Visions of the Kingdom: Week 12
Ezekiel 10:1-22: The Glory Departs
There is some ambiguity over when the static carved cherubim or the living cherubim are meant. It may not matter, as the carvings are representations of a living reality.Why did God forbid making "graven images of anything that is in heaven above, ...", and yet command them to make graven images of cherubim?
- 10:2 "coals from among the cherubim" - every year, the high priest
sprinkled the blood of bulls on the mecy seat.
Having rejected mercy, they now receive judgement.
"as I watched he went in" - immediate obedience, as in 9:11. - 10:3 "cloud filled the inner court" - Exodus 33:9 Enduring Word has a list of appearances of the cloud.
- 10:4 When the Glory entered the tabernacle and temple, it was a
grand ceremony. When it departs, only a few see it.
"stood over the threshold" - "stood" or "lingered" or "paused", showing His reluctance to leave, and giving a final opportunity for repentance. Ezekiel saw many people in the temple, but tragically, only he could see the glory in the inner court. Was it because the people were too focused on their idols? - 10:7 "took some of the fire" - a foreshadowing of Nebuchadnezzar burning the city. 2 Kings 25:9
- 10:13 "whirling wheels" - literally "whirlwind"
- 10:14 "face of a cherub" - called "face of an ox" in chapter 1
- 10:19 "over the East gate" - the glory departs by the East gate,
and returns by the East gate in chapter 43.
"above them" - the glory of the Lord was above the people in the temple, but they were not aware. - 10:20 "I knew that they were cherubim" - Ezekiel now sees that the carvings on the Ark were representations of the "living creatures" which he saw before, which he now calls "cherubim".
