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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel X].</TITLE>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
<CENTER>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
The prophet had observed to us
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+8:4"><I>ch.</I> viii. 4</A>)
that when he was in vision at Jerusalem he saw the same appearance of
the glory of God there that he had seen by the river Chebar; now, in
this chapter, he gives us some account of the appearance there, as far
as was requisite for the clearing up of two further indications of the
approaching destruction of Jerusalem, which God here gave the
prophet:--
I. The scattering of the coals of fire upon the city, which were taken
from between the cherubim,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
II. The removal of the glory of God from the temple, and its being upon
the wing to be gone,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:8-22">ver. 8-22</A>.
When God goes out from a people all judgments break in upon them.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Eze10_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Vision of the Cherubim.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above
the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a
sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
&nbsp; 2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in
between the wheels, <I>even</I> under the cherub, and fill thine hand
with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter <I>them</I>
over the city. And he went in in my sight.
&nbsp; 3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when
the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
&nbsp; 4 Then the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> went up from the cherub, <I>and
stood</I> over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled
with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s glory.
&nbsp; 5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard <I>even</I> to the
outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
&nbsp; 6 And it came to pass, <I>that</I> when he had commanded the man
clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels,
from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the
wheels.
&nbsp; 7 And <I>one</I> cherub stretched forth his hand from between the
cherubims unto the fire that <I>was</I> between the cherubims, and
took <I>thereof,</I> and put <I>it</I> into the hands of <I>him that was</I>
clothed with linen: who took <I>it,</I> and went out.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
To inspire us with a holy awe and dread of God, and to fill us with his
fear, we may observe, in this part of the vision which the prophet
had,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. The glorious appearance of his majesty. Something of the invisible
world is here in the visible, some faint representations of its
brightness and beauty, some shadows, but such as are no more to be
compared with the truth and substance than a picture with the life; yet
here is enough to oblige us all to the utmost reverence in our thoughts
of God and approaches to him, if we will but admit the impressions this
discovery of him will make.
1. He is here <I>in the firmament above the head of the cherubim,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
He manifests his glory in the upper world, where purity and brightness
are both in perfection; and the vast expanse of the firmament aims to
speak the God that dwells there infinite. It is <I>the firmament of his
power</I> and of his prospect too; for thence <I>he beholds</I> all
<I>the children of men.</I> The divine nature infinitely transcends the
angelic nature, and God is <I>above the head of the cherubim,</I> in
respect not only of his dignity above them, but of his dominion over
them. Cherubim have great power, and wisdom, and influence, but they
are all subject to God and Christ.
2. He is here upon the throne, or that which had <I>the appearance of
the likeness of a throne</I> (for God's glory and government infinitely
transcend all the brightest ideas our minds can either form or receive
concerning them); and it was <I>as it were a sapphire-stone,</I> pure
and sparkling; such a throne has God <I>prepared in the heavens,</I>
far exceeding the thrones of any earthly potentates.
3. He is here attended with a glorious train of holy angels. When God
came into his temple <I>the cherubim stood on the right side of the
house</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
as the prince's life-guard, attending the gate of his palace. Christ
has angels at command. The orders given to all the angels of God are,
to <I>worship him.</I> Some observe that they <I>stood on the right
side of the house,</I> that is, the south side, because on the north
side the image of jealousy was, and other instances of idolatry, from
which they would place themselves at as great a distance as might be.
4. The appearance of his glory is veiled with a cloud, and yet out of
that cloud darts forth a dazzling lustre; in <I>the house</I> and
<I>inner court</I> there was <I>a cloud</I> and darkness, which filled
them, and yet either the outer court, or the same court after some
time, <I>was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
There was a darting forth of light and brightness; but if any over
curious eye pried into it, it would find itself lost in a cloud. His
righteousness is conspicuous <I>as the great mountains,</I> and the
brightness of it <I>fills the court;</I> but <I>his judgments are a
great deep,</I> which we cannot fathom, <I>a cloud</I> which we cannot
see through. <I>The brightness</I> discovers enough to awe and direct
our consciences, but the <I>cloud</I> forbids us to expect the
gratifying of our curiosity; for <I>we cannot order our speech by
reasons of darkness.</I> Thus
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:4">Hab. iii. 4</A>)
<I>he had rays coming out of his hand, and yet there was the hiding of
his power.</I> Nothing is more clear than that God <I>is,</I> nothing
more dark than <I>what</I> he is. God <I>covers himself with light,</I>
and yet, as to us, <I>makes darkness his pavilion.</I> God took
possession of the tabernacle and the temple in a cloud, which was
always the symbol of his presence. In the temple above there will be no
cloud, but we shall see <I>face to face.</I>
5. The cherubim, made a dreadful sound with their wings,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
The vibration of them, as of the strings of musical instruments, made a
curious melody; bees, and other winged insects, make a noise with their
wings. Probably this intimated their preparing to remove, by stretching
forth and lifting up their wings, which made this noise as it were to
give warning of it. This noise is said to be <I>as the voice of the
almighty God when he speaks,</I> as the thunder, which is called <I>the
voice of the Lord</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+29:3">Ps. xxix. 3</A>),
or <I>as the voice of the Lord</I> when he spoke to Israel on Mount
Sinai; and <I>therefore</I> he then gave the law with abundance of
terror, to signify with what terror he would reckon for the violation
of it, which he was now about to do. This noise of their wings <I>was
heard even to the outer court,</I> the court of the people; for the
Lord's voice, in his judgments, <I>cries in the city,</I> which those
may hear that do not, as Ezekiel, see the visions of them.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The terrible directions of his wrath. This vision has a further
tendency than merely to set forth the divine grandeur; further orders
are to be given for the destruction of Jerusalem. The greatest
devastations are made by fire and sword. For a general slaughter of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem orders were given in the foregoing chapter;
now here we have a command to lay the city in ashes, by <I>scattering
coals of fire</I> upon it, which in the vision were fetched <I>from
between the cherubim.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. For the issuing out of orders to do this <I>the glory of the
Lord</I> was lifted <I>up from the cherub</I> (as in the chapter before
for the giving of orders there,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>)
<I>and stood</I> upon <I>the threshold of the house,</I> in imitation
of the courts of judgement, which they kept in the gates of their
cities. The people would not hear the oracles which God had delivered
to them from his holy temple, and therefore they shall thence be made
to hear their doom.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. <I>The man clothed in linen</I> who had marked those that were to be
preserved is to be employed in this service; for <I>the same Jesus</I>
that is the protector and Saviour of those that believe, having <I>all
judgement committed to him,</I> that of condemnation as well as that of
absolution, will <I>come in a flaming fire to take vengeance on those
that obey not his gospel.</I> He that sits on the throne calls <I>to
the man clothed in linen</I> to <I>go in between the wheels, and fill
his hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them
over the city.</I> This intimates,
(1.) That the burning of the city and temple by the Chaldeans was a
consumption determined, and that therein they executed God's counsel,
did what he designed before should be done.
(2.) That the fire of divine wrath, which kindles judgement upon a
people, is just and holy, for it is fire fetched <I>from between the
cherubim.</I> The fire on God's altar, where atonement was made, had
been slighted, to avenge which fire is here fetched from heaven, like
that by which Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering strange fire. If
a city, or town, or house, be burnt, whether by design or accident, if
we trace it in its original, we shall find that the <I>coals</I> which
kindled the <I>fire</I> came from <I>between the wheels;</I> for there
is not any evil of that kind in the city, but the Lord has done it.
(3.) That Jesus Christ acts by commission from the Father, for from him
he <I>receives authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of
man.</I> Christ came to <I>send fire on the earth</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49">Luke xii. 49</A>)
and in the great day will speak this world into ashes. By fire from his
hand, the earth, and all the works that are therein, will be burnt
up.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. This <I>man clothed with linen</I> readily attended to this service;
though, being <I>clothed with linen,</I> he was very unfit to go among
the burning <I>coals,</I> yet, being called, he said, <I>Lo, I
come;</I> this commandment he had received of his Father, and he
complied with it; the prophet saw him go in,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
<I>He went in, and stood beside the wheels,</I> expecting to be
furnished there with the coals he was to scatter; for what Christ was
to give he first received, whether for mercy or judgement. He was
directed to take fire, but he staid till he had it given him, to show
how slow he is to execute judgement, and how long-suffering to
us-ward.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
4. One of the cherubim reached him a handful of fire from the midst of
the living creatures. The prophet, when he first saw this vision,
observed that there were <I>burning coals of fire,</I> and
<I>lamps,</I> that <I>went up and down among the living creatures</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:13"><I>ch.</I> i. 13</A>);
thence this fire was taken,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
The <I>spirit of burning, the refiner's fire,</I> by which Christ
purifies his church, is of a divine original. It is by a celestial
fire, <I>fire</I> from <I>between the cherubim,</I> that wonders are
wrought. <I>The cherubim put it into</I> his <I>hand;</I> for the
angels are ready to be employed by the Lord Jesus and to serve all his
purposes.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
5. When he had taken the fire he <I>went out,</I> no doubt to
<I>scatter</I> it up and down upon <I>the city,</I> as he was directed.
And <I>who can abide the day of his coming?</I> Who can stand before
him when he goes out in his anger?</P>
<A NAME="Eze10_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_20"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_21"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze10_22"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Vision of the Divine Glory.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand
under their wings.
&nbsp; 9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims,
one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and
the appearance of the wheels <I>was</I> as the colour of a beryl
stone.
&nbsp; 10 And <I>as for</I> their appearances, they four had one likeness,
as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
&nbsp; 11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned
not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they
followed it; they turned not as they went.
&nbsp; 12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and
their wings, and the wheels, <I>were</I> full of eyes round about,
<I>even</I> the wheels that they four had.
&nbsp; 13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O
wheel.
&nbsp; 14 And every one had four faces: the first face <I>was</I> the face
of a cherub, and the second face <I>was</I> the face of a man, and the
third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
&nbsp; 15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This <I>is</I> the living
creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
&nbsp; 16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and
when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the
earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
&nbsp; 17 When they stood, <I>these</I> stood; and when they were lifted
up, <I>these</I> lifted up themselves <I>also:</I> for the spirit of the
living creature <I>was</I> in them.
&nbsp; 18 Then the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> departed from off the threshold
of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
&nbsp; 19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from
the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also <I>were</I>
beside them, and <I>every one</I> stood at the door of the east gate
of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s house; and the glory of the God of Israel <I>was</I>
over them above.
&nbsp; 20 This <I>is</I> the living creature that I saw under the God of
Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they <I>were</I> the
cherubims.
&nbsp; 21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings;
and the likeness of the hands of a man <I>was</I> under their wings.
&nbsp; 22 And the likeness of their faces <I>was</I> the same faces which I
saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves:
they went every one straight forward.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
We have here a further account of the vision of God's glory which
Ezekiel saw, here intended to introduce that direful omen of the
departure of that glory from them, which would open the door for ruin
to break in.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. Ezekiel sees the glory of God shining in the sanctuary, as he had
seen it <I>by the river of Chebar,</I> and gives an account of it, that
those who had by their wickedness provoked God to depart from them
might know what they had lost and might lament after the Lord, groaning
out their Ichabod, <I>Where is the glory?</I> Ezekiel here sees the
operations of divine Providence in the government of the lower world,
and the affairs of it, represented by the <I>four wheels;</I> and the
perfections of the holy angels, the inhabitants of the upper world, and
their ministrations, represented by the <I>four living creatures,</I>
every one of which had <I>four faces.</I> The agency of the angels in
directing the affairs of this world is represented by the close
communication that was between the <I>living creatures</I> and the
<I>wheels,</I> the wheels being guided by them in all their motions, as
the chariot is by him that drives it. But the same Spirit being both in
the <I>living creatures</I> and in the <I>wheels</I> denoted the
infinite wisdom which serves its own purposes by the ministration of
angels and all the occurrences of this lower world. So that this vision
gives out faith a view of that throne which the Lord has <I>prepared in
the heavens,</I> and that kingdom of which <I>rules over all,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+103:19">Ps. ciii. 19</A>.
The prophet observes that this was <I>the same vision</I> with that he
saw by the river of Chebar
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:15,22"><I>v.</I> 15, 22</A>),
and yet in one thing there seems to be a material difference, that that
which was there <I>was the face of an ox,</I> and was <I>on the left
side</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:10"><I>ch.</I> i. 10</A>),
is here the <I>face of a cherub,</I> and is the <I>first face</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
whence some have concluded that the peculiar face of a cherub was that
of an ox, which the Israelites had an eye to when they made the golden
calf. I rather think that in this latter vision the first face was the
proper appearance or figure of a cherub, which Ezekiel knew very well,
being a priest, by what he had seen in the temple of the Lord
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+6:29">1 Kings vi. 29</A>),
but which we now have no certainty of at all; and by this Ezekiel knew
assuredly, whereas before he only conjectured it, that they were all
cherubim, though putting on different faces,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
And this first appearing in the proper figure of a cherub, and yet it
being proper to retain the number of four, that of the ox is left out
and dropped, because the face of the cherub had been most abused by the
worship of an ox. As sometimes when God appeared to deliver his people,
so now when he appeared to depart from them, <I>he rode on a cherub,
and did fly.</I> Now observe here,
1. That this world is subject to turns, and changes, and various
revolutions. The course of affairs in it is represented by
<I>wheels</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
sometimes one spoke is uppermost and sometimes another; they are still
ebbing and flowing like the sea, waxing and waning like the moon,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:4">1 Sam. ii. 4</A>,
&c. Nay, their appearance is as if there were a <I>wheel in the midst
of a wheel</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
which intimates the mutual references of providence to each other,
their dependences on each other, and the joint tendency of all to one
common end, while their motions as to us are intricate, and perplexed,
and seemingly contrary.
2. That there is an admirable harmony and uniformity in the various
occurrences of providence
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
<I>As for the wheels,</I> though they moved several ways, yet <I>it was
cried to them, O wheel!</I> they were all as one, being guided by one
Spirit to one end; for God works all according to the counsel of his
own will, which is one, for his own glory, which is one. And this
makes the disposal of Providence truly admirable, and to be looked upon
with wonder. As the works of his creation, considered separately, were
<I>good,</I> but all together <I>very good,</I> so the wheels of
Providence, considered by themselves, are wonderful, but put them
together and they are very wonderful. <I>O wheel!</I>
3. That the motions of Providence are steady and regular, and whatever
the Lord pleases that he does and is never put upon new counsels.
<I>The wheels turned not as they went</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
and the <I>living creatures went every one straight forward,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
Whatever difficulties lay in their way, they were sure to get over
them, and were never obliged to stand still, turn aside, or go back. So
perfectly known to God are all his works that he never put upon to new
counsels.
4. That God make more use of the ministration of angels in the
government of this lower world than we are aware of: <I>The four wheels
were by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub and another wheel by
another cherub,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
What has been imagined by some concerning the spheres above, that every
orb has its intelligence to guide it, is here intimated concerning the
wheels below, that every wheel has its cherub to guide it. We think it
a satisfaction to us if under the wise God there are wise men employed
in managing the affairs of the kingdoms and churches; whether there be
so or no, it appears by this that there are wise angels employed, <I>a
cherub to every wheel.</I>
5. That all the motions of Providence and all the ministrations of
angels are under the government of the great God. They are all <I>full
of eyes,</I> those eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the
earth and which the angels have always an eye to,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
The <I>living creatures</I> and <I>the wheels</I> concur in their
motions and rests
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>);
for <I>the Spirit of life,</I> as it may be read, or <I>the Spirit of
the living creatures, is in the wheels.</I> The Spirit of God directs
all the creatures, both upper and lower, so as to make them serve the
divine purpose. Events are not determined by the <I>wheel of
fortune,</I> which is blind, but by the <I>wheels of Providence,</I>
which are full of eyes.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. Ezekiel sees the glory of God removing out of the sanctuary, the
place where God's honour had long dwelt, and this sight is as sad as
the other was grateful. It was pleasant to see that God had not
<I>forsaken the earth</I> (as the idolaters suggested,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+9:9"><I>ch.</I> ix. 9</A>),
but sad to see that he was forsaking his sanctuary. The <I>glory of the
Lord stood over the threshold,</I> having thence given the necessary
orders for the destruction of the city, and it <I>stood over the
cherubim,</I> not those in the most holy place, but those that Ezekiel
now saw in vision,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
It ascended that stately chariot, as the judge, when he comes off the
bench, goes into his coach and is gone. And immediately <I>the
cherubim lifted up their wings</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
as they were directed, and they <I>mounted up from the earth,</I> as
birds upon the wing; and, <I>when they went out,</I> the wheels of this
chariot were not drawn, but went by instinct, <I>beside them,</I> by
which it appeared that <I>the Spirit of the living creatures was in the
wheels.</I> Thus, when God is leaving a people in displeasure, angels
above, and all events here below, shall concur to further his
departure. But observe here, In the courts of the temple where the
people of Israel had dishonoured their God, had cast off his yoke and
withdrawn the shoulder from it, blessed angels appear very ready to
serve him, to draw in his chariot, and to <I>mount upwards</I> with it.
God has shown the prophet how the will of God was disobeyed by men on
earth
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+8:1-18"><I>ch.</I> viii.</A>);
here he shows him how readily it is obeyed by angels and inferior
creatures; and it is a comfort to us, when we grieve for the wickedness
of the wicked, to think how his angels do his commandments,
<I>hearkening to the voice of his word,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+103:20">Ps. ciii. 20</A>.
Let us now,
1. Take a view of this chariot in which <I>the glory of the God of
Israel rides triumphantly.</I> He that is the God of Israel is the God
of heaven and earth, and has the command of all the powers of both. Let
the faithful Israelites comfort themselves with this, that he who is
their God is above the cherubim; their Redeemer is so
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:22">1 Pet. iii. 22</A>)
and has the sole and sovereign disposal of all events; <I>the living
creatures</I> and <I>the wheels</I> agree to serve him, so that he is
<I>head over all things to the church.</I> The rabbin call this vision
that Ezekiel had <I>Mercabah</I>--the <I>vision of the chariot;</I> and
thence they call the more abstruse part of divinity, which treats
concerning God and spirits, <I>Opus currus</I>--<I>The work of the
chariot,</I> as they do the other part, that is more plain and
familiar, <I>Opus bereshith</I>--<I>The work of the creation.</I>--
2. Let us attend the motions of this chariot: The <I>cherubim, and the
glory of God above them, stood at the door of the east gate of the
Lord's house,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
But observe with how many stops and pauses God departs, as loth to go,
as if to see if there be any that will intercede with him to return.
None of the priests in the inner court, between the temple and the
altar, would court his stay; therefore he leaves their court, and
stands at the <I>east gate,</I> which led into the <I>court of the
people,</I> to see if any of them would yet at length stand in the gap.
Note, God removes by degrees from a provoking people; and, when he is
ready to depart in displeasure, would return to them in mercy if they
were but a repenting praying people.</P>
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