Eze 10:4 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter is closely related to Ezekiel 1. Here we again find the chariot carrying the throne. Some details are repeated and new details are also added. The main idea of this chapter is that God controls all the instruments of judgment that He uses. What Ezekiel was only able to refer to as “living beings” in Ezekiel 1, he now recognizes as cherubim ( ). What he sees above the expanse that is over the heads of the cherubim ( ), he has also seen in Ezekiel 1 ( ). Here he sees the appearance of what looks like a throne. In Ezekiel 1 he also sees something sitting on the throne that looks like a Man. That is not the case here. The LORD instructs the Man in linen to take coals of fire from between the whirling wheels under the cherubim, fill both His hands with them, and scatter them over the city ( ; cf. ; ). This means that not only will judgment come upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but the city itself will be burned with fire. This means that the city will undergo the same judgment that once came upon Sodom and Gomorrah ( ; cf. ). Ezekiel sees the Man enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim. The place where the cherubim stand when the Man enters is to the right of the house, which is the south side of the temple ( ). The cloud that fills the inner court is the cloud of the glory of the LORD. Then the glory of the LORD rises from the cherub (singular) and goes to the threshold of the house ( ). One last time, before the glory leaves the temple, the cloud of glory fills the house. It is as if the LORD is impressively showing one last time that the temple is His house. The sound of the wings of the cherubim indicates that they are moving ( ; cf. ). They are going to leave the house. This sound is heard as far as the outer court, where Jews may be performing their religious duties at that moment. The sound is reminiscent of the voice of God Almighty when He speaks, possibly thunder (cf. ; ). They are, as it were, His farewell words that He speaks full of threat to the people He is about to leave. Then the gaze is turned again to the Man clothed in linen Who has been instructed to take fire from between the wheels, which is the space between the cherubim ( ). The Man takes a stand next to a wheel. The fire, a picture of judgment, is taken from the space between the cherubim by the cherub who is in the space between the cherubim ( ). The fire that he has taken in his hand, he puts into the hands of the Man in linen. He takes it and goes out. This concludes the description. The scattering of the fire, which is commanded ( ), is not described. Ezekiel’s attention is first of all captivated by the appearance of the Man and of the cherubim. The Man in linen Who is to take the coals of fire is the same as the Man with the writing case from the previous chapter. There He receives the command to put a mark on the faithful believers so that judgment will pass them by. This Man is now commanded by God to bring judgment on the city. In the book of Revelation we see the same picture. The same Angel Who is to take fire from the altar to cast it on the earth in judgment, has just before dealt with the prayers of the saints ( ). The Man in Ezekiel and the Angel in Revelation are both the Person of the Lord Jesus. In Him we see that God is both love and light.

‏ Ezekiel 10:4

Introduction

This chapter is closely related to Ezekiel 1. Here we again find the chariot carrying the throne. Some details are repeated and new details are also added. The main idea of this chapter is that God controls all the instruments of judgment that He uses.

The Man in Linen Must Scatter Fire

What Ezekiel was only able to refer to as “living beings” in Ezekiel 1, he now recognizes as cherubim (Eze 10:20). What he sees above the expanse that is over the heads of the cherubim (Eze 10:1), he has also seen in Ezekiel 1 (Eze 1:26). Here he sees the appearance of what looks like a throne. In Ezekiel 1 he also sees something sitting on the throne that looks like a Man. That is not the case here.

The LORD instructs the Man in linen to take coals of fire from between the whirling wheels under the cherubim, fill both His hands with them, and scatter them over the city (Eze 10:2; cf. Lk 12:49; Rev 8:5). This means that not only will judgment come upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but the city itself will be burned with fire. This means that the city will undergo the same judgment that once came upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:24; cf. Rev 11:8a).

Ezekiel sees the Man enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim. The place where the cherubim stand when the Man enters is to the right of the house, which is the south side of the temple (Eze 10:3). The cloud that fills the inner court is the cloud of the glory of the LORD.

Then the glory of the LORD rises from the cherub (singular) and goes to the threshold of the house (Eze 10:4). One last time, before the glory leaves the temple, the cloud of glory fills the house. It is as if the LORD is impressively showing one last time that the temple is His house.

The sound of the wings of the cherubim indicates that they are moving (Eze 10:5; cf. Eze 1:24). They are going to leave the house. This sound is heard as far as the outer court, where Jews may be performing their religious duties at that moment. The sound is reminiscent of the voice of God Almighty when He speaks, possibly thunder (cf. Jn 12:28-29; Psa 29:3-4). They are, as it were, His farewell words that He speaks full of threat to the people He is about to leave.

Then the gaze is turned again to the Man clothed in linen Who has been instructed to take fire from between the wheels, which is the space between the cherubim (Eze 10:6). The Man takes a stand next to a wheel. The fire, a picture of judgment, is taken from the space between the cherubim by the cherub who is in the space between the cherubim (Eze 10:7). The fire that he has taken in his hand, he puts into the hands of the Man in linen. He takes it and goes out. This concludes the description. The scattering of the fire, which is commanded (Eze 10:3), is not described. Ezekiel’s attention is first of all captivated by the appearance of the Man and of the cherubim.

The Man in linen Who is to take the coals of fire is the same as the Man with the writing case from the previous chapter. There He receives the command to put a mark on the faithful believers so that judgment will pass them by. This Man is now commanded by God to bring judgment on the city. In the book of Revelation we see the same picture. The same Angel Who is to take fire from the altar to cast it on the earth in judgment, has just before dealt with the prayers of the saints (Rev 8:3-5). The Man in Ezekiel and the Angel in Revelation are both the Person of the Lord Jesus. In Him we see that God is both love and light.