Title: God's Vision/Ezekiel 1
Content: God's Ideal
Ezekiel 1
1. Introduction (1-3)
Ezekiel is proclaiming the word of God in the midst of the destruction of the Israelites. Ezekiel is preaching a message of warning and encouragement along with a reinterpretation of the covenant.
2. The Appearance of the Four Creatures (4-21)
① Mention of storms from the north, great clouds, fire, and iron (4)
② Four creatures (5-14) ③ Four wheels (15-21)
Here the storm, the great cloud, is an outward phenomenon accompanying God's presence. In other words, it represents the great majesty and power of the God of justice, who is wrathful against sin and judges. Fire and iron symbolize the God of judgment. In the end, the Prophet clearly reveals that God is the Lord of heaven and earth, ruling the entire universe through His sovereign will by revealing His majesty and glory.
In addition, the four living creatures that appear first when God is present are spiritual beings that serve and receive the glory of God, and at the same time, as God's servants, God creates, governs, and rules the entire universe and all creatures in it. This is to emphasize that he is the Lord of lords.
In other words, God is omnipotent and can see all things in the universe. Here, we can realize and know the omnipotence, holiness, and providence of God.
3. The manifestation of God's glory (22-28)
In this paragraph, the attributes of God are arranged in more detail.
① God is intrinsically wise and intelligent as the source of human image and form.(26b)
② God has established His throne in the firmament and is the one who rules the entire universe forever.(26a) He is the one who rules and provides dominion over all things.
③ God does not stand by and judges unrighteously. (27) God is the one who judges firmly in order to protect purity and holiness.
④ God is dazzling and shining like a rainbow (28)
God is beauty itself.
⑤ God appears in human form.(26)
It refers to the image of the transcendent God immanent on this earth and culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ. God is still the providence of the history of this earth.