Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Sep 23 2019 - Ezekiel 1 – The glory of the Lord

The Book of Ezekiel is quite lengthy and is, at times, difficult to understand. We shall spend ten days looking at some of the key passages from the book, beginning with Ezekiel chapter one.

Ezekiel was a priest who had been taken into exile by the Babylonians at the age of 25 after the first siege of the city and when the treasures from the temple and royal palace were looted by the Babylonians (2 Kings 24:8-17). His book opens in the fifth year of the exile, his 30th year, which was the age at which priests began their active ministry (see Numbers 4).

He was in the land of Babylon by the River (or canal) called Kebar. That is to say, he was by the ancient city of Nippur – in modern terms, halfway between Baghdad and Basra. There Ezekiel received an extraordinary vision of the glory of God approaching him. Several of the elements of this vision are echoed in the Book of Revelation. All manner of strange interpretations have been offered of this vision: it is a vision of a space-ship, perhaps even of an alien space-ship; it is the imaginations of a mind affected by hallucinogenic drugs similar to LSD… Such speculations are unhelpful. We need rather, to read carefully what Ezekiel says about what he saw and to seek to understand it within the context of the message and symbolism of the Old Testament.

The vision described by Ezekiel is complex and many layered. It is difficult for us to get a clear picture of what he saw, though some have made an attempt to draw what it might have looked like. "Like" is perhaps the right term, for Ezekiel seeks to have struggled for words to describe it, using the word "like" some 18 times in his description, half of which are in vv. 24-28. The term, "likeness" is also used 10 times in this chapter. What is he struggling to describe?

The four living creatures he sees in the middle of the approaching fire have a human shape but each has four faces. As well as the face of a human, they have the face of a lion, an ox and an eagle. This imagery is later echoed in the four separate creatures which John sees before the throne of God in Revelation 4:7. In some way this represents the entirety of God's animate creation before the throne of God and serving him – with humanity presiding over it all (the human face and form is preeminent). But these creatures also have four wings, two of which stretch out to touch those of its neighbours. This is reminiscent of the description of the cherubim that stood over the Ark of the Covenant in Solomon's temple (see 1 Kings 6:27). The cherubim formed a symbolic throne for the living God (see 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15 etc.).

These four creatures seem to be carried in an elaborate chariot with complex wheels – wheels within wheels. The whole thing is flaming with glory and animated by the Spirit of God. Above these creatures is a vault or expanse sparkling like crystal (see Revelation 4:6, 21:11), above which again was a great throne of lapis lazuli (like the blue of the sky), "and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man" (v. 26). Here especially, Ezekiel is struggling for words to describe what he saw, for in his vision the "man" looks like fire "and brilliant light surrounded him" which was "like the appearance of a rainbow" (v. 27, 28). "This", says Ezekiel, "was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down" (see Revelation 1:12-17).

Ezekiel had been granted a vision of the glory of God, the ruler over heaven and earth and every creature on earth. It must have been a terrifying sight, but it was accompanied by a rainbow, reminding him of God's covenant with creation – his purpose to bless rather than to destroy.

Living God, you have revealed your glory to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are amazed that your glory is revealed not to crush and destroy us but to save us and bless us – and to bless all creation. We bow down before you, triune God; we worship you. Animate us by your Spirit and set us ablaze with your glory that we may image you and play our part in bringing all of your creation to reflect your glory and echo your praises.

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Sep 23 2020 - Matthew 22:34-23:12 – Everything they do is done for people to see

Jesus is scathing in his criticism of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. "Everything they do is done for people to see", he says. They are hypocrites; they put on a good show, but behind the image they project there is no corresponding reality. Much of what they teach is good, and is worthy of attention, but they do not practice what they preach.

This is a common human failing. In many contexts and organisations there will be those who love to lay down the law for others but seem to feel that they do not need to live by these rules themselves. They place burdens on others which they are reluctant to share and show little concern to relieve. Such behaviour stems from the conviction that they are an elite; they stand apart from hoi polloi. Others are there to serve their needs.

The scribes and Pharisees were characterised by a love of such status. They wanted other people to recognise who and what they were – at least on the outside. They loved their elaborate clothing which declared, "here's someone special, a religious bigwig, show him due deference." They loved to be given the place of honour at feasts and festivals where they could be seen and noticed. They loved their titles by which they were acknowledged and honoured by others. Jesus warns against the spirit that dominated these people and prompted such conduct – the spirit expressed in the prayer of the Pharisee, “Lord, I thank you that I am not like other men…”

And how is it with us? I find it easy to point a finger at other ecclesiastical traditions that have special dress to denote people of different rank and importance and which use a complexity of titles and salutations to reflect their precise place in the hierarchy. I find it easy to be critical of Christian ministers who want to be addressed as ‘Father’ when this is explicitly condemned by Jesus. But because I eschew such things, am I immune from the craving for recognition? Do I not glow with pride (inwardly) when people speak well of me? There is a deceptively subtle line between the desire to know that your work has been useful and has encouraged others and the desire for praise that will feed your own ego. It's the fine line between wanting to be a good servant and wanting the recognition of a lord.

Jesus calls us to watch continually over our own hearts. The only safeguard against such common human failings is to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus, the Son of God, was not concerned for his own glory but was concerned to be the source of blessing to those he came to serve. He calls us to follow him and to have this same mind, heart and attitude.

This is a hard call. We simply cannot manage it on our own – we haven’t got it in us. It demands daily prayerful submission to the Lord Jesus and recognition of our utter dependence upon him. We need him to teach us how to follow him in the path of selfless service. We need him to help us to recognise that he alone is Lord and is worthy of all praise.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.

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Peter Misselbrook