Vision of the Horses
December 1, 2019
Commentary
Ezekiel worked for God right where he was, among the exiles in various colonies near the Chebar River in Babylon (v. 1). Jerusalem and its temple was over 500 miles away, but Ezekiel helped the people understand that although they were far from home they did not need to be far from God. God communicated to Ezekiel in visions (vv. 2-14). These visions seem strange to us because they are apocalyptic. This means that Ezekiel saw symbolic pictures that vividly conveyed an idea. The people in exile had lost their perspective of God’s presence and Ezekiel came to them with a vision. The horses and their colors seem to have been symbols of God’s involvement in world governments. The Angel asked God to act swiftly to complete the promised return of His people to Jerusalem. In the first three verses of this chapter we can see three things happening in Ezekiel’s life:
- Ezekiel’s calamity (v. 1a) – In Leviticus God gave Moses the commandment for the children of God not to farm their land every seventh year but they had completely ignored this commandment for 490 years. Because of this God raised up Nebuchadnezzar to take Israel into captivity for 70 years. If you divide 70 into 90 you find the land enjoyed it’s Sabbath.
- Ezekiel’s call (v. 1b) – It was the fifth year of this captivity that Ezekiel saw the vision and was called to carry out his priestly duties.
- Ezekiel’s commission (vv. 2-3) – Ezekiel was to be Priest to the captives down by the river of Chebar and it says, “and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.”
Application
I know that without a vision people will perish (Prov. 29:18). With this in mind I want to use the rest of my life to reach souls with the Gospel of Christ and to encourage others to do likewise. How about you?
Ezekiel 1:1– 14 (NET)
1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision. 2 (On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile— 3 the Lord’s message came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the Lord came on him there.)
4 As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north—an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire. 5 In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form, 6 but each had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves’ feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, 9 their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead.
10 Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left, and also the face of an eagle. 11 Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies. 12 Each moved straight ahead —wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire. 14 The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning.