Ezekiel 3:1 He said to me: “Son of Adam, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. Ezekiel 3:3 “Son of Adam,” 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.
his sweet words
In this vision, Ezekiel is told to eat a scroll containing “words of a dirge, mourning, and woe” (2:10). One would not expect such words to be sweet as honey. But these are God’s words. He often gives us bad news to tell his people. But just knowing the heart of our Lord makes us eager to pass on his words — even when the listeners do not want to hear them.
Ezekiel 2:8 “And you, son of Adam, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” Ezekiel 2:9 So I looked and noticed a hand reaching out to me, and there was a written scroll in it. Ezekiel 2:10 When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of a dirge, mourning, and woe were written on it.
his negative words
If God had bad news for you, would you accept it? Ezekiel was given a scroll with words of a dirge, mourning, and woe written on it. He didn’t hand it back and tell God he was only interested in positive and encouraging words. To do so would be rebellious. He would have been no different than the rebellious house he was sent to prophesy to.
LORD, give us the courage to accept your words and present them to the world unadulterated and without shame. We trust you with what we say.
Ezekiel 2:1 And he said to me, “Son of Adam, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.” Ezekiel 2:2 As he spoke to me, the Breath entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. Ezekiel 2:3 He said to me, “Son of Adam, 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. Ezekiel 2:4 The descendants are obstinate and hardhearted. I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahveh says.’ Ezekiel 2:5 Whether they listen or refuse to listen – because they are a rebellious house – they will know that a prophet has been among them. Ezekiel 2:6 “But you, son of Adam, 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, because they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:7 Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, because they are rebellious.
a rebellious house
Ezekiel’s call to preach was clear. He was to speak God’s words to his rebellious, pagan nation. He was not to be afraid of them, no matter what they said, no matter what look was on their faces.
The call to preach today is the same. We need a generation of stubborn prophets who dare to speak the word of God because we might just face a rebellious house or two.
LORD, give us your Sacred Breath, and enable us to preach your pure, unadulterated word to our generation.
Ezekiel 1:26 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. Ezekiel 1:27 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. Ezekiel 1:28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was what Yahveh’s impressive appearance looked like. When I saw it, I fell face-down and heard a voice speaking.
he matters most
Ezekiel had looked up and noticed the sky over the heads of the impressive beings. Then he looked above that and saw something even more impressive. He saw God as a reigning king, emitting brilliant light and fire.
Now, he falls down. Those amazing beings with wings and wheels were not the main show. This is the main show. This is what it is all about. We should fear God above all else. He will decide our ultimate destiny. He matters most.
Ezekiel 1:22 Over the heads of the living beings the likeness of an expanse was spread out. It gleamed like awe-inspiring crystal, Ezekiel 1:23 and under the expanse their wings extended one toward another. They each also had two wings covering their bodies. Ezekiel 1:24 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. Ezekiel 1:25 A voice came from above the expanse over their heads; when they stopped, they lowered their wings.
over their heads
If the vision of these four amazing living beings is starting to frighten you, you need to look up. Something is happening over their heads.
As amazing and terrifying as these four beings are, the vision draws our gaze to someone even more amazing and terrifying. Their wings are making a roaring sound — a sound of a tumult like the noise of an army. But we need to look up. The sovereign God who made them is in control of their power.
There are all kinds of amazing people who want to capture our attention today. There are also terrible monsters who want to frighten us, cause us to lose sleep, and even endanger our lives.
That is all the more reason for us to take our gaze off these beings and look over their heads. There is a supreme being, and only he deserves our worship, and we should fear him more that these.
LORD, we adore your perfection, and fear your power — more than any other.
Ezekiel 1:15 When I looked at the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the ground beside each of the four-faced creatures.Ezekiel 1:16 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. Ezekiel 1:17 When they moved, they went in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved.Ezekiel 1:18 Their rims were tall and awe-inspiring. Each of their four rims were full of eyes all around. Ezekiel 1:19 When the living beings moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the creatures rose from the land, the wheels also rose. Ezekiel 1:20 Wherever the wind would go, the creatures went in the direction the wind was moving. The wheels rose alongside them, because the wind of the living beings was in the wheels.Ezekiel 1:21 When the creatures moved, the wheels moved; when the creatures stopped, the wheels stopped; and when the creatures rose from the land, the wheels rose alongside them, because the wind of the living beings was in the wheels.
everybody’s wheels
A wheel is a wonderful thing. It is a human invention that made so many great things possible. Even today, when someone comes up with a great idea, it is compared to the invention of the wheel. The wheel is a symbol of mobility and ingenuity.
The wheels that Ezekiel saw represented the choices made by all living beings. They moved wherever they chose to move, and their wheels obeyed them.
The coming fire of judgment upon all the living beings will not be indiscriminate. It will bring justice because God sees all and knows all.
LORD, may all our choices correspond to your desire, so that we can live without fear of your coming judgment.
Ezekiel 1:4 I looked, and noticed a storm wind 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 1:5 The likeness of four living beings came from it, and this was their appearance: They looked something like a human,Ezekiel 1:6 but each of them had four faces and four wings.Ezekiel 1:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, sparkling like the gleam of polished bronze. Ezekiel 1:8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. Ezekiel 1:9 Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead. Ezekiel 1:10 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. Ezekiel 1:11 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. Ezekiel 1:12 Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the wind would go, they went without turning as they moved. Ezekiel 1:13 The likeness of the living beings was like the appearance of blazing coals of fire or like torches. Fire was moving back and forth between the living beings; it was bright, with lightning coming out of it. Ezekiel 1:14 The creatures were darting back and forth like flashes of lightning.
a coming storm wind
What could the vision of these four living beings represent? Notice that they came from an approaching storm wind. In Jeremiah, a storm wind was a symbol of judgment (Jeremiah 22:22).
The four faces were faces of those beings who were supreme over the four realms of creation. The lion reigned over the wild land creatures, the ox over the domestic, the eagle over the sky creatures, the human reigned over them all.
Also, the storm wind brought with it fire and lightning. Later in Ezekiel, Yahveh instructs the prophet to burn some of his shaved hairs, telling him that a fire will spread to all the house of Israel and that he will execute judgment among them while the nations watch (Ezekiel 5:1-8).
This inaugural vision demonstrates our God’s sovereignty over all, and his coming judgment upon all.
LORD, give us the wisdom to submit to your sovereignty, and so be prepared for your day of judgment.
Ezekiel 1:1 It happened 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 sky was opened and I saw visions from God. Ezekiel 1:2 On the fifth day of the month – it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile – Ezekiel 1:3 the word of Yahveh came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. Yahveh’s hand was on him there.
testifying to his touch
Ezekiel was there when it happened. He remembered the year, month and day. He remembered who was with him when the sky opened and he began to see visions from God. Someone else described the event as the word of Yahveh coming directly to him, and Yahveh’s hand being upon him there.
We thus have two witnesses to the miraculous life of this prophet. The prophet himself describes his inauguration into this spiritual ministry, and someone else confirms it.
What is your testimony? How has the Lord touched your life? Where were you when it happened? Put together your testimony and share it with others. He will use them to confirm your experience, and both your testimony and theirs will give him glory.
LORD, thank you for touching our lives. Help us to testify to your touch.
2 Timothy 4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 2 Timothy 4:20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 2 Timothy 4:21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord be with your breath. Favor be with you all.
I left Trophimus sick
I am thankful for this honest statement from Paul to Timothy. He talks about another believer — Trophimus — who was sick, so Paul left him at Miletus to rest and recover. He wanted to heal him, but it didn’t happen.
I believe in healing, but I do not believe in guaranteed healing. Our Lord can heal anyone, and if he wants it, he can heal anyone through us. But if the healing does not happen, I am not going to second guess my faith. If I encounter a Trophimus, I will pray for his healing. But he stays sick, I will trust God to heal him when he wants to. The mission continues.
LORD, help us to heal everyone we can, and trust you with the Trophimuses.
2 Timothy 4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon, 2 Timothy 4:10 because Demas has deserted me, since he cared about this age now, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me as an assistant. 2 Timothy 4:12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 2 Timothy 4:13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. 2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his achievements. 2 Timothy 4:15 Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words. 2 Timothy 4:16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. 2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil achievement and will bring me safely into his sky kingdom. To him be the glory for ages and ages! Amen.
safely into his sky kingdom
The confidence that Paul expresses here is not what a lot of people think he is expressing. He is not saying that God is going to take him to heaven when he dies. The sky kingdom that he expects to be brought into is the one coming down from the sky at Christ’s return.
The reference to being rescued from the lion’s mouth is a clue to what he means. Daniel was the prophet whom God rescued from the lion’s mouth. Daniel saw that kingdom coming down from the sky in a vision. He prophesied that God’s kingdom would come down from the sky and take over the earth. It’s king would be given sovereignty over all the peoples, nations and language groups on the earth, and his kigdom would not be destroyed like all the other kingdoms would.
This is the sky kingdom that Paul was referring to.
May our Lord bring us all safely into his coming sky kingdom.
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