May 11, 2026

  The Call Of Ezekiel

Part 1: The appearance of the Glory of the Lord

(Ezekiel 1:1-28)


https://biblehub.com/nasb_/ezekiel/1.htm

Context: Ezekiel 1 introduces the book by setting the historical, spiritual, and visionary context for everything that follows. It shows where Ezekiel is, why God speaks through him, and how God’s glory is revealed even in exile.

Historical setting - Ezekiel is among the Judean exiles by the River Chebar in Babylon, in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity (about 593 BC). The people had been conquered by Babylon because of idolatry and covenant‑breaking, yet the temple in Jerusalem still stood; Ezekiel labors under the shadow of that coming judgment while the nation clings to false hope.

Visionary context - Chapter 1 records Ezekiel’s call vision—a storm‑theophany from the north, wheels, living creatures (“cherubim”), and a throne‑like platform with a figure “like a man” whose glory is like fire and metal. This is often called a “throne‑chariot” vision, showing that Yahweh is Lord over all creation and still present with his people, even far from the Jerusalem temple.

Theological purpose - Ezekiel 1 establishes that God is holy, sovereign, and in control at a time when many in exile might think Yahweh had been defeated by Babylonian gods. It also prepares the ground for Ezekiel’s commission in chapters 2–3: he is called to speak judgment and warning as a watchman, because the people have hardened hearts and will not listen.


Explanation: Ezekiel 1 records a dramatic vision of God’s glory that functions like a divine “throne‑chariot” moving through the heavens. It is not just a confusing dream; it is a symbolic picture telling Ezekiel (and the exiles) three things: God is still sovereign, God is holy, and God is present even in exile.

Overall structure of the vision

  • Ezekiel sees a storm‑theophany from the north: a great cloud, flashing fire, and gleaming metal, like a whirlwind carrying God’s presence (Ezek 1:4). Within this storm he sees a four‑faced chariot formed by four living creatures, four wheels, and a platform above which sits a throne‑like figure “like a man” surrounded by radiant glory.
  • The four living creatures each have four faces (man, lion, ox, eagle), symbolizing perfect wisdom, majesty, strength, and heavenly swiftness, collectively representing all‑encompassing, all‑seeing service before God’s throne.
  • The wheels and “eyes”(often described as one wheel set at right angles inside another) show that this heavenly throne moves in any direction instantly, reflecting God’s omnipresence and unhindered rule. The “eyes” all around the rims suggest God’s omniscience—He sees everything in every direction, in every place.
  • Above the creatures and wheels is an expanse like ice or crystal, with a brilliant throne‑like figure “like a man” whose appearance is like glowing metal and fire, representing the awesome holiness and transcendence of God.
  • Ezekiel’s response is to fall on his face in worship and fear, recognizing that this is not just a static temple‑image but the living, moving God who reigns over Babylon and Judah alike. 

God showed Ezekiel this vision in Babylon for three main reasons:

  1. To show God is still present and sovereign - Ezekiel was in a foreign land, far from the Jerusalem temple, yet the vision shows the Lord on His throne‑chariot entering Babylonian territory on the wings of the cherubim.
    • This teaches that God’s rule is not tied to one stone temple; He is sovereign over Judah, Babylon, and all nations, still in control.

2. To reveal God’s holiness and judgment - The blazing, storm‑like glory, the cherubim, and the “eyes” all over the wheels show that God is holy, all‑seeing, and all‑knowing.

    • The vision prepares Ezekiel to understand that the exile is not random but a just judgment for broken covenant, idolatry, and injustice.

3. To commission Ezekiel as a watchman - At the end of the vision, “the hand of the Lord” comes upon Ezekiel, and God speaks directly to him, calling him to be a prophet and watchman to stubborn, rebellious people.

    • By seeing God’s glory first, Ezekiel is strengthened for a hard ministry, so he will not be afraid of human opposition but will speak faithfully because he has seen the One who truly reigns.

Application: The best personal application of Ezekiel’s vision, for me, is to let it reshape how I see God and therefore how I live when I feel distant, overwhelmed, or forgotten. Ezekiel 1 is not just ancient imagery; it is a call to me to recover a higher, more biblical view of God and to live as someone who has truly seen Him.

1. I recover a higher view of God - I remind myself that even when my life feels like “Babylon”—confusing, painful, or spiritually dry—God is still sovereign, holy, and on the throne. I stop and ask, “Do I truly believe God is still in control, still present, and still holy here, right now?” Then I choose to reset my heart before His majesty instead of before my circumstances.

2. I let God’s holiness expose and humble me - When I picture Ezekiel falling on his face, I see my own smallness before a God whose glory is like fire and lightning. I regularly bring my sins, compromises, and half‑hearted worship before this vision, asking God to show me where my heart is “in exile” from Him. I repent not out of duty but out of awe‑fueled love for the Holy One who still meets me in my mess.

3. I let the vision commission me for faithful obedience - I see that this vision was not just for Ezekiel’s comfort but for his commission as a watchman to a stubborn people. I ask, “Where does God want me to speak or live truth, even if others resist?” Then I pray, “Lord, give me courage to obey Your Word, not because people approve, but because I have seen Your glory and have been called to represent You.”


Prayer:  Lord, when I feel like I am in exile—far from Your presence, far from the life I thought I would have, and far from the closeness with You that I long for—I come to You just as Ezekiel came to You in Babylon. You are not confined to one place, one season, or one emotion; You are the living God who moves through the heavens and still draws near to broken hearts.

Reveal Yourself to me when I feel forgotten. Show me afresh that You are sovereign, holy, and in control, even when my circumstances say otherwise. Let Your glory melt my fear, correct my lies, and silence the voices that tell me You have abandoned me.

Open my spiritual eyes, as You did for Ezekiel, so that I see You enthroned above my storms, shining through the darkness and saying, “I am still here.” Where I feel spiritually numb, give me sensitivity; where I feel hardened, give me a heart of flesh that longs for You alone.

And when You reveal Yourself, draw me back into fellowship with You. Help me to worship, to obey, and to speak truth in the midst of my exile, not because I am strong, but because I have seen You and cannot live as if You were absent.

Lord, in every place of exile—physical, emotional, or spiritual—meet me, reveal Yourself, and remind me that You are the God who is always near. In Jesus’ name, amen.


Live boldly out there today…


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