“Ezekiel 1”
[Read Eze 1:1, 4-5a, 22-28]
This, surely, is one of the most dramatic descriptions and events in Scripture.
Ezekiel the priest is in exile in Babylon.
He is among his people – but they are now far from their land and temple.
Their very soul is devastated and they are forsaken.
In verse 3 – Ezekiel is described as priest. And there is the hint that – being the 30th year – this was the beginning of his ministry as a priest.
Sorry.
Ought to have been the beginning of his ministry as a priest.
But now he was in the land of his enemies with the people of God – torn away from all that was known and loved.
Then – the heavens open and Ezekiel sees visions of God.
What follows is one of the most detailed and extended descriptions of God in the one passage of Scripture.
It is a majestic passage and one which Ezekiel struggles to describe.
Rabbi’s would not allow anyone under the age of 30 to read it.
The description begins with describing the attendants of the throne.
Then the magnificent vision of God Himself.
All of what is described is extraordinary. Visions of God like this simply did not happen – and the belief was that to see God’s face meant death.
Yet for all the drama of this event – for all the description of what was seen – there is one feature that is especially significant.
Something that is especially dramatic.
It is this: God was not even meant to be there!!
There was an iron-clad belief – God’s glory was in one place and one place only.
The Temple of Jerusalem.
It was not meant to be on the banks of the River Kebar in Babylon.
It was not meant to be in a pagan nation where the people of God had been sent as judgement.
God was where He was not expected – where some would say – He had no business.
Yet this is exactly what Ezekiel was encountered with. God present with His people; speaking His word; and commissioning Ezekiel to now take on a prophetic ministry.
The last statement of Eze 1 sets the scene wonderfully.
It really serves not just as a conclusion to chapter 1 – but as an introduction to something even greater again.
"Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." (Ezekiel 1:28)
There is exile – Ezekiel is overwhelmed by this revelation of God and there it ends – him facedown and then this God begins to speak!
Dramatic.
Marvellous.
Terrifying.
Humbling.
Powerful.
And so was this a one-off?
God’s glory appearing where it was not expected?
The New Testament, of course, opens with the answer to that.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
Here John 1 not only describes the presence of the glory of God – but also paints the picture of what it is like on the banks of the River Kebar in Babylon.
Darkness.
But now that darkness which humanity is lost in has been transformed by the light of the glory of God.
And like Ezekiel – the description of the glory of God is one thing, but the fact that He is among us, here in exile, is extraordinary.
He is not meant to be here!
Not here! Not in the place of our exile.
Yet there He is!
And like Ezekiel – how response is one of being humbled and being aware, to quote Eze 1:28, of One speaking.
His name is Word of course!
What is He saying?
Many things. But one thing is what He prays.
As you encounter Him in this place of exile, of darkness.
"“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." (John 17:24)
He wants you to experience more of His glory.
To see more of it.
And so He prays for you. Prays that you will be found where He is.
Because He keeps turning up in these places of exile.
Keeps showing up in these dark places and expelling the darkness.
And His Word; the One Who speaks; says (indeed prays) that you will be found where He is – see His glory.
Presented By: GM New