Welcome to one of the greatest revelations of a kind, loving and forgiving Saviour. I had to privilege of visiting the ruins of Nippur where Ezekiel and 10,000 skilled Judeans were exiled.
The latest archaeological research tells us of the Jews who became businessmen and who flourished here.
Mordecai also came from this part of the great Babylonian expire as well a Eshter. May we allow God to reveal his loving kindness in a marvellous manner.
In chapter 1 we are going to look at them time of Ezekiel’s prophecy at Chebar. 4 His vision of four cherubims, 15 of the four wheels, 26 and of the glory of God.
Ezekiel in Babylon
Eze 1:1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
With the characteristic accuracy of a faithful historian, Ezekiel begins his prophetic dissertation with a careful dating of the events concerned. In my 30th year.
However, he does not specify the event that marks the beginning of this period. Many believe that he refers to the 30th year of his life. The age of 30 was significant from the point of view that at this age the Hebrew youth were considered to have reached maturity. This was the year in which the Levites originally began their Temple functions (Num. 4:3).
It was in or about their 30th year that both our Lord and John the Baptist began their public ministry (see on Matt. 3:1).
Since this 30th year is equated with the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity (see on Eze. 1:2) The 1st year of the 30 would be a significant year, the 18th of Josiah. It was then the book of the law was discovered in the Temple (2 Kings 22:3–8).
This event marked the beginning of a reformation that, if successfully followed up, would have done much to alter the future history of Judah. It is possible that Ezekiel had this important incident in mind when he designated the 30th year.
Eze 1:1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Fourth month. Numbered from the spring month Nisan, regardless of whether the calendar year was reckoned from spring or fall. The 4th month would begin in our June or July, 593 or 592 (see on v. 2).
Among the exiles. That is, Ezekiel was in the region where the captives were settled. The vision came to him privately and was later to be delivered publicly (ch. 3:1, 4).
Kebar River. Recent excavations carried out at Nippur, in Babylonia proper, have uncovered evidence of a settlement of Jews in the area in about the 7th to the 5th century BC. Through this vicinity ran one of the great Babylonian canals known as Nâru Kabari, which is probably the river to which Ezekiel here refers.
Eze 1:1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Visions of God. These were not only visions given by God but manifestations of the divine glory to my prophetic eye. Such revelations are termed theophanies. They frequently accompany the call of a prophet like me and others.
Let me refer to Isaiah who trembled before the awful display of the throne high and lifted up (Isa. 6:1); Moses beheld the glory in the burning bush. (13).
You may ask me what was the purpose of these visions God gave me? They may be regarded as grand introductions by which God ushers me, the prophet into a new realm of knowledge and insight, a new era of experience, a new phase of responsibility.
In our capacity as prophets these messengers would be expected to speak with conviction concerning divine matters. No mere mental suppositions would do. We prophets would have to speak of things seen. It was an advantage for us to be able to say with Isaiah, “Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:5).
I was impressed with my vision of divine glory that I made notes of the precise time. It was the 5th day of the 4th month of the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity (v. 2). And my dear reader you will do well to make a note down and to often recall special interventions of divine Providence and unusual revelations of the divine presence in your spiritual experiences.
Here at Nippur where I live the Sumerian kings also made notes of certain special events of a specific years. Let me continue what I wrote and explain it to you:
Eze 1:2 On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—
I could easily synchronize this date with secular history. The capture of Jehoiachin is the most precisely dated event in the Bible. Already placed in 597 BC. by its synchronism with a year of Nebuchadnezzar (see on 2 Kings 24:12), whose reign is astronomically fixed , it is now known to have occurred on Adar 2, approximately March 16.
Then came Jehoiachin’s removal to Babylon, and the beginning of the period known as Jehoiachin’s captivity. You can read about it in 2 Kings 24:6–15. I, Ezekiel was in that unhappy company that was removed to Babylonia at this time. My system of dating is based on the years of the captivity of Jehoiachin (as indicated in the present above verse). In chapters 33:21 and 40:1 that I wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit, it is twice compared “of our captivity”. Please read it for yourselve.
The 5th year of Jehoiachin’s exile would bring us to 593/592 BC. for the year of the beginning of my visions. Whether the day of this vision was in the summer of 593 or the summer of 592 depends on whether I counted the year of Jehoiachin’s captivity from the spring (by the Babylonian calendar) or from the autumn (by the Jewish civil calendar). Let me continue my amazing story:
Eze 1:3 the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him.
(You can see a clay tablet in the Bible museum in Jerusalem with the name of Kebar on it.)
I, Ezekiel recognized the uniqueness of my new experience. I knew that what had come to me was not some sudden flight of imagination, or some burst of spiritual enlightenment. The Lord was speaking directly to me in a manner now possible because of my new investment with the prophetic gift.
Let me explain wat the phrase “Hand of the Lord.” Means. It is a figure of the divine power that rested upon me. The same expression is used concerning other prophets, for example, Elijah (1 Kings 18:46), Elisha (2 Kings 3:15). You can also compare the experience of Daniel (Dan. 8:18; 10:10), Isaiah (Isa. 8:11). I knew that this strange, new power now impelling me was none other than the power of God.
Let me continue telling you of my next experience:
1:4 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The centre of the fire looked like glowing metal,
Here I begin with a description of what passed before my astonished gaze. The vision concerning the four living creatures, the four wheels, the firmament, and the throne are very unique.
God has seen fit to reveal this vision to me to reveal what He intended to teach me through this vision.
Let us look at the words “Out of the north.”
North was the direction from which the Assyrian and Chaldean conquerors were accustomed to descending upon my beloved city of Jerusalem. Let me quote what Jeremiah wrote about the north: 1:14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
This is the reason why the whirlwind, which brought with it the cloud concealing the divine presence and the bow of promise, was presented to me as coming from that direction. Above the cruel monarchs of Assyria and Babylon the God of mercy and truth was enthroned (5T 752).
This to me was most comforting. The coming Assyrian and the Babylonian desolation over my I beloved country was not only filled with gloomy forebodings, but so comforting to know that God was, and it going to support us in these disastrous times.
Let me refresh you again with the contents of this vision:
Verse 4. Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
The “great cloud”is a symbol of the divine presence. Let me quote from Ex. 19:9–16; Ps. 50:3).
Exo 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.”
The next description “Engulfing itself” is very significant. The Hebrew in which I wrote can also be translated as “a fire taking hold of itself.” The fire gathering itself up in fresh outbursts of flame.
My dear friend what a description of our mighty God. And His greatest display of power is actually His loving forgiveness for us, sinners. His glory is His character. I am so happy to share this great revelation of God to you.
What does the phrase “Radiating out of its midst like the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” Remember I am looking at a symbol, the glory, the majesty of God. The revolving flames, added to the dazzling brightness and splendour of the scene. And let us always remember that the descriptions of God’s mighty power and splendour, is also an expression of His love and forgiveness for us His property.
Now I am going to explain the beauty of the next revelation of God’s glory:
Eze 1:5 and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human
I was shown beings I have never saw before and with which hearers and readers were unfamiliar. I must describe them in terms understood by men. My feelings of inadequacy are indicated by my frequent use of the term “likeness.” The word appears 10 times in ch. 1.
This will be the exciting study during our next meeting. God bless you I you as you study one of the greatest books in the Old Testament.