Sunday 2021.09:05
My OT reading today begins with the first four chapters of the book of the prophet Ezekiel
The priest Ezekiel ben Buzi was called by Yehovah to prophesy to the children of Israel and Judah exiled in the land of the Chaldeans, in the city of Tel-abib by the river Chebar, on the 5th day 4th month, during the 5th year of exile of King Jehoiachin, the 19th King of Judah. (Ezekiel 1:1 - 3; 3:15)
In chapter one, Ezekiel records a vision of the throne of God which he saw, placed over a dome covering the heads of four living creatures, each with four wings and four faces, and each standing on a "wheel within wheel" (Ezekiel 1:4 - 21)
The following verses describe the vision of the dome and the throne of God which appeared like sapphire to Ezekiel. On the throne was a human form that gleamed like amber from the loins upwards, enclosed by fire The throne was surrounded by a splendour like a rainbow.
Ezekiel 1:22 - 25 NRSV
22Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like a dome, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. 23Under the dome their wings were stretched out straight, one towards another; and each of the creatures had two wings covering its body. 24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; when they stopped, they let down their wings. 25And there came a voice from above the dome over their heads; when they stopped, they let down their wings.
Ezekiel 1:26 - 28 NRSV
26And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. 27Upwards from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all round; and downwards from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendour all round. 28Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendour all round. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
