CHAPTER 1
Visions and a Voice, Ezekiel 1:4-9
Ezekiel was on the banks of the Kebar River when he saw visions and felt the hand of God on him. The heavens opened and he saw visions of God. His whole prophecy can be described as visions and his style is very different from the other prophets. He saw a vision of God in the sky above him, seated upon his throne with cherubim around him.
Four Living Creatures 1:10-14
Ezekiel looks up and sees a huge thunderstorm coming from the north that was unlike any he had ever seen. The closer the storm came the more detail Ezekiel could see. In the glowing center of the cloud he saw four living creatures. They looked human in form yet they had four faces and four wings. They had the feet of a calf and they shined like polished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had hands like a man. All four of them had the faces and wings and their wings touched one another.
Isaiah in Isaiah 6 saw the winged seraphim, the great angelic creatures surrounding the
throne of God in heaven. Ezekiel's vision here is related to Isaiah’s. The difference is Isaiah saw
his vision of God in the temple in Jerusalem where God was thought to be enthroned upon the
earth. Ezekiel saw the great angels that guard God's throne on the plains of Babylon above him
in the sky. It was God's way of giving Ezekiel the task of helping the exiles see that God was not limited to Jerusalem. God did not even need a temple in which to be worshipped.
Keep in mind that Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem with the remnant left behind.
What Ezekiel Hears and Sees 1:24-28
Ezekiel hears the heavenly creatures. Their wings roar like waves against the shore. Their wings sound like the voice of God. Their wings also sound like the shout of a mighty army.
Ezekiel ses a man seated on a throne made of beautiful blue sapphire stones. He is surrounded by a halo-like a rainbow. Ezekiel falls down in the dust and hears someone speaking to him.
CHAPTER 2
Ezekiel is called by God to deliver a certain message to the nation of Israel. The people are described as rebellion and stubborn. God gives Ezekiel the words on a scroll. Instead of reading the words to the people, God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll as a symbol of the words sinking deep inside Ezekiel before presenting it to the words to the people.
CHAPTER 3
Ezekiel's initial response to his calling was much like other prophets, especially like Jeremiah's. He didn't want to be involved in the turmoil. However, God's "Yes" is louder than anybody's "No." Therefore, Ezekiel assumes the role for which God has called him. He delivered a twofold warning.
To the godless, Ezekiel told them to stop their wicked ways, or die. To the godly, Ezekiel told them to continue their good ways, or die.
According to Ezekiel 3:22-27, the prophet is imprisoned in his own house where God temporarily causes him unable to speak.
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