Making and Maturing

Disciples of Jesus

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Ryan serves as the Lead Pastor of Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, New Jersey. He is married with four children.
  • Back to the Real World- Ezekiel 3:12-15

    Back to the Real World- Ezekiel 3:12-15

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Returning home from vacation is never fun. Sure, it’s nice to be home and sleep in your own bed, but being home means getting back into the daily grind. All those work projects and home chores waited patiently for you, and they are sure glad to have you back.

    Ezekiel’s first vision concludes with his return to the real world. As he does, he must acclimate to life in exile in Babylon once again. He came down off of the high of seeing the glory of God enthroned and walked into a particularly difficult assignment.

    Perhaps you’ve experienced this as well. You go away on a retreat and the Lord works mightily in your life. You are on that proverbial spiritual mountaintop. But Monday’s coming… and spiritual jet lag is a beast. Let’s see how Ezekiel responded to coming home, and what we can learn from his experience.

    Ezekiel 3:12-13

    Ezek. 3:12 The Spirit then lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me—bless the glory of the LORD in his place!— 13 with the sound of the living creatures’ wings brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound. 

    Ezekiel describes being transported out of the throne room of God by the Spirit. He heard the sound of the cherubim’s wings (he previously described them as thunder). As this was happening, he interrupts himself with an exclamation of worship. When he says “bless the glory of the LORD in his place!” he is praising God for the visible manifestation of his greatness. What a moment! He was overcome by God’s greatness and could not contain it.

    It is worth mentioning that when we see God rightly, praise erupts from our inner being. We definitely don’t feel the same intensity of passion for God all the time, but it’s worth asking if we have any emotional passion in response to God’s greatness. When we see his glory, we should be overcome with joy, love, and awe. It is only appropriate that we express those feelings and verbalize praise to him. When was the last time you couldn’t hold your praise for God back? What can you do to cultivate a heart that stands in awe of the Lord?

    Ezekiel 3:14-15

    Ezek. 3:14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I left in bitterness and in an angry spirit, and the LORD’s hand was on me powerfully. 15 I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were living by the Chebar Canal, and I sat there among them stunned for seven days.

    While seeing God’s glory was an incomparable high point, leaving the throne room was less than thrilling for Ezekiel. He says that he left “in bitterness and in an angry spirit” and that “the LORD’s hand was on me powerfully.” What’s going on here? He had turned his attention from God’s glory to the sinful rebellion of Israel. He now had to focus on his mission- to confront the hardheartedness of his fellow exiles. In short, the sin of his people impacted him negatively.

    Just as witnessing the glory of God elicits a worship response, witnessing the realities of sin elicits righteous anger and sadness. Ezekiel was impacted to the point that he sat stunned on the bank of canal for a solid week. In those sober moments he was more aware than at any time in his life that heaven and earth are not on the same page. Worshipping God and mourning sin go hand in hand.

    It’s natural for us to pursue that which brings us joy, and it’s just as natural to avoid what brings sadness or pain. As we read the Bible, however, we learn that sadness and mourning are temporarily unavoidable. Because sin exists, the believer must mourn. Because sin hurts us and those we love, we must hurt.

    The high of worship and low of confession are not in conflict with each other, they are complementary responses to the glory of God and the sin we find in the real world.

    The Big Picture

    When we think about the juxtaposition of the glory of God and realities of sin on earth, we must think of Jesus. Jesus condescended—he stepped out of the perfect glory of heaven and took the form of servant by becoming human (Philippians 2:6-8). He stands for us as a high priest, but not a high priest secluded in some temple. No, the author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

    Jesus mourned the realities of sin on earth. He mourned and wept when Lazarus died and he saw the emotional pain of Mary and Martha, “When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled” (John 11:33). He mourned the sinful unbelief of Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. He felt, and feels, the pain of sin more acutely than anyone else.

    Jesus did more than just mourn over sin. He died for it. Consider this truth- Jesus died for our sin so that we could see and rejoice in his glory. The Apostle Peter says that one of the reasons God rescued us from sin was so that we could worship, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Paul says that when God saves us, he grants us the ability to see his glory, “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).

    In the end, our eternal state will include only the worship side of this worship/mourning sin equation. In Revelation, the Apostle John describes what an angel proclaimed about the new Jerusalem:

    “Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4).

    For the moment, then, we must hold the line that Ezekiel held. Short of Jesus’ return, we live with the tension of simultaneously witnessing some of God’s greatness and witnessing the effects of sin. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we worship. As we see more of the brutalities of sin, we mourn.

    Taking It Home

    As we consider applying Ezekiel 3:12-15, we need to focus on how we express these two components of the life of the believer: worship of God and mourning over sin. How we respond to opportunities for each reveals areas where we need to grow in spiritual maturity. As we take them in turn, remember that brutal honesty regarding your heart condition is crucial to lasting change.

    In what ways do you express worship of God? Prayer? Singing? Recounting God’s greatness in conversations? As Ezekiel was impacted by what saw of God, he articulated his praise. How can you grow in expressing praise of God? How much do you engage in singing with other believers in corporate worship services? How specific are you in your prayers exclaiming God’s greatness? Many of us have stifled worship instead of glorifying God by expressing it. God is pleased and others are encouraged when we rejoice in his glory!

    How are you tempted to avoid talking about sin? Many of us would rather talk about politics all day rather than have a frank discussion about where we struggle. How do you respond to sin around you? Both our culture in general and our immediately surrounding communities are stained by sin. In what ways do we mourn sinful decisions by our government? Sin in our family and church? What if we responded redemptively? What would it look like for you to lovingly confront sin in other believers as you have opportunity?

    One day we will be free of the presence and destructiveness of sin. Until then, may we mirror God’s hatred of sin and mourn as we see rebellion against God in our world. May we never lose sight of the glory of God, and may God grant us greater knowledge of his greatness.

    Ezekiel didn’t stay sitting down. He got up, and got to work doing what God had called him to do. His second vision directly addressed the main form of rebellion in his fellow exiles. Be warned, these visions are about to get very personal.

    Pray

    • Praise God for his glory. Think of specific attributes of God (his power, grace, righteousness, beauty) and worship him for those attributes.
    • Ask God to help you share his hatred of sin. Ask him to give you a sensitive heart so that you would mourn as sin hurts people around us.
    • Praise God for sending Jesus to solve the problem of sin. Praise him that in the New Jerusalem there will be no pain, no suffering, and no death. Praise Jesus for not just mourning sin, but for dying on the cross to defeat it.
  • Listening Versus Listening- Ezekiel 2:1-3:11

    Listening Versus Listening- Ezekiel 2:1-3:11

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Listening to God isn’t as easy as it should be. My wife Lindsay and I have been blessed with four amazing children who are currently under 11 years old. Often (every day?) I will say something, give some instruction that is probably carefully worded and full of compassion and grace, and… nothing happens. I get blank stares if anything. They heard me, but they didn’t hear me. In this case listening isn’t just about physically hearing words, or even intellectually comprehending them. Listening is about acting in light of what was said. It’s not a stretch to say the same applies to us spiritually.

    Ezekiel is a prophet who ministered to Israel while they were in exile in Babylon. Today we’re continuing our journey through Ezekiel’s first vision. Remember that God gave him this vision after the first five years of exile. God had something to say to Israel through Ezekiel, but the question was would they listen. In preparing him to hear this instruction, God revealed his divine throne room and glory to Ezekiel. The prophet fell down in worship, ready to hear from the Lord.

    This moment of worship was the foundation for the entire prophetic message that God would give Ezekiel. Worship is a prerequisite for life change. We cannot obey God in faith if we do not value him above all else. As we consider what the Lord said to Ezekiel, today we will be challenged to consider how we listen to God. Let those who have ears to hear, hear…

    Ezekiel 2:1-5

    Ezek. 2:1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.” 2 As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. 4 The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ 5 Whether they listen or refuse to listen for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

    We realize quickly that in this vision Ezekiel is not only seeing the throne room of God, he is standing in the throne room of God. The Spirit of God enabled Ezekiel to stand and hear the word of God. He calls Ezekiel “Son of man,” which is a Hebrew way of referring to a human being. This makes good sense when we remember the cherubim are the only other beings in the vision.

    God tells Ezekiel he is sending him to speak to Israel, by which he means Israelites in exile in Babylon. He describes them with unfortunate accuracy as “the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me.” God clarifies that this refers to sins both past and present. He furthermore clarifies that this rebellion in action is due to the fact that they are “obstinate and hardhearted.”

    We need to see here the connection between Israel’s sinful choices and their heart attitude. We know from other prophets that their sinful actions were marked by not loving God (by worshipping false gods) and not loving people (by taking advantage of others). Those words and deeds were driven by a stubborn heart that persistently refused to submit to God.

    Ezek. 2:3 He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. 4 The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ 5 Whether they listen or refuse to listen for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

    God explains Israel’s rebellious hearts to Ezekiel because he is sending Ezekiel to preach to them. His job as a prophet is to proclaim God’s word to Israel, whether they listen or not. One way or another, they will know that Ezekiel was a legitimate prophet.

    Ezekiel 2:6-7

    Ezek. 2:6 “But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. 7 Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.

    Under these circumstances, Ezekiel would be right to be afraid. God comforts him even though he is threatened by thorns and scorpions—metaphors for hard hearted listeners. They will attack with words and angry looks, but that’s because they are rebellious at heart. Again, his job is to preach, whether they listen or not.

    Ezekiel 2:8-3:3

    Ezek. 2:8 “And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and there was a written scroll in it. 10 When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

    As for Ezekiel, God commands him to be the opposite of Israel- he is to open his mouth and eat what is given to him. At this point, we see a hand and a scroll. The scroll is written on both sides, which was unusual. This meant it was entirely filled. Furthermore, the words on it would produce sadness and morning. These are words of confrontation, and Ezekiel is called to chew, swallow, and digest this message so that he can give it to Israel.

    Ezek. 3:1 He said to me: “Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. 3 “Son of man,” he said to me, “feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

    So Ezekiel took the scroll and ate it. As he did so, the scroll was sweet as honey. This means that the message, although a message of judgment, was pleasing. This is significant, because rather than these words being bitter to Ezekiel, his humility and lack of obstinacy resulted in his positive reception of God’s word.

    Here we start to see the point of this part of the vision—when Israel rejects God’s word (given through the prophets), they suffer. When they listen to God’s word and respond accordingly, it is sweet to them. Thus some people respond to the Bible with anger and rejection, while others respond with joy and acceptance. The difference is in the heart of the hearer.

    Ezekiel 3:4-11

    Ezek. 3:4 Then he said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or a difficult language but to the house of Israel— 6 not to the many peoples of unintelligible speech or a difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. No doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.

    The Israelites in exile weren’t a foreign mission field for Ezekiel. He knew the language. But God tells him that his message would be better received if he went to a foreign people with a difficult language. This anticipates what we find in the New Testament when the gospel finds better soil in the Greek speaking population of the Roman Empire than in the people of Israel. The issue is always the heart of the listener.

    Ezek. 3:7 But the house of Israel will not want to listen to you because they do not want to listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is hardheaded and hardhearted. 8 Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them or discouraged by the look on their faces, though they are a rebellious house.”

    God describes Israel again as rebellious, literally “hardheaded and hardhearted.” Ezekiel will need to be equally persistent in his preaching of God’s word. He must not fear them or be discouraged by their lack of reception of his message of confrontation. He must insist on confronting their sin.

    Ezek. 3:10 Next he said to me: “Son of man, listen carefully to all my words that I speak to you and take them to heart. 11 Go to your people, the exiles, and speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ whether they listen or refuse to listen.”

    For Ezekiel to effectively deliver the message, he must first listen to God’s words and “take them to heart.” This means that he must embrace the message before he proclaims it. Once again, God warns him that the people may or may not listen to his preaching. After all, the content of his message wasn’t his own clever construct, it was the very Word of the Lord.

    As Ezekiel relates his prophetic commission and job description, he already begins the process of confronting Israel for their rebellious hearts and refusal to listen to God’s word. In effect, he wants his reader to say, “Not me! I will listen! I will obey! I will change!” What about you? What’s your normal response when God confronts your sin through a passage in the Bible? Will you eat the scroll?

    The Big Picture

    There are many places in the Bible where God describes the varying responses to his word. Perhaps the most striking is in John 1 where Jesus, the Word become flesh, is rejected by his own people. In John 1:11 the Apostle John says of Jesus, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” To many, Jesus will be bitter. To others, Jesus will be sweet.

    Rebellion is not a new phenomenon. Adam and Eve’s choice to sin in the garden was rebellion- refusal to agree with God and submit to him. Instead they believed Satan’s lie and did what they wanted. They put themselves in the place of authority, rather than God.

    If we are willing to consider our hearts before the Lord, we must ask, “How do I respond to Jesus and his message?” Just like Ezekiel’s time, today our mainstream culture refuses to submit to Jesus. It will take persistence and determination to embrace God’s message, acknowledge our sin, and walk in repentance and faith.

    Taking It Home

    Rebellion against God is always a problem. As we think about applying Ezekiel 2:1-3:11 we need to confront our own personal brand of rebellion. What does it look like for us to reject God’s authority?

    At a bare minimum we know that rebellion is making sinful decisions, and persisting in idolatry. For many of us, we fight a constant battle against sinful habits that are deeply entrenched in our hearts. We must never settle for a hard heart, or a hard head.

    Rebellion isn’t just about flagrantly sinful decisions. It also takes the form of a refusal to be held accountable by the church. When was the last time you allowed someone to speak into your life about sin? Are you teachable? Approachable? Often our reflexive response when we are confronted about sin is to defend ourselves. The person who is listening to God’s Word is ready to admit sin, and although it isn’t easy, they desire to root it out.

    When was the last time you consciously repented in prayer to God? Many people who claim to be followers of Jesus persist in rebellion and repeatedly reject God’s Word. It’s important for us to articulate our repentance in genuine, contrite prayer. It might look something like this, “God, please forgive me. I spoke in a hateful way to my co-worker. I confess that was sinful. Help me to walk by your Spirit and speak in ways that honor you and uplift others. Jesus, thank you for paying for my sin on the cross and purchasing my redemption. Amen.”

    God’s Word is a two edged sword here- it is bitter when it is rejected, but sweet when it is embraced. This means how we relate to God is determined by how we relate to his Word. Jesus said it this way in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” So what about you? Is God’s Word sweet to you, even when it points out your sin? Do you really hear him?

    Pray

    • Praise him for graciously loving sinners and providing a way for us to be forgiven for our stubborn rebellion. Praise Jesus for dying for our hard-heartedness.
    • Take time to confess any rebellious attitudes you have toward the Lord. Articulate your desire to change for God’s glory.
    • Ask God to give you an appetite for his Word, and to protect you from a rebellious heart. Ask him to continue to expose your sin, and to lead you in righteousness by his Spirit.
  • God Wants Us to See Him- Ezekiel 1:4-28

    God Wants Us to See Him- Ezekiel 1:4-28

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    The thing about kingdoms is they have borders. Wars often break out over lines drawn on a map indicating where one “king’s” authority ends and another’s begins. In Ancient Near Eastern cultures this thinking extended to gods as well. People groups had a pantheon of certain gods, and their chief god had jurisdiction over their land. In fact, when nations went to war they believed their gods to be fighting as well.

    The majority of us probably think very differently. We may think that the true God’s authority has no limit, and we would be right. The problem is what we see going on in God’s territory. We reflect on natural disasters and disease and war and terrorism and wonder why God would allow such tragedies to plague his world. We also reflect on difficulties closer to home like car accidents and theft and divorce and untimely deaths and wonder who is actually king over this kingdom.

    Israel, while in exile in Babylon, may have wondered if God had been defeated by Marduk, the chief god of the Babylonians. They may have wondered if God was even on his throne at all. After all, Judah had been defeated. Perhaps it was their personal circumstances that hit hardest. They had lost homes, gardens, and businesses. Many had lost family members to war and seen families separated by exile.  They needed to see God, and see him as he truly is.

    In this context, God gave Ezekiel a vision of his throne room. Before we get into specifics, we need to remember that a vision is not like a security camera recording. Visions portray literal truths using symbols and signs. It is somewhat difficult for us to imagine what Ezekiel describes, but we can get the clear point. Once we get our bearings, this vision will captivate us with the glory of God on his throne. Let’s get into the details.

    Ezekiel 1:4-12

    Ezek. 1:4 I looked, and there was a whirlwind coming from the north, a huge cloud with fire flashing back and forth and brilliant light all around it. In the center of the fire, there was a gleam like amber.

    Ezekiel’s first vision comes in the form of a lightning storm. Recall from 1:1-3 that he was alongside the Chebar canal. While there he saw a massive lightning storm. Imagine the sights and sounds—thunder and lightning captivating his eyes and ears. I remember one storm when we lived in Dallas, Texas where the thunder was so loud it literally knocked me out of bed. The point is any storm like this would get your attention. As he focused on the shining center of the storm, he saw some unusual creatures.

    Ezek. 1:5 The likeness of four living creatures came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human, 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. 9 Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. 10 Their faces looked something like the face of a human, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and the face of an eagle. 11 That is what their faces were like. Their wings were spread upward; each had two wings touching that of another and two wings covering its body. 12 Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved.

    In the center of the storm Ezekiel saw four living creatures. It’s difficult for us to envision the four living creatures, but it would not have been for those living in the 6th century BC. Later Ezekiel will identify them as “cherubim” – winged throne bearers (10:15). These beings would not have been unusual for Israelites to picture, as many Ancient Near Eastern cultures depicted them in their worship art (statues in temples, etc.).

    The most important background for cherubim in the Bible comes from Exodus 25:18-20 where Israel was instructed by God to make two cherubim of gold to sit atop the sacred box that would hold the tablets of the Ten Commandments and would rest in the Holiest Place in the temple. Israel understood that God was enthroned above the cherubim (not in the box). So when Ezekiel begins to describe the cherubim, Israelite readers/hearers would have immediately started to anticipate a vision of who was above the cherubim.

    Why the four faces? These four faces reflect the pinnacle of created beings on earth- humanity, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. These animals were used in Ancient Near Eastern temples to depict gods or divine power. Here, they are seen as faces of the beings who serve in the throne-room of the God of Israel. We will soon see that they are holding the throne of God himself. The key observation is that all power in the universe is subservient to God.

    Unlike those static golden cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant, these cherubim are moving. In 2 Samuel 22:11 David describes God as a flying warrior, “He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind.” The cherubim were not only winged throne bearers, but they flew wherever the Spirit of the Lord directed them. God’s throne isn’t static, stuck in one place. His attendants are on the move, ready to go wherever he wills.

    The movement of the cherubim is a major focus of this part of the vision. As we envision what Ezekiel describes, we should picture these winged servants of the Lord carrying a mobile throne. Ezekiel was fascinated by the mobility of these creatures and of God’s throne. After all, a throne that is mobile means a kingdom without borders and a king without parallel.

    What parts of your life do feel are outside of God’s borders? These might be areas where you don’t see or understand what God is doing, or areas where you don’t want God interfering. Either way, God wants us to understand that there is no limit to his sovereignty. His attendants are on the move.

    Ezekiel 1:13-21

    Ezek. 1:13 The likeness of the living creatures was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. 14 The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning.  Ezek. 1:15 When I looked at the living creatures, there was one wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their craftsmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. Their appearance and craftsmanship was like a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were tall and awe-inspiring. Each of their four rims were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels also rose. 20 *Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, the creatures went in the direction the Spirit was moving*. The wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21 When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose alongside them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

    In the midst of the lightning storm, the cherubim were seen darting back and forth like flashes of lightning. Fully mobile, these servants of the Lord were ready to dart wherever needed. Why should Israel care that God’s throne is mobile? Don’t forget that they are in exile in Babylon. If they were asking “Where is God?” the answer was, “Not as far away as you think.”

    God was not only still enthroned, but Israel needed to know that he wasn’t limited by geography. The truth that God is presiding over all of creation is often clouded by the trials we face. Just because we can’t conceive of God being sovereign over Babylon (read: Washington, bankruptcy, work, school, Wall Street, etc.) doesn’t mean he isn’t. Have you ever wondered if God has abandoned his post? How does it comfort you to know that God’s throne is mobile?

    Ezekiel 1:22-24

    Ezek. 1:22 Over the heads of the living creatures the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal, 23 and under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. They each also had two wings covering their bodies. 24 When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of a huge torrent, like the voice of the Almighty, and a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings.

    Ancient Near Eastern religions commonly pictured their chief god enthroned above the sky. The God of Israel, however, was not one chief god in a pantheon. He sits unrivaled as God over all creation, which included Babylon.

    Ezekiel compares the sound of the wings of the cherubim to the sound of the voice of the Almighty— thunder (check out Psalm 29:3). Given the vision was expressed in a lightning storm, this is not surprising. As if the sight weren’t majestic enough, Ezekiel draws his readers in to hear the heavenly attendants with him.

    What does thunder evoke in us when we hear it? Shock. Awe. Majesty. Fear. All of these apply when we consider the glory of God enthroned. Rather than being consumed with the sight of our struggles, we have the opportunity to be consumed with the sight of God’s awesome power. Even his throne-bearers are majestic!

    Note also that their wings sounds like an army. No doubt Israel longed to hear the sound of a massive army coming to rescue them. In their experience, the only army that massive was the one that had taken them into exile. Yet here a mere four creatures attending God’s throne sound like an army. This description gives us hope. It reminds us that God’s resources are unlimited, and his arm is long.

    Ezekiel 1:25-28

    Ezek. 1:25 A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings. 26 Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human. 27 From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. 28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

    Finally, at the center of this storm, the center of the vision, Ezekiel sees God sitting on his throne. The throne shone like a blue or violet precious stone (lapis lazuli). Ezekiel now explains the “amber” shining he saw from a distance in 1:4—it is the glory of God. Clothed in fire and seated on his throne, God appeared to Ezekiel like a human. Colored light that looked like a rainbow surrounded him. Ezekiel tells us, point blank, “This was the appearance of the likeness of the LORD’s glory.”

    Let’s pause right here. Stuck in Babylon, with no hope on the horizon, God gives Ezekiel a vision of his glory. Here the word “glory” refers to the visible manifestation of the greatness of God. He could see God’s worth. Ezekiel must have struggled for the words to describe the shining glory of God. Fire, light, a rainbow… all of it captivated Ezekiel.

    So what effect did it have on him? He says, “When I saw it, I fell facedown…” He was overcome with worship- true worship, the valuing of God above anything else. At that moment Babylon wasn’t the main thing. Ezekiel’s health or family or career wasn’t the main thing. The latest developments of the empire or the latest headlines weren’t the main thing. At that moment, the glory of God was the main thing.

    Note that Ezekiel assumes the posture of worship: he fell down before the Lord. In the Bible this is always the right response when we see even a glimpse of God’s glory. For example, the Apostle John in Revelation describes himself falling down at the feet of Jesus (1:17). God is not revealing himself to condemn Ezekiel, but it is still appropriate for Ezekiel to throw himself on the mercy of God.

    Now he was ready to hear from God.

    The Big Picture

    When we consider the story of the Bible, we realize that the glory of God is the dominant theme. God displays his greatness through his acts revealed in the Scriptures. He wants us to be overwhelmed by his greatness. He wants us to be in awe of his character. He wants us to captivated by his beauty. His glory is the sum total of his greatness, and it is best seen in Jesus Christ.

    The pinnacle of the revelation of the glory of God is Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:19 the Apostle Paul says, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him…” In 2 Corinthians 4:6 he says that God shines in our hearts so that we would see “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” To see Jesus is to see the glory of God.

    Jesus shows us the truth of who God is and offers God’s grace to us. He made this possible through his death on our behalf and his resurrection. He sent his Spirit to work in the church, and he has promised to return to fulfill his kingdom work. Jesus literally fleshes out for us the glimpse of glory Ezekiel saw.

    We need to be enthralled with a vision of Jesus just like Ezekiel was enthralled with a vision of God enthroned. But often all we can see are the trials we are facing. Our challenge is to look to Jesus and see his glory. His greatness must be our main thing. Only then will we be ready to hear from God. Only then will we be able to change our attitude in the midst of exile.

    Taking It Home

    God’s sovereign reign has no limit. There is no border to his authority. This includes our hearts. As we consider the practical impact of seeing the glory of God in Ezekiel 1:4-28, we have to be honest about the “lesser glories” that capture our attention. These are the shiny things that distract us from finding our greatest satisfaction in God- material possessions, financial resources, the latest fashions, social status, peer approval, etc. We must know where we struggle so we can address the sinful passions of heart.

    What is your main thing? What fills your field of vision? What distracts you from seeing the glory of God in Jesus Christ? What consumes your thinking during the day or keeps you up at night? Be specific as you probe your heart. Fighting sin by faith means being thorough in our self-appraisal.

    God wants us to love him more than anything. Some object that this seems selfish of God. But that objection mistakenly views God as being too much like us. His glory is not counterfeit. To value God above all else is the only right response to seeing him for who he is.

    Sometimes good things, like love for spouses and kids and friends can actually distract from us loving God most. Of course we should love our families and friends, but when God is our first love, we are better equipped to love them. Love for God sets all of our loves in the right frame.

    Love for God also clarifies which of our other loves might be sinful. Struggles like drug addiction, sexual sin, and drunkenness are shown to be what they are—lesser glories. Pursuits like the perfect house, career success, a tidy home, and well-behaved kids can easily turn into household idols. Apart from a primary love for God, these too become lesser glories.

    How can you practically set aside time to reflect on the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? What times during your week can you set aside for prayer and Scripture reading? As you do so, what are ways you can respond in worship? What does it look like for you to value God above anyone or anything else?

    Once we have caught the vision of God’s glory, we are ready to hear his voice. When God spoke to Ezekiel from the throne, he gave him clear instruction on where Israel was struggling. But would Israel be ready to hear it? Are we?

    Pray

    • Praise God for revealing his glory to us. Focus specifically on Jesus. Praise him for revealing the glory of God to us in grace and truth.
    • Confess any idolatry lurking in your heart. Be specific about whatever you are tempted to love more than God.
    • Praise Jesus for dying for our sins so that we can be forgiven for our failures.

    “…not only the creature’s seeing and knowing God’s excellence, but also supremely esteeming and loving him, belongs to the communication of God’s fulness.”
    -Jonathan Edwards, The End for Which God Created the World

  • When God Seems Far Away- Ezekiel 1:1-3

    When God Seems Far Away- Ezekiel 1:1-3

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    In times of sorrow, people in every culture throughout time have asked the question, “Where are you, God?” We ask when we are facing tragedies and trials, when we are enduring unspeakable hurt, and when we’ve lost hope. Contrary to what we often feel, God has answered this question. The prophet Ezekiel’s first vision provides a direct response to people struggling with this very issue. In fact, God designed this vision to give the hope they, and we, so desperately need.

    Ezekiel was part of the first group of Israelite exiles that were forcibly removed from Judah by the Babylonians in 597 BC. At that time in history Babylon was the major power in the world of the Ancient Near East. Israel had long been divided into a northern and southern kingdom, and the southern kingdom (Judah) was all that was left. Neighboring nations had pestered them in recent years, and finally the Babylonians asserted their dominance and carried off the treasures of the temple in Jerusalem and a chunk of the population (check out 2 Kings 24:1-14). Ezekiel was one of those displaced Israelites.

    Think about that for just a moment. How would you feel after being taken from your home to a land a thousand miles away, complete with a different religion, language, diet, and so on? Add to that the fact that God had promised to give your homeland to your family/nation. What about that promise? The term “disenfranchisement” might apply- they were deprived of their opportunity to live in their home.

    Yet, as always, there was more going on than just geopolitical power shifts. God was working in his people, disciplining them for their sin, and calling them to repentance (2 Kings 24:2). God had a purpose in sending Israel into exile, but that is hard to remember when you’re a refugee in a foreign land.

    During this time, just five years after they had been relocated to Babylon, God gave Ezekiel his first apocalyptic vision (592 BC). Suffice it to say that these Israelites were wondering about God’s plan. Was God still reigning over Israel? Over the universe? Were his promises to Abraham still valid? Was he faithful? Did he even exist?

    We often struggle with the same kinds of doubt when we face significant trials. Maybe you’re facing a serious health problem. Maybe you lost a job you’d had for decades. Maybe a boyfriend broke up with you and you thought he was marriage material. Whatever the circumstances, wondering if God is on his throne is not just a theological question; it’s a relational question. We are asking, “God, where are you in my world?”

    Right in the midst of this challenging moment for Israel, God gave Ezekiel his first vision—a majestic view of his glory as he sits on his throne. As we get into the specifics, we will see that God designed this vision to reveal to Israelite exiles, and to us, the real yet unseen reality of his active reign over the earth. He wanted to stoke the fire of their imaginations and help them envision him seated on his throne. This vision is meant to bring comfort to a people struggling with doubt over God’s purposes. Let’s take a look.

    Ezekiel 1:1-3

    Ezek. 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2 On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile 3 the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD’s hand was on him there.

    Ezekiel is very specific about the timing of the vision and the location. The Chebar canal was a major irrigation artery near the city Nippur in Babylon that channeled water from the Euphrates river for agricultural purposes and perhaps even transportation. To risk stating the obvious, this is a long way from Judah—around 600 miles as the crow flies, or 725 miles by the most direct roads. This was likely the location of an initial resettlement of Israelite exiles.

    As for the timing, it was the “fifth year of King’s Jehoiachin’s exile” (roughly 592 BC). Jehoiachin was the “king” of Judah five years earlier when Bablyon carried the first wave of exiles from Judah to Babylon. He was only king for 3 months when Babylon first besieged Jerusalem in 597 BC.

    This means that these first exiles from Judah had been in Babylon for five years—long enough to realize there wasn’t an easy fix to their status as captives in a foreign land. We can easily imagine them struggling with despair, frustration, anger, bitterness, and hopelessness.

    Have you ever been there? Stuck in a place where you didn’t want to be? Have you ever been powerless to change a frustrating circumstance? That’s how these Israelite exiles felt, and that’s why God sent Ezekiel his first vision.

    Ezek. 1:1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

    Ezekiel describes what happened in 1:1 by saying “the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.” This is crucial to this first vision and his entire ministry. Those first exiles were discouraged, so what did God do? He gave them a glorious vision of himself. While they might be tempted to focus on their circumstances, God called them to look up, to look to him.

    So often when we doubt God’s presence or reign we desperately want him to change our circumstances. We think, or sometimes even pray, “God, please show yourself and heal this cancer.” “God, please provide me a better job.” “God, please make them like me (or make me likable).” These aren’t necessarily wrong desires, but there’s something to be done first—we need a vision of God enthroned in heaven.

    Think about it- Israel was so far from home, and yet God didn’t start by fixing their problem. Instead, he gave Ezekiel a glimpse of his greatness. As we will see, he will actually see God enthroned. The starting point for this vision is simple: God is still there, and he is still reigning. Perhaps that’s just what we need to hear in our trial. Maybe we think we deserve better. Maybe we just want the pain to go away. Whatever our circumstances, God says to us, “Look up, I am still here.”

    Ezek. 1:2 On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile 3 the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD’s hand was on him there.

    Ezekiel and Israel needed to hear from God, more than they needed tell God what to do. The statement “the LORD’s hand was on him” occurs six times in Ezekiel (1:3, 3:14, 3:22, 33:22, 37:1, 40:1). In each case it describes a time when the Spirit of the Lord gave Ezekiel a prophetic word or vision, or when that prophetic activity emotionally impacted him (3:14).

    The difference between speaking and listening is huge. In the midst of the greatest trial these Israelites would ever face, God spoke to them. We may be tempted to do a lot of talking (read: complaining) during times of suffering. Yet often God sends us trials to get us to place where we are ready to listen to him.

    The Big Picture

    When we zoom out and consider the rest of the Bible, we realize that God didn’t just send Israel into exile, he also went into exile to rescue them. When Jesus became flesh for us, he was light entering a dark world.  Our exile isn’t physical, it’s spiritual.  We are exiles because of sin.  In John 1:14 and 1:18 the Apostle John tells us that Jesus reveals God’s glory to us,

    The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

    God does change circumstances, but first he gave us a clear vision of his glory in the Son. Once we catch the vision of the glory of God in the face of Jesus, we are ready to grow spiritually while in exile. Wherever you are, wherever you are struggling, God is not only there, he has acted on your behalf in Jesus.

    Consider the depth of the love of God who would perform such a dramatic rescue. God loves you that much. Enough to walk in your shoes, to bear your burdens, and ultimately to pay the penalty for your sins by dying in your place. God loves us, no matter what our circumstances may be or what our emotions tell us.

    Taking It Home

    When we think about applying Ezekiel 1:1-3 we need to address our attitude and approach to times of trial. Five years of significant suffering can leave us angry, confused, bitter, doubting, and hopeless. We need to honestly appraise the state of our hearts as we struggle with various kinds of exile.

    What circumstances tempt you to feel disenfranchised? What do you desperately wish God would change in your life? The things we want most reveal potential idols in our lives. What does that show about what your heart desires most?

    Are you ready to listen to God? This requires us to humbly set aside our agenda, and to quiet our hearts before the Lord. Perhaps the Lord has you in some kind of exile to prepare you to hear from him. What are practical steps you can take to listen more carefully to God? Consider your Bible reading habits. How do you pray before and after you have read God’s word? Look to Jesus for the clearest vision of who God is. Consider his purposes for your life, including the trials you are facing right now.

    So what’s it going to be? Will we chase a change in circumstances or a vision of God? Get ready, because the vision God gave Ezekiel reveals his transcendent majesty, a grand vista few have ever seen.

    Pray

    • Ask God to help you desire him more than a change in your circumstances.
    • Ask him to captivate you with his greatness today as you run your race.
    • Praise him for revealing himself in the Bible and working even in the midst of trials and suffering.
    Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible.  No translation is perfect, but the CSB is pretty great.
  • An Invitation: Read Ezekiel’s Visions with Me

    An Invitation: Read Ezekiel’s Visions with Me

    In certain circles I’m known as “the apocalypse guy.” This title might offend some, but not me. Maybe a little. Whatever. The point is, I have a passion for the apocalyptic visions of the Bible. I believe these passages have been neglected by the church at large because they’re weird. They are weird, but that’s by design. God has gifted these passages to the church so we can benefit from them.

    I will admit that the prospect of reading these visions without help is daunting. So let’s do it together.

    I invite you to read Ezekiel’s visions with me over the next few months.   

    Each week on Monday mornings I’ll be publishing a new devotional guide through one part of Ezekiel’s visions.

    The guide will set the scene for the passage we’re reading, offer minimal explanations when necessary, explain how the vision fits into the big picture of the Bible, suggest some points for taking the truth home, and give a few directions for prayer.

    If you want to join in just subscribe to the blog and you’ll get an email whenever a new devo is posted.  Subscribe via email by clicking here and clicking the “follow” button on the bottom right corner of the page.

    Once we finish Ezekiel, we’ll move on to Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation, with a bonus vision from Isaiah.  The series will start Monday, March 5.  Feel free to share this link with anyone you think might be interested.

    Join me in listening to some of the lesser known parts of the word of God, asking God’s Spirit to work in us.  Comments and questions are welcome!