Ezekiel 10 | Paul the Poke

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Cherubim & Wheels Working Together

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags body, cherub, cherubim, Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10, Four living creatures, Spirit, wheels on December 5, 2019 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 1:15a Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures…

Ezekiel 10:9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub…

Each wheel has a corresponding cherub. The cherub and the wheel belong to each other. In each of the three cases above, the word is translated as “beside”. This is the Hebrew preposition etsel. Per Strong’s Concordance, the word can be defined as a joining together, proximity. The idea is the wheel and the cherub are joined together.

Ezekiel 10:17b for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.

Ezekiel 1:20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Ezekiel 1:21b … for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.

The spirit of the individual cherub is housed in the wheel. The spirit of the cherub is outside of its body. The cherub needs its wheel. The cherub and spirit are in sync, body and spirit.

Ezekiel 10:16, 17, 19a When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and even when they spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not veer away from their side. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels also stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them. As I watched, the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the ground, with the wheels beside them as they went.

Ezekiel 1:17, 19-21 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The individual cherub and its wheel move together where ever they go. The direction does not matter, up, down, or sideways. The wheel sticks to the cherub like glue regardless of the speed or direction. The two work together as a concurrent, coexisting team.

Roughly 2,600 years ago, Ezekiel saw these things on Earth in what is modern day eastern Syria…

Cherubim: Subject to the LORD

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags cherubim, Ezekiel 10, God, Isaiah 14, Isaiah 37, Lord, Psalms on November 2, 2019 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD.

Positionally, God is above the cherubim. Well of course, the LORD is also over His creation, the nations and kingdoms, Israel, and humanity. This is not a one time observation. The concept is reinforced in Scripture. Cherubim, as well as the rest of creation, are subject to the authority of God. See some more examples below.

Isaiah 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

Psalm 80:1 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!

Psalm 99:1 The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!

So what is the big deal, cherubim are subjected to God their creator? In general this is not a problem, except for one…

This formerly anointed cherub is not interested in serving God. He does not want to be an equal to God. His heart is filled with self-regard and has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. He wants to place himself above the LORD of hosts (God’s title as a military commander). This cherub sees himself as a conquering leader and warrior. He wants to subdue and rule over humanity. He sees himself as moral authority. He can do it better than God.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’

A lot of misery and suffering will continue to occur because of this attitude. But, its time will come to an end…

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Angels: Cherubim

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Angels with tags cherub, cherubim, Ezekiel 10, fire, Garden of Eden, wings on August 18, 2019 by paulthepoke

Genesis 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

The Hebrew word for cherub is kerub: probably an order of angelic beings (Strong’s Concordance).

A form of the word “kerub” is referenced 91 times in the Old Testament per Strong’s. The derivation of the term is unknown. Cherub is the singular form and Cherubim is the plural form.

The first reference of the word cherubim is noted after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. The context is that of judgment and protection. Fire is associated with the context indicating purification.

What are the physical characteristics of a cherub? They have wings and they can be a vehicle of transportation.

2 Samuel 22:11 He rode on a cherub and flew; He was seen on the wings of the wind.

The Prophet Ezekiel probably provides the best eye witness account and physical description of cherubim in the Bible. Like the seraphim, cherubim are associated with burning coals. The coals purify and cleanse.

Ezekiel 10:2 And He said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.”

Cherubim have the ability to stand upright.

Ezekiel 10:3a Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house…

Apparently, the wings of the cherubim are in constant motion and the noise created is loud. Scripture tells us God’s voice is comparable to rushing water or thunder.

Ezekiel 10:5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.

Like seraphim, heat and fire do not burn cherubim. They also appear to have hands like humans which are located under their wings.

Ezekiel 10:7-8 And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.

The facial structure and appearance of a cherub is different than a human. They are unique in their appearance. This distinction is made in the physical description of a “whirling wheel” below.

Ezekiel 10:14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.