all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
²⁰ And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be a desolation; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

(Ezekiel was told to eat with quaking and drink with trembling and fear because the Jews would be living through the same thing. The first example was specific to Zedekiah. The second example was specific to the people. Again, the purpose of this example was so that the people would know Jehovah was God.)

²¹ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
²² Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

(The Israelites had a proverbial saying that the visions and prophecies would not come to pass for a long time or would fail altogether. God asked Ezekiel about this proverb.)

²³ Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision.
²⁴ For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
²⁵ For I am Jehovah; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more deferred: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(God addressed the proverb by saying the day was at hand that the effects of the visions would come to pass, in their lifetimes. Basically, the people knew the prophecies about judgment, however, when judgment did not come because of God's mercy, rather than be thankful, the people concluded the judgment would never come to pass. These verses were bad news for the people: God would not hold back his judgment from the people who heard these prophecies.)

²⁶ Again the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
²⁷ Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many day to come, and he prophesieth of times that are far off.
²⁸ Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: There shall none of my words be deferred any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(God responded to this proverb through Justice by proving it wrong. Again, the people who spoke this proverb would experience the effects of God's judgment themselves.)

(This post covered a detailed explanation for how God worked with and through the cherubim.)

Day 246