The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 39

V, THAT ALL THE ACTIVITIES 01" NATURE AND 01" PROVIDENCE ARE TINGED WITH A MORAL PURPOSE. There is surely something to be gathered from the fact that the prophet makes mention of these several colours. The fire which enfolded upon itself was of the colour of amber. The throne on which the Eternal sat was in appearance like a sapphire stone. 'l'he living creatures were like burning coals of fire. The wheels were like the colour of the beryl-i.e. a bluish green. These colours are constituent elements of the perfecl; white, and imply that God's righteousness (as well as his w:sdom nnd goodness) is manifest in all his works. The universe is imbued with a. moral purpose. "Truth shall spring out of the earth, a.nd righteousness shall look down from heaven;" "The mountains aha.II bring peace to the people, and the little bills by righteoueness."-D. Vers. 22-28.-Thevision of God is the source of prophetic inspiration. We cannot fail to observe in Scripture that the prominent prophets were prepared for their responsible work by an ecstatic sigiht of Deity. Without a clear and overpowering sense of the greatness of God, along with the undeserved honour of being his messenger, mortal men shrink from the perilous task of reproving and warning their fellows. '!.'his was the royal university in which the prophets received their high commission ; and every evangelic prophet, too, must hear bis message from Jehovah's lips before he can speak with authority to the people. In the words of St. Paul, modem preachers should be able to say, "I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you." We learn- L THAT Goo's ELEVATION ABOVE HIS CREATURES IS A MORAL ATTITUDE RATHER THAN MATERIAL DISTANCE, His eminence measured by intrinsic excellence, not by intervening space. -That both angels and men-all the principalities and powers-are symbolized in the "living creatures" (or cherubim) is evident from the fact that immediately above the wings of these ideal beings stretched the floor of heaven-a. crystal firmament, awe-inspiring in its splendour-and on this was erected the sapphire throne of Deity. Between the blue transparent floor of the heavenly palace and. the wings of the cherubim no distance intervened, "He is not far from every one of us; in him we live." We may see, not only the rod, but also the hand that bas appointed it. "Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved;" "The Lord of hosts is with us;" "Thou encompassest my path;" "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." II. THAT Goo IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS UNIVERSE. He was seen by Ezekiel, as also by Isaiah, occupying a throne. 'fhis implies that he has not given himself up to majestic and well-earned repose. The crystal firmament and the sapphire throne bespeak the presence of serene and perfect pence. Yet there is no indolence in heaven. Perfect life means constant activity. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work;" "They serve him day and night in his temple." It. is an exploded fallacy of the sceptics that God has withdrawn himself from the scenes of earth, and takes no interest in human affairs. The very opposite is the truth. He acts mediately in the most minute changes and events, "His throne is pre- pared in the heavens: his kingdom ruleth over all," III. THAT THE MOST HIGH Goo DEIGNS TO REVEAL HIMSELF IN HUMAN FORM. This is an unquestionable honour put upon human nature. We have in these visions of Ezekiel mysterious forms of cherubic life, but God does not disclose himself to the view of the prophet in any of these forms. "Verily he took not on him the nature of_ angels," It is nowhere said that God created the an11:els in bis own image. It is said that man was formed after the likeness of himself. It is nowhere said that recovery was provided for fallen angels; for man it is provided, and nt prodigious exp_ense, Angels are uniformly styled "servants;" the redeemed from humanity are d_es1gnated "sous." In the apocalpytic visions of St. John, the angels stand in an outer circle round about the throne; while the elders-representatives of the Church-sit on thrones nearer to the Deity. God bas put stupendous honour on human nature. T~ere is a Man upon the highest throne. God has stooped to our poor level, that he ~ 19ht raise us up to his. "We are to be partakers of the Divine nature." Iu this vision granted to Ezekiel we have a forecast of the Iucarnation-an anticipation of Bethlehem,  THE BbOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL.