The Throne - The Living Ones and the Wheels
With the first chapter of Ezekiel's prophecies open before us, let us note how much it contains that is instructive and helpful in connection with the movements and ways of God in relation to the glory. As we pointed out in our last meditation, the key phrase, inclusive not only of the chapter but of the whole book, is found in the second half of verse 28:
"This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face"
That refers, as I have said, to all that is in that chapter, but it relates especially to the vision of the Throne of Heaven, and to the "likeness as of a Man upon it above." It is the glory of the Throne of the Exalted God-Man. And from that, everything else proceeds. All that is here, and all that comes later, right to the end of this very full book, is the expression of that Throne, of that government, of the meaning of that Man being there, where He is.
In summarizing the visions which came to Ezekiel, when he said: "I saw visions of God," we said that under the Throne there was a two-fold symbolic medium of its expression; and that two-fold medium is the four living ones, or cherubim, and the wheels. To both of these quite a considerable section is given. You notice that they are not just mentioned and passed over, but they are very fully and minutely described. You have got to stop with this; you have got to take time and give attention. The prophet is giving us every detail. It is very difficult to understand; I certainly do not claim to understand it, but I think I see some things that are almost on the face of it. Nevertheless, since these things are brought in here in very clear definition, and in very full presentation, right at the beginning of all these prophecies and movements and visions, they must evidently be taken account of. They must have a place, and a very serious place.
~T. Austin-Sparks~
(continued with # 48 - "The Cherubim: Symbols of Holiness and Life")
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