Ezekiel 1
Dear RTB’ers,
Ezekiel. The STS and my Study Bible introductions are helpful. With help from these sources we learn that Ezekiel began his prophetic and priestly ministry in 593 BC when he was 30 years old and that he served for 22 years – two more than the normal priestly service. He was an exile, taken to Babylon in 597 BC, eleven years before the fall of Jerusalem. Today’s reading is his detailed account of a vision at three levels – first, a storm and four “creatures”, all well described; second, an “expanse”, reminding us of the expanse in Genesis 1 that separated the waters above from the waters below; then finally above the expanse a throne and a stunning brightness, a “likeness with a human appearance” (v. 26b), later referred to as “the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (v. 28b). Ezekiel is overwhelmed and falls on his face as he hears the beginning of a voice speaking.
How can we not read ahead to what the voice is saying??!!
Blessings.
Fred