6:5-7), but a fire of condemnation (2 Kings 25:8-9).ĭouglas Stuart: In verse 1 Ezekiel’s description focuses temporarily on the sapphire-like throne above the cherubim (cf.
This was not a fire of purification, such as Isaiah experienced (Isa. Wiersbe: Not only would the city be visited by famine, pestilence, and sword, but it would be burned by the Babylonian army. These are not blessing coals, so when the man takes these coals into his hand, serious judgment is on the way. sacrifices consecrated God’s people using coals. 6:6-7) ģ) Coals of fire for conviction–when we do good things, we heap coals of fire on the heads of people Ĥ) Coals of fire for consecration–O.T. John Taylor: In Ezekiel’s mind, Jerusalem was going to be treated in the same way as Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24).ĭavid Thompson: Now coals of fire are used as a metaphor for several things:Ģ) Coals of fire for purification–fire purifies Isaiah’s unclean lips (Is. Now we learn that Jerusalem will also be burnt, and the fire comes from the throne and glory of God itself the coals of fire come from among the cherubim. 8:5).ĭavid Guzik: Previously we read that Jerusalem would be judged by siege, slaughter, famine, and disease. ‘Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim,Īnd fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim,Ĭonstable: He was then to scatter the coals over the city symbolizing its judgment and cleansing (Gen. “And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, (:2) The Command to Execute Judgment by Fire upon Jerusalem “Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them.”ī. (:1) The Vision of the Glorious Throne above the Cherubim
(:1-2) FIRST COMMAND FROM THE THRONE OF THE GLORY OF GOD: EXECUTE JUDGMENT – TAKE AND SCATTER COALS OF FIRE OF JUDGMENT AGAINST JERUSALEMĪ. The glory of God cannot dwell with the sins of God’s people, so it was necessary for the glory to leave, and the sanctuary and the people to be judged. The presence of God in the sanctuary was a great privilege for the people of Israel, but it was also a great responsibility. Wiersbe: Ezekiel was learning that the most important part of the nation’s life was to magnify the glory of God. 8–22, marked by descriptions of the cherubim in vv. The second stage is the center of a chiasm comprising vv. 1–7, marked by the repeated references to taking fire “from among the cherubim” in vv. The first stage is the center of a chiasm comprising vv. Parunak has argued that the two-stage movement of the glory of God is the focus of two chiasms in chap. Fourth, the glory of God moved to a position above the cherubim and with them to the east gate (10:18–22). Third, the cherubim were described (10:9–17). Second, the glory of God moved to the threshold and paused while fire purged the city (10:3–8). First, the man in white was commanded to take coals from between the cherubim (10:1–2).
Lamar Cooper: Chapter 10 has four scenes. Within the confines of his vision this is a true representation of God and his throne. What Ezekiel saw was guided by the Spirit of God and his revelation. That seems just as good as any description! We have to remember however, this is how God chose to reveal himself to his prophet and to us. How does one describe the glory and throne of God? Ezekiel described it as a sapphire throne above a great expanse resting on the great cherubim who had wings and fiery wheels and four faces.
It is why God gave his prophets visions full of symbolic language in order to at least communicate his truth to us about things for which we often have no frame of reference. The Angel of the Lord (the linen-clad man) received the coals of fire and prepares to execute God’s fiery judgment.įeinberg: The basic truth of the chapter is that God controls all the forces of judgment that He employs.ĭavid Thompson: Visions are trying to describe events and people that are often beyond our ability to rationally understand. Everything in this vision is cloaked in the awesomeness of the cloud surrounding God’s Glory. The role of the cherubim is highlighted in supporting the movement of God’s chariot-throne. Now genuine worship was no longer possible in the temple as God’s presence was withdrawn. The abominations of idolatry had been exposed. The imminent judgment upon Jerusalem (to be burned with fire by the Babylonian troops) was directly tied to the retreat of the Glory of God from His residence in the temple sanctuary. JERUSALEM WILL BE JUDGED BY FIRE AFTER THE GLORY OF GOD DEPARTS FROM THE TEMPLE