SUMMARY
These verses present a stunning vision of the majesty of the Lord, with a chariot of living creatures and a glorious throne.
ANALYSIS
This vision opens the book and probably was an early event in Ezekiel’s prophetic call. It is difficult to visualize, and the general sense of awesome glory is probably what is intended. The chariot is made up of four living, winged creatures (cherubimThe cherubim are winged creatures who support the throne of God. These creatures were reputed to be a part of the ark of the covenant. In the book of Isaiah God is said to be enthroned above the cherubim. More), each with a wheel that can move in any direction. The sense of quick movement is clear from the description. God’s majesty and glory is not confined to JudahJudah was the name of Jacob's fourth son and one of the 12 tribes. More! Above them is a crystal plane (firmament) on which is the throne of God. The prophet draws upon the ark of the covenantThe ark of the covenant was a box or chest that God commanded the Israelites to make from wood richly adorned with gold. The ark was built to contain the tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments). The ark served as a mobile shrine to... More from Exodus and other visions of God’s throne in glory (1 Kings 22:19; IsaiahIsaiah, son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem, is included among the prophets of the eighth century B.C.E. (along with Amos, Hosea, and Micah)--preachers who boldly proclaimed God's word of judgment against the economic, social, and religious disorders of their time. More 6).
