39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Ezekiel 10:1–22"
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date = "2023-03-24"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ezekiel10.1-22)
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As the slaughter commences, the Lord's palanquin arrives. Ezekiel learns that
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the living creatures that are underneath the crystal-blue throne are called
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cherubim. The Ark of the Covenant that sits in the middle of the temple is a
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representation of God's throne on earth. The bottom is a golden chest that
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contains the two tablets of the Law given to Moses at Mt. Sinai, the budded
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staff of Aaron, and a golden jar of manna. The top surface of the ark is called
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the "mercy seat" and in front of it the high priest would sprinkle the blood of
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a bull and a goat with his finger. Above the mercy seat were golden images of
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cherubim, beings that looked like a man with wings. Their wings were spread
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over the top of the mercy seat so that they overshadowed it. The bizarre
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creatures he saw in his first vision with their four different faces and four
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wings are thus associated with God's throne both in heaven and on earth.
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God commands the angelic scribe to take burning coals that are in between the
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four cherubim of His throne and scatter some over the city. While the
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Babylonians certainly set fires to destroy Jerusalem when they conquered the
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city, these verses so that God was superintending the destruction at the same
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time.
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The cloud that fills the temple shields Ezekiel from seeing the full glory of
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the Lord as He moves from the Holy Place to palanquin. Once He takes His place
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on this mobile throne, the cherubim and the whirling wheels convey the Lord
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away from the temple and the city. Of course, this being a vision, it is more
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of a symbolic act than a literal one, especially since God is present
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everywhere and therefore cannot "leave" a place.
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* * *
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Though You are infinite and overflow our minds, You condescend to us and give
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us the glimpses of Yourself that we are able to understand because it is good
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that we know You and love You.
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