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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The prophet had observed to us
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+8:4"><I>ch.</I> viii. 4</A>)
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that when he was in vision at Jerusalem he saw the same appearance of
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the glory of God there that he had seen by the river Chebar; now, in
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this chapter, he gives us some account of the appearance there, as far
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as was requisite for the clearing up of two further indications of the
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approaching destruction of Jerusalem, which God here gave the
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prophet:--
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I. The scattering of the coals of fire upon the city, which were taken
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from between the cherubim,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. The removal of the glory of God from the temple, and its being upon
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the wing to be gone,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:8-22">ver. 8-22</A>.
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When God goes out from a people all judgments break in upon them.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eze10_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Vision of the Cherubim.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above
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the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a
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sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
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2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in
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between the wheels, <I>even</I> under the cherub, and fill thine hand
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with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter <I>them</I>
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over the city. And he went in in my sight.
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3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when
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the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
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4 Then the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> went up from the cherub, <I>and
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stood</I> over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled
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with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the
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L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s glory.
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5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard <I>even</I> to the
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outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
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6 And it came to pass, <I>that</I> when he had commanded the man
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clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels,
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from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the
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wheels.
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7 And <I>one</I> cherub stretched forth his hand from between the
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cherubims unto the fire that <I>was</I> between the cherubims, and
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took <I>thereof,</I> and put <I>it</I> into the hands of <I>him that was</I>
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clothed with linen: who took <I>it,</I> and went out.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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To inspire us with a holy awe and dread of God, and to fill us with his
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fear, we may observe, in this part of the vision which the prophet
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had,</P>
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<P>
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I. The glorious appearance of his majesty. Something of the invisible
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world is here in the visible, some faint representations of its
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brightness and beauty, some shadows, but such as are no more to be
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compared with the truth and substance than a picture with the life; yet
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here is enough to oblige us all to the utmost reverence in our thoughts
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of God and approaches to him, if we will but admit the impressions this
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discovery of him will make.
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1. He is here <I>in the firmament above the head of the cherubim,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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He manifests his glory in the upper world, where purity and brightness
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are both in perfection; and the vast expanse of the firmament aims to
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speak the God that dwells there infinite. It is <I>the firmament of his
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power</I> and of his prospect too; for thence <I>he beholds</I> all
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<I>the children of men.</I> The divine nature infinitely transcends the
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angelic nature, and God is <I>above the head of the cherubim,</I> in
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respect not only of his dignity above them, but of his dominion over
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them. Cherubim have great power, and wisdom, and influence, but they
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are all subject to God and Christ.
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2. He is here upon the throne, or that which had <I>the appearance of
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the likeness of a throne</I> (for God's glory and government infinitely
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transcend all the brightest ideas our minds can either form or receive
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concerning them); and it was <I>as it were a sapphire-stone,</I> pure
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and sparkling; such a throne has God <I>prepared in the heavens,</I>
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far exceeding the thrones of any earthly potentates.
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3. He is here attended with a glorious train of holy angels. When God
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came into his temple <I>the cherubim stood on the right side of the
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house</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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as the prince's life-guard, attending the gate of his palace. Christ
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has angels at command. The orders given to all the angels of God are,
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to <I>worship him.</I> Some observe that they <I>stood on the right
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side of the house,</I> that is, the south side, because on the north
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side the image of jealousy was, and other instances of idolatry, from
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which they would place themselves at as great a distance as might be.
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4. The appearance of his glory is veiled with a cloud, and yet out of
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that cloud darts forth a dazzling lustre; in <I>the house</I> and
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<I>inner court</I> there was <I>a cloud</I> and darkness, which filled
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them, and yet either the outer court, or the same court after some
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time, <I>was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3,4"><I>v.</I> 3, 4</A>.
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There was a darting forth of light and brightness; but if any over
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curious eye pried into it, it would find itself lost in a cloud. His
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righteousness is conspicuous <I>as the great mountains,</I> and the
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brightness of it <I>fills the court;</I> but <I>his judgments are a
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great deep,</I> which we cannot fathom, <I>a cloud</I> which we cannot
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see through. <I>The brightness</I> discovers enough to awe and direct
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our consciences, but the <I>cloud</I> forbids us to expect the
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gratifying of our curiosity; for <I>we cannot order our speech by
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reasons of darkness.</I> Thus
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+3:4">Hab. iii. 4</A>)
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<I>he had rays coming out of his hand, and yet there was the hiding of
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his power.</I> Nothing is more clear than that God <I>is,</I> nothing
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more dark than <I>what</I> he is. God <I>covers himself with light,</I>
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and yet, as to us, <I>makes darkness his pavilion.</I> God took
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possession of the tabernacle and the temple in a cloud, which was
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always the symbol of his presence. In the temple above there will be no
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cloud, but we shall see <I>face to face.</I>
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5. The cherubim, made a dreadful sound with their wings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The vibration of them, as of the strings of musical instruments, made a
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curious melody; bees, and other winged insects, make a noise with their
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wings. Probably this intimated their preparing to remove, by stretching
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forth and lifting up their wings, which made this noise as it were to
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give warning of it. This noise is said to be <I>as the voice of the
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almighty God when he speaks,</I> as the thunder, which is called <I>the
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voice of the Lord</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+29:3">Ps. xxix. 3</A>),
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or <I>as the voice of the Lord</I> when he spoke to Israel on Mount
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Sinai; and <I>therefore</I> he then gave the law with abundance of
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terror, to signify with what terror he would reckon for the violation
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of it, which he was now about to do. This noise of their wings <I>was
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heard even to the outer court,</I> the court of the people; for the
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Lord's voice, in his judgments, <I>cries in the city,</I> which those
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may hear that do not, as Ezekiel, see the visions of them.</P>
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<P>
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II. The terrible directions of his wrath. This vision has a further
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tendency than merely to set forth the divine grandeur; further orders
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are to be given for the destruction of Jerusalem. The greatest
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devastations are made by fire and sword. For a general slaughter of the
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inhabitants of Jerusalem orders were given in the foregoing chapter;
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now here we have a command to lay the city in ashes, by <I>scattering
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coals of fire</I> upon it, which in the vision were fetched <I>from
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between the cherubim.</I></P>
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<P>
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1. For the issuing out of orders to do this <I>the glory of the
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Lord</I> was lifted <I>up from the cherub</I> (as in the chapter before
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for the giving of orders there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>)
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<I>and stood</I> upon <I>the threshold of the house,</I> in imitation
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of the courts of judgement, which they kept in the gates of their
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cities. The people would not hear the oracles which God had delivered
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to them from his holy temple, and therefore they shall thence be made
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to hear their doom.</P>
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<P>
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2. <I>The man clothed in linen</I> who had marked those that were to be
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preserved is to be employed in this service; for <I>the same Jesus</I>
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that is the protector and Saviour of those that believe, having <I>all
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judgement committed to him,</I> that of condemnation as well as that of
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absolution, will <I>come in a flaming fire to take vengeance on those
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that obey not his gospel.</I> He that sits on the throne calls <I>to
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the man clothed in linen</I> to <I>go in between the wheels, and fill
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his hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them
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over the city.</I> This intimates,
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(1.) That the burning of the city and temple by the Chaldeans was a
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consumption determined, and that therein they executed God's counsel,
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did what he designed before should be done.
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(2.) That the fire of divine wrath, which kindles judgement upon a
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people, is just and holy, for it is fire fetched <I>from between the
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cherubim.</I> The fire on God's altar, where atonement was made, had
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been slighted, to avenge which fire is here fetched from heaven, like
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that by which Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering strange fire. If
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a city, or town, or house, be burnt, whether by design or accident, if
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we trace it in its original, we shall find that the <I>coals</I> which
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kindled the <I>fire</I> came from <I>between the wheels;</I> for there
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is not any evil of that kind in the city, but the Lord has done it.
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(3.) That Jesus Christ acts by commission from the Father, for from him
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he <I>receives authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of
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man.</I> Christ came to <I>send fire on the earth</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+12:49">Luke xii. 49</A>)
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and in the great day will speak this world into ashes. By fire from his
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hand, the earth, and all the works that are therein, will be burnt
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up.</P>
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<P>
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3. This <I>man clothed with linen</I> readily attended to this service;
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though, being <I>clothed with linen,</I> he was very unfit to go among
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the burning <I>coals,</I> yet, being called, he said, <I>Lo, I
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come;</I> this commandment he had received of his Father, and he
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complied with it; the prophet saw him go in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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<I>He went in, and stood beside the wheels,</I> expecting to be
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furnished there with the coals he was to scatter; for what Christ was
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to give he first received, whether for mercy or judgement. He was
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directed to take fire, but he staid till he had it given him, to show
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how slow he is to execute judgement, and how long-suffering to
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us-ward.</P>
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<P>
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4. One of the cherubim reached him a handful of fire from the midst of
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the living creatures. The prophet, when he first saw this vision,
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observed that there were <I>burning coals of fire,</I> and
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<I>lamps,</I> that <I>went up and down among the living creatures</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:13"><I>ch.</I> i. 13</A>);
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thence this fire was taken,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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The <I>spirit of burning, the refiner's fire,</I> by which Christ
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purifies his church, is of a divine original. It is by a celestial
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fire, <I>fire</I> from <I>between the cherubim,</I> that wonders are
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wrought. <I>The cherubim put it into</I> his <I>hand;</I> for the
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angels are ready to be employed by the Lord Jesus and to serve all his
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purposes.</P>
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<P>
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5. When he had taken the fire he <I>went out,</I> no doubt to
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<I>scatter</I> it up and down upon <I>the city,</I> as he was directed.
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And <I>who can abide the day of his coming?</I> Who can stand before
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him when he goes out in his anger?</P>
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<A NAME="Eze10_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze10_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Vision of the Divine Glory.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand
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under their wings.
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9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims,
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one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and
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the appearance of the wheels <I>was</I> as the colour of a beryl
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stone.
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10 And <I>as for</I> their appearances, they four had one likeness,
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as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
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11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned
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not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they
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followed it; they turned not as they went.
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12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and
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their wings, and the wheels, <I>were</I> full of eyes round about,
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<I>even</I> the wheels that they four had.
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13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O
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wheel.
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14 And every one had four faces: the first face <I>was</I> the face
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of a cherub, and the second face <I>was</I> the face of a man, and the
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third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
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15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This <I>is</I> the living
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creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
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16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and
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when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the
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earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
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17 When they stood, <I>these</I> stood; and when they were lifted
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up, <I>these</I> lifted up themselves <I>also:</I> for the spirit of the
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living creature <I>was</I> in them.
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18 Then the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> departed from off the threshold
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of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
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19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from
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the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also <I>were</I>
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beside them, and <I>every one</I> stood at the door of the east gate
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of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s house; and the glory of the God of Israel <I>was</I>
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over them above.
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20 This <I>is</I> the living creature that I saw under the God of
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Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they <I>were</I> the
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cherubims.
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21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings;
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and the likeness of the hands of a man <I>was</I> under their wings.
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22 And the likeness of their faces <I>was</I> the same faces which I
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saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves:
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they went every one straight forward.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here a further account of the vision of God's glory which
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Ezekiel saw, here intended to introduce that direful omen of the
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departure of that glory from them, which would open the door for ruin
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to break in.</P>
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<P>
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I. Ezekiel sees the glory of God shining in the sanctuary, as he had
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seen it <I>by the river of Chebar,</I> and gives an account of it, that
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those who had by their wickedness provoked God to depart from them
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might know what they had lost and might lament after the Lord, groaning
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out their Ichabod, <I>Where is the glory?</I> Ezekiel here sees the
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operations of divine Providence in the government of the lower world,
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and the affairs of it, represented by the <I>four wheels;</I> and the
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perfections of the holy angels, the inhabitants of the upper world, and
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their ministrations, represented by the <I>four living creatures,</I>
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every one of which had <I>four faces.</I> The agency of the angels in
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directing the affairs of this world is represented by the close
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communication that was between the <I>living creatures</I> and the
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<I>wheels,</I> the wheels being guided by them in all their motions, as
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the chariot is by him that drives it. But the same Spirit being both in
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the <I>living creatures</I> and in the <I>wheels</I> denoted the
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infinite wisdom which serves its own purposes by the ministration of
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angels and all the occurrences of this lower world. So that this vision
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gives out faith a view of that throne which the Lord has <I>prepared in
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the heavens,</I> and that kingdom of which <I>rules over all,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+103:19">Ps. ciii. 19</A>.
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The prophet observes that this was <I>the same vision</I> with that he
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saw by the river of Chebar
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:15,22"><I>v.</I> 15, 22</A>),
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and yet in one thing there seems to be a material difference, that that
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which was there <I>was the face of an ox,</I> and was <I>on the left
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side</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:10"><I>ch.</I> i. 10</A>),
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is here the <I>face of a cherub,</I> and is the <I>first face</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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whence some have concluded that the peculiar face of a cherub was that
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of an ox, which the Israelites had an eye to when they made the golden
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calf. I rather think that in this latter vision the first face was the
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proper appearance or figure of a cherub, which Ezekiel knew very well,
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being a priest, by what he had seen in the temple of the Lord
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+6:29">1 Kings vi. 29</A>),
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but which we now have no certainty of at all; and by this Ezekiel knew
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assuredly, whereas before he only conjectured it, that they were all
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cherubim, though putting on different faces,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
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And this first appearing in the proper figure of a cherub, and yet it
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being proper to retain the number of four, that of the ox is left out
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and dropped, because the face of the cherub had been most abused by the
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worship of an ox. As sometimes when God appeared to deliver his people,
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so now when he appeared to depart from them, <I>he rode on a cherub,
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and did fly.</I> Now observe here,
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1. That this world is subject to turns, and changes, and various
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|
revolutions. The course of affairs in it is represented by
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<I>wheels</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
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sometimes one spoke is uppermost and sometimes another; they are still
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ebbing and flowing like the sea, waxing and waning like the moon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+2:4">1 Sam. ii. 4</A>,
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&c. Nay, their appearance is as if there were a <I>wheel in the midst
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of a wheel</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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which intimates the mutual references of providence to each other,
|
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their dependences on each other, and the joint tendency of all to one
|
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common end, while their motions as to us are intricate, and perplexed,
|
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and seemingly contrary.
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2. That there is an admirable harmony and uniformity in the various
|
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occurrences of providence
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
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<I>As for the wheels,</I> though they moved several ways, yet <I>it was
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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>
|
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|
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3. That the motions of Providence are steady and regular, and whatever
|
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the Lord pleases that he does and is never put upon new counsels.
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<I>The wheels turned not as they went</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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and the <I>living creatures went every one straight forward,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
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|
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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.
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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>.
|
|
|
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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>
|
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|
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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>
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|
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<P>
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|
|
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,
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+10:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
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|
|
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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