Nov 12th

Now it happened in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

(On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile,

the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of Yahweh came upon him.)

Then I looked, and behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light all around it, and in its midst something like the gleam of glowing metal in the midst of the fire.

And within it there were figures with the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

And each of them had four faces and four wings.

And their legs were straight, and their feet were like a calf’s hoof, and they sparkled like the gleam of burnished bronze.

And under their wings on their four sides were hands of a man. As for the faces and wings of the four of them,

their wings touched one another; their faces did not turn as they went; each went straight forward.

And as for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; all four had the face of a lion on the right and the face of a bull on the left, and all four had the face of an eagle.

And such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each had two touching another being, and two covering their bodies.

And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go, without turning as they went.

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire.

And the living creatures ran to and fro with the appearance of lightning.

Then I looked at the living creatures, and behold, there was one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four of them.

The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like the gleam of beryl, and all four of them had the same likeness, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another.

Whenever they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.

And as for their rims, they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around.

And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them. And when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose also.

Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction, where the spirit was about to go. And the wheels rose alongside of them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Now over the heads of the living creatures there was something with the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads above.

And underneath the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other.

I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters as they went, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings.

And there came a sound from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings.

Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something in the likeness of a throne, like sapphire stone in appearance; and upon the likeness of the throne, high up, was the likeness of one with the appearance of a man.

Then I saw from the appearance of His loins and upward something like the gleam of glowing metal with the appearance of fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something with the appearance of fire; and there was a radiance all around Him.

As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the radiance all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. And I saw this, and I fell on my face and heard a sound of a voice speaking.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!”

And as He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and caused me to stand on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.

I am sending you to them who are stiff-faced and strong-hearted children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh.’

As for them, whether they listen or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Now as for you, son of man, do not fear them and do not fear their words, though thistles and briers are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.

But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

“Now as for you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

Then I looked, and behold, a hand was sent forth to me; and behold, a scroll was in it.

Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and woe.

See to it brothers, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,

while it is said,

For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?

And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

Therefore, let us fear, lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have fallen short of it.

For indeed we have had good news proclaimed to us, just as they also; but the word that was heard did not profit those who were not united with faith among those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For He has spoken somewhere in this way concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.”

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news proclaimed to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

He again determines a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall into the same example of disobedience.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.