Ezekiel:1

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* Verse 1-14 - It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us , and a duty to attend to it diligently , when we are in affliction . The voice of God came in the fulness of light and power , by the Holy Spirit . These visions seem to have been sent to possess the prophet 's mind with great and high thoughts of God . To strike terror upon sinners . To speak comfort to those that feared God , and humbled themselves . In ver .4-14 , is the first part of the vision , which represents God as attended and served by a vast company of angels , who are all his messengers , his ministers , doing his commandments . This vision would impress the mind with solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure , yet raise expectations of blessings . The fire is surrounded with a glory . Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection , yet we see the brightness round about it . The likeness of the living creatures came out of the midst of the fire ; angels derive their being and power from God . They have the understanding of a man , and far more . A lion excels in strength and boldness . An ox excels in diligence and patience , and unwearied discharge of the work he has to do . An eagle excels in quickness and piercing sight , and in soaring high ; and the angels , who excel man in all these respects , put on these appearances . The angels have wings ; and whatever business God sends them upon , they lose no time . They stood straight , and firm , and steady . They had not only wings for motion , but hands for action . Many persons are quick , who are not active ; they hurry about , but do nothing to purpose ; they have wings , but no hands . But wherever the angels ' wings carried them , they carried hands with them , to be doing what duty required . Whatever service they went about , they went every one straight forward . When we go straight , we go forward ; when we serve God with one heart , we perform work . They turned not when they went . They made no mistakes ; and their work needed not to be gone over again . They turned not from their business to trifle with any thing . They went whithersoever the Spirit of God would have them go . The prophet saw these living creatures by their own light , for their appearance was like burning coals of fire ; they are seraphim , or "burners ;" denoting the ardour of their love to God , and fervent zeal in his service . We may learn profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or understand . But let us attend to the things which relate to our peace and duty , and leave secret things to the Lord , to whom alone they belong . * Verse 15-25 - Providence , represented by the wheels , produces changes . Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost , sometimes another ; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is regular and steady . We need not despond in adversity ; the wheels are turning round and will raise us in due time , while those who presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down . The wheel is near the living creatures ; the angels are employed as ministers of God 's providence . The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels ; the same wisdom , power , and holiness of God , that guide and govern the angels , by them order all events in this lower world . The wheel had four faces , denoting that the providence of God exerts itself in all parts . Look every way upon the wheel of providence , it has a face toward you . Their appearance and work were as a wheel in the middle of a wheel . The disposals of Providence seem to us dark , perplexed , and unaccountable , yet are all wisely ordered for the best . The motion of these wheels was steady , regular , and constant . They went as the Spirit directed , therefore returned not . We should not have to undo that by repentance which we have done amiss , if we followed the guidance of the Spirit . The rings , or rims of the wheels were so vast , that when put in motion the prophet was afraid to look upon them . The consideration of the height and depth of God 's counsel should awe us . They were full of eyes round about . The motions of Providence are all directed by infinite Wisdom . All events are determined by the eyes of the Lord , which are in every place beholding the evil and the good ; for there is no such thing as chance or fortune . The firmament above was a crystal , glorious , but terribly so . That which we take to be a dark cloud , is to God clear as crystal , through which he looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth . When the angels had roused a careless world , they let down their wings , that God 's voice might be plainly heard . The voice of Providence is to open men 's ears to the voice of the word . Sounds on earth should awaken our attention to the voice from heaven ; for how shall we escape , if we turn away from Him that speaks from thence . * Verse 26-28 - The eternal Son , the second Person in the Trinity , who afterwards took the human nature , is here denoted . The first thing observed was a throne . It is a throne of glory , a throne of grace , a throne of triumph , a throne of government , a throne of judgment . It is good news to men , that the throne above the firmament is filled with One who appears , even there , in the likeness of a man . The throne is surrounded with a rainbow , the well-known emblem of the covenant , representing God 's mercy and covenanted love to his people . The fire of God 's wrath was breaking out against Jerusalem , but bounds should be set to it ; he would look upon the bow , and remember the covenant . All the prophet saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear . When he fell on his face , he heard the voice of One that spake . God delights to teach the humble . Let sinners , then , humble themselves before him . And let believers think upon his glory , that they may be gradually changed into his image by the Spirit of the Lord . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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