Ezekiel 10:1-5: a reflection

1Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2He spoke to the man clothed in linen, and said, “Go in between the whirling wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” He went in as I watched. 3Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. 4The LORD’s glory mounted up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory. 5The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.

In Ezekiel's vision, the prophet sees the glory of God among the cherubim, and the sight is overwhelming: the cloud filled the house, the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory, and the sound of the cherubim's wings was heard even to the outer court, like the voice of God when he speaks. The vision conveys the sheer majesty and glory of God, a brightness that fills the house, a sound that carries far, a presence before which one can only bow in awe. The overwhelming majesty of God's glory is meant to move us to reverence, to a sense of the greatness and holiness of the God we so often approach too casually.

Notice the overwhelming majesty of God's glory in the vision. The brightness filled the house and court; the sound of the wings carried like the voice of God. This was no small or manageable presence; it was the glory of God, overwhelming, majestic, filling everything with brightness. The vision conveys the sheer greatness and holiness of God, before whom the only fitting response is reverence and awe. We can grow so casual about God, approaching him lightly, forgetting his majesty; but the vision reminds us of the overwhelming glory of the God we come before, whose brightness fills the house and whose voice is like a great sound. His majesty calls for our reverence.

That is worth taking to heart, for the God we come before is a God of overwhelming majesty and glory, calling us to reverence. We can grow casual and familiar with God, approaching him lightly, forgetting the greatness and holiness before which Ezekiel could only bow; but the vision reminds us of the overwhelming glory of God, his majesty filling the house with brightness. The God we approach is great and holy, and his majesty calls for our reverence. Do not grow so casual with God that you forget his overwhelming majesty; let a sense of his glory move you to reverence, as Ezekiel beheld the brightness that filled the house. Approach God with the reverence his overwhelming majesty and glory deserve, not casually or lightly, as Ezekiel beheld the glory of God fill the house with brightness and the sound of the cherubim carry like the voice of God; for the God we come before is great and holy, and a right sense of his majesty moves us to reverence rather than a casual familiarity.

Lord, in Ezekiel's vision, the prophet sees your glory among the cherubim, and the sight is overwhelming: the cloud filled the house, the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory, and the sound of the cherubim's wings was heard even to the outer court, like the voice of God when he speaks. The vision conveys the sheer majesty and glory of you, a brightness that fills the house, a sound that carries far, a presence before which one can only bow in awe. Show me the overwhelming majesty of your glory in the vision. The brightness filled the house and court; the sound of the wings carried like your voice. This was no small or manageable presence; it was your glory, overwhelming, majestic, filling everything with brightness. The vision conveys your sheer greatness and holiness, before whom the only fitting response is reverence and awe. I can grow so casual about you, approaching you lightly, forgetting your majesty; but the vision reminds me of your overwhelming glory. Take that to my heart, for you, the God I come before, are a God of overwhelming majesty and glory, calling me to reverence. I can grow casual and familiar with you, approaching you lightly, forgetting the greatness and holiness before which Ezekiel could only bow; but the vision reminds me of your overwhelming glory. Keep me from growing so casual with you that I forget your overwhelming majesty; let a sense of your glory move me to reverence, Lord, as Ezekiel beheld the brightness that filled the house. Help me approach you with the reverence your majesty deserves, not casually or lightly.