The Lord of "lords"

Sermon on Ezekiel 1:1-28

I. What Does Ezekiel’s Vision Mean?

When we read Ezekiel’s description of the four living creatures from verses 5 onwards, many questions may come into our mind. Some questions that keep popping up are “What are the four living creatures?” “What is the meaning of their four faces?” “Are there such creatures in heaven with four faces and four wings?” “What does the vehicle with wheel within a wheel look like?

Now, let me tell you the answers you have been waiting for.

I don’t know. I don’t have any answer to any of those questions about the four living. I’m not able to find any in-depth discussion about the four living creatures in the biblical and theological studies that I have read so far.
Why is it so difficult to study the four living creatures?

A. We Do Not Know What Ezekiel Saw Exactly.

Firstly, we do not know exactly what Ezekiel saw in his vision. Ezekiel used the expression “they look like,” or “their appearance was” to describe the heavenly vision.

Ezek 1:5 
And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
Ezek 1:13 
their appearance was like burning coals of fire,
and like the appearance of lamps: it went up
Ezek 1:14 
returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Ezek 1:16 
The appearance of the wheels and their work was
and they four had one likeness: and their appearance
Ezek 1:26 
as the appearance of a sapphire stone:
likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Ezek 1:27 
as the appearance of fire round about within it,
from the appearance of his loins even upward,
and from the appearance of his loins even downward,
I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it
Ezek 1:28 
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud
appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
so was the appearance of the brightness round about.
appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel was trying his best to communicate the heavenly vision in human language. Moreover, human language often has many limitations in expressing sights that are too awesome to describe. So it is unwise for us to be dogmatic in our interpretations, and debate about the exact meaning of the details that we can never be sure. We can only say, “This is a possible interpretation,” but not “this is THE interpretation.”

B. The Text Does Not Give Any Interpretation.

Second, the Bible text itself does not give us the interpretation. Normally, the text will supply us the answer to any symbolic sign in a vision, if the symbolic meaning is important for us to understand.

Let me give you three examples:

Example 1: In Amos chapter 8 – The LORD gave Amos a vision, He asked, “What do you see, Amos?” After Amos answered “I saw a basket of ripe fruit, the LORD said “The time is ripe for my people to be judged.”

Example 2: In Zechariah chapter 4 – The LORD gave Zechariah a vision through an angel. The angel asked, “What do you see?” Zechariah answered “I saw a golden lampstand between two olive trees.” He did not understand the symbols so he asked the angel, “What are these, my lord?” The angel willingly gave him the answers, “The olive trees are the two anointed to serve the Lord…”

Example 3: In Daniel chapter 7 – Daniel had a vision about the four beasts. He was disturbed and troubled by the vision, so he asked an angel that appear to him concerning the meaning. The angel did not say “You give me 5 dollars, first then I tell you.” Right away the angel explains the meaning of the symbols to Daniel in details.

Now, in Ezekiel’s case, when he saw four living creatures with four faces and four wings, we do not read in the text, Ezekiel asking the LORD, “What are those four creatures?” “How come they have four faces?” “What does each of their faces represent?” Ezekiel did not ask the LORD any questions about the four living creatures. God Himself also did not explain anything about the four creatures.

Ezekiel’s silence about the creatures does not mean that he was not interested to know. His silence could mean that he was already familiar with their form. The form of those creatures may be strange and weird to us, but Ezekiel and the hearers of his message may understand the symbolic meaning of the creatures’ appearance.

Let me illustrate my point:

If Ezekiel were a prophet in the 21st century Singapore context, and he wrote to Singapore, I saw four living creatures with the head of a lion and the lower body of a fish. We all we know right away that Ezekiel is talking about the Merlion.

Now, let’s say if there are people who worship the Merlion, they will get the message about the vision of the four Merlion carrying the throne of God. They will understand that the vision is declaring to Merlion-worshippers that what they worship as gods are actually lowly servants of the One sitting on the throne.

We should focus on the Ezekiel’s Concern

C. The Text Focuses on the Being on the Throne

Thirdly, the text chapter 1:28 shows us Ezekiel was interested in the BEING who sits on the throne than with the four living creatures. Ezekiel fell facedown before the Person with the likeness of the LORD. To fall facedown before someone is an act of worship. Ezekiel worshipped the Person who is seated on the Throne because he realized that that Person is the Covenant-God of Israel himself. Therefore, the major character and the key focus of the heavenly vision in chapter 1 is this Person with the Glory of the LORD, not the four living creatures.

D. The Entire Vision Proclaims the Glory of the LORD, not the Creatures.

Fourthly, the entire vision – the four living creatures, with the four sets of intersecting wheels, bearing the Person with the Glory of the LORD on the throne – conveys an important message to Ezekiel, to the Israelites in Babylon and to those in Judah.

II. Purpose of Ezekiel’s vision?

When God chose to reveal Himself to someone, there is always a purpose.

Q: What is God’s purpose to reveal Himself to Ezekiel?

The purpose of Ezekiel’s vision has two aspects:

The first aspect is, the divine vision serves as the basis of Ezekiel’s call as a prophet – the man who will become God’s mouthpiece to the Israelites.

This aspect is seen in the text chapter 2:1-5
Chapter 2:1-5 shall be preached next week’s preacher, so I shall concentrate on just the second aspect.

The second aspect of the vision’s purpose is to proclaim the Covenant-God as the LORD over all His creation.

As the LORD of all creation, the Covenant-God is superior over all the pagan-gods.

As the LORD of all creation, the Covenant-God is not restricted to the land of Israel. His presence can extend beyond the temple, beyond Jerusalem, beyond Israel, and even to any foreign land.

Let me explain the ways Ezekiel’s proclaim the Covenant-God as the LORD of all the pagan-gods.

The nation Israel was surrounded by polytheistic nations. While Israel worshipped only one God, the people in the neighboring countries worshipped many gods. There were much inter-religious influences among the nations. So, what was worshipped in one nation was also worshipped in the other nations. Unfortunately, under strong pagan influences, majority of the Israelites also worshipped the pagan gods, in addition to YHWH (the Covenant-God).

Some of the pagan gods were related to the Sun, the Moon, and the stars. Some of the gods were related to animals, such as the ox, the eagle, and human being. Some people would regard their king as god.

Let us see the form of some of the gods worshipped by the ancient Near Eastern peoples:

1. The Ox deity

a. The Egyptians worshipped bull.
b. Their god Apis was an ox.

The Egyptian worship strongly influenced the Israelites.

The people made a golden calf and worship it in the wilderness (Exodus 32).

King Jeroboam made two golden calves for Israel to worship (1 Kings 12).

One of the four faces of the living creatures is an ox.

2. Eagle-headed deity (1000 BC).

The Egyptians also worshipped a god with the head of an eagle.

Ezekiel saw the living creatures, each having a face of an eagle.

3. Egyptians also worshipped the Pharoah, whom they regarded as the re-incarnation of the Sun god.

Ezekiel saw the living creatures, each having a face of an ox, an eagle, and a man. There is probably an important message behind the symbolic images, that God wants to bring across to the idol-worshippers.

4. Lion with wings and a human head (visual concept of a Cherub)
The Assyrians worshipped a creature with the body of a lion, wings of an eagle, the head of a man. They called it the “cherub.” The cherubim would guard and protect the city.

5. Deity with four faces (18th century BC)

The Assyrian also worshipped a god with four faces. The living creatures that Ezekiel saw in his vision also have four faces.

6. Deity with four wings

The Babylonians worshipped a goddess with four wings. The living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision also have four wings each.

7. Deity encircled by a halo of light.

The Babylonians also worshipped Ashur, the god of Storm. Ashur would shoot lightning bolts with his bow, and he is portrayed with a circle of rainbow around him.

8. Bull-Man with Wings
The winged bullmen are skybearers
(Influenced by the neo-Assyrian & neo-Babylonian worship)
The “half man-half bull” gods of the Persians also have four-wings. The bull-men support a greater god, the god-of-the-sky, above their heads.

9. Skybearers with 2 faces (14th century BC)

In other Ancient Near East regions we see the concept of a hierarchy of gods. The lesser gods support the greater gods above their head. On the highest level, we see gods with two-face upholding the heaven above them.

Ezekiel’s vision loudly declares to those who worshipped pagan idols in Israel that the ox, the lion, the eagle, and the human are all subject to the sovereignty of Creator-God, the Covenant-God of Israel.

Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures proclaims to the Israel and Ancient Near Eastern peoples that:

1. The “lords of the earth” (human king, lion, ox & eagle) are merely creatures.

The Ancient Near East peoples regarded the eagle as the “lord of the sky”; the ox, as “lord of the domestic animals; the lion, as the “lord of the beasts”, and human as the “lord of the land”. The four living creatures are the 4-in-1 lords of the earth – the composite beings of the “lords” that the pagan peoples feared and worshipped.

2. YHWH is the Creator; He is the Lord of the “lords”.

In Ezekiel’s vision, the climax of the divine revelation came, where he saw the four living creatures were supporting Someone who was above their head, someone who was far greater. The four creatures are actually bearers of the throne with a Master with the Glory of the LORD seated on it.

That Master is the God of Israel -- There is none like Him.

3. The LORD’s presence is not restricted to the holy Temple or the holy Land only.

4. The LORD’s sovereignty extends beyond Israel.

5. The Sovereign LORD will also judge the other peoples for their wickedness & evils.

III. Can We Still See Vision or Hear God’s Voice Today?

The most common type of vision that most Christians see today is tele-vision.

Watching too much television may rob us of our spending time with God. We do not have much time to read God’s word or talk to God in prayer. Even if God wants to speak to us, our hearts, souls and minds are overcrowded to hear Him speak.

Q: Does God still speak to us through vision and “a voice from heaven” today, as He did with Ezekiel?

There are three general views: The first view believes that God no longer speak via vision or audible voice. A second view believes that seeing visions and hearing God’s voice is still very common today. The third view believes that God speaks through us through the message of the Bible; but God also has the sovereignty to speak by whichever means He chooses today. Seeing vision and hearing God’s voice is possible but these experiences are not common and frequent, even during the Old Testament & the New Testament periods.

Here are some basic principles to guide us.

A. The Bible is God’s written word to teach and direct us to live as His people.

We need to study the Bible carefully to understand God’s message for Christian living. If a Christian does not bother to read what God had already spoken and were written down for us, why should he or she care about getting further message from God that comes in special form?

Another way to put it, “If you do not care to learn the basic “A,B,C” why do you care about reading a book?

B. God speaks in dynamic ways to us but His guidance will not contradict the Bible .

At this point I want to share a meaningful excerpt from a book that was published recently, Growing Deep in Faith by Reverend Edmund Chan (pastor of Covenant Evangelical-Free Church), pp 163-164.

In November 2009, pastor Edmund Chan went to Seoul to meet the chief leaders of SaRang Community Church. The church founder John Oak, who is a highly respected pastor in S. Korea asked, “Tell me, how you hear from God?’

In his reply Pastor Edmund openly shared the ways by which God chose to speak to him:

God always speak to me through His word.
God never speaks contrary to His Word.
Sometimes, word or phrase flashes in my mind like a newspaper headline.
Sometimes, it is an inner prompting of the Spirit that stirs deeply within my heart.
Sometimes, it comes as a clear authoritative internal voice.
Sometimes, it comes in the form of a vivid dream (while I am sleeping).
Sometimes, it comes in the form of a vision (while I am awake and praying).
Sometimes it comes in specific circumstances (while someone else is preaching or when I something I read convicts me).
Sometimes through reflection and thinking.
Sometimes it comes in the form of a burden (something the Lord lays upon my hear, often through prayer.

Of course, I was quick to add that these are by no means marks of spirituality. Rather, they are expressions of the grace of God.

Then Pastor John Oak responded with a fatherly smile,
“I believe you, God speaks to me too but not in the same way.

Pastor Edmund also wrote in his book, “There is no short-cut to listening to God. And there is no such thing as prophecy-on-demand. We can’t say, “God, you speak to me NOW!” God chooses to speak indifference ways to different ones.

Here are some helpful and important counsels that pastor Chan provides in his book (pp 164-166) , to guide Christians concerning “Listening to God”:

1. Don’t be afraid - You have a living dynamic relationship with God. God delights to speak to those who love Him.

2. Beware of the ego-trap of wanting to be able to hear God of the sake of self-validation God also speaks through circumstances or godly counsel.

3. Don’t jump to conclusion. It is common to assume a thought that is self-generated to be from God. The statement “The Lord spoke to me” is often used too loosely in church circles.

4. Do grow in the Word. True listening is rooted in the Bible. God never leads contrary to His Word. There is no substitute for growing in the knowledge and wisdom of His Word. When God gives us His Word, He has already spoken to us. Start with what God has already spoken. How else would we know if what we hear is of God or not?

5. Do commit yourself to obedience. Come to God on His terms, not your terms. Seek His agenda and His will. Do not come to Him merely to rubber-stamp your agenda and will. If you don’t intend to submit to God, don’t bother to try to listen.

6. Do walk with God. Listening to God is not a shortcut to spiritual maturity. Some Christians want a shortcut to instant maturity. There’s no shortcut. Grow in the true knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:5-8). Walk Humbly with God. Let Him guide and lead you in a lifestyle of personal revival, divine appointment and active obedience.

Jesus used the imagery of the sheep and their Shepherd to teach His disciples about His ministry as a good shepherd in John 10, “(The) sheep follow (their shepherd) because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice (4b-5). I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (14).”

Christians who are committed to walk closely with the Lord in their daily lives shall be able to discern whether a voice they have heard is from God or from the devil. Ezekiel did not see God, he saw only the glory of the LORD. That glory that is matchless, as there is no glory like the LORD’s glory.

So, commit yourselves to walk with God seriously.

7. Avoid the danger of dogmatism or an independent spirit. When you feel that God has spoken to you, confirm your experience with biblical teaching and, especially, with mature, godly counsel.

Even if we are able to encounter God’s vision or hear God’s speaking to us directly, we should seek counsel from our pastors, our elders, and cell-group leaders. We need them to pray for us and help us discern if our spiritual experience is from God, or from the devil.

I like to share with you a testimony of a Presbyterian Christian, when he was studying to become a pastor in a theological school:

About the midnight hour, one night in the final semester of senior year in the seminary, I was studying for a Greek exam with a classmate. We were seated at a desk in our living room. There was nothing unusual about the setting or about the circumstances. My wife was asleep in a nearby room. Suddenly, without warning or any any indication of what was going to happen, I sensed the presence of God in a way I had never known before. Though it could not have lasted more than a few seconds, I suddenly had the overwhelming impression that the Lord had unfolded a scroll of instructions of what I was to do with my life.

It is difficult to talk about such experience for fear of being misunderstood, or causing others to seek after such an experience; but I think I know a little something of what the Apostle Paul experienced on his way to Damascus.

At this time and in a very definite way, God commanded me to commit my life making disciples for Jesus in this generation, specifically in sharing the gospel and discipling the students of the world for Christ.

Though my heart was filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for this revelation, I still needed the counsel of more mature Christians. The next day I went to see one of my favorite seminary professor, Dr. Wilbur Smith famous scholar and author of many books (also a Presbyterian). As I shared with him what God had revealed to me, he got out of his chair and paced back and forth in his office, saying again and again, “This is of God. This is of God. I want to help you. Let me think and pray about it.”

The next morning when I arrived for his seven o’clock class in English Bible, Dr. Smith called me out of the classroom into a counseling room and handed me a piece of paper on which he had scribbled these letters, “CCC.” He explained that God had indeed provided the name for my vision.

That man sought further counsel from his former Sunday School teacher, Dr. Henrietta Mears, his former Sunday School buddy, Billy Graham, and friends like Dawson Trotman. Dawson Trotman later became the founder of the Navigator ministry; and that man later founded a mission organization “Campus Crusade for Christ.” He was Dr William R. Bright. Today Campus Crusade has 27,000 full-time missionary staff worldwide, serving in 190 countries.

The vision of God that Bill Bright experienced served as a basis of his missionary calling. It is very important to seek counsels from pastors, church leaders and mature Christian when we encounter a spiritual experience.

However, there are people who saw visions; after that they claimed “God sent me to be the messiah to save the world.” They later became founder of religious cult groups. Two examples are: The first is, David Koresh who claimed that he is the Son of God, the Lamb who could open the seven seals mentioned in the Revelation chapter 5. The second, is Sun Myoung Moon who claimed that he came to complete the salvation work that Jesus Christ had failed to accomplish on earth. Reverend Moon founded a heretic assembly called the “Unification Church”.

Today, if you hear anyone who claims, after seeing a vision, “God sent me to be the savior of the world”, do not believe him or her.

C. Jesus Christ is the climax of God’s revelation concerning His purpose.

Hebrews 1:1-3
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Conclusion (Central Idea of Ezekiel 1)

The purpose of the heavenly vision is to proclaim to Israel & the nations that:

1. YHWH is the LORD of all the ‘lords’ on earth or in heaven.

2. The LORD’s presence is not restricted only to the holy Temple or the holy Land.

3. The LORD is sovereign and mighty even to judge peoples who do not worship him, because He is the LORD of all ‘lords’.