REVERENCE FOR GOD’S PROMISES JoLynn Gower 352-2458 cell 493-6151 jgower@guardingthetruth.org

EZEKIEL SEES CHERUBIM 5th year of his captivity Probably 30 is his age Creatures: faces like man, lion, bull, eagle; 4 wings Ezekiel 1:26-28 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

EZEKIEL’S CALL Ezekiel had fallen on his face; but now the Spirit entered and he stood Ezekiel is to go tell the people God’s word, whether they listen or not Success: giving the message, not the response Isaiah 6:9-10 He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand. Render the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.” Jeremiah 1:19 "They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord.”

REVELATION OF SIN Much can be seen about a nation by how they respond when their sin is revealed Sometimes people are unable to see that they are sinful; sometimes they continue in abject rebellion Don’t fear (yare) when God gives words It’s a big deal when a scroll is written on both sides When people have rejected God, they also reject His messenger

GOD’S COPING MECHANISM Ezekiel 3:8 “Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.” Hard: chazaq: strong, bold, violent Isaiah 48:4 "Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead bronze… Forehead: metsach: conspicuous; stubborn, impudent Ezekiel 3:14-15 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away; and I went embittered in the rage of my spirit, and the hand of the Lord was strong on me. Then I came to the exiles who lived beside the river Chebar at Tel-abib, and I sat there seven days where they were living, causing consternation among them.

EZEKIEL’S STATE OF MIND Embittered in the rage of my spirit Embittered: marah: discontent, distress Rage: chemah: heat, hot displeasure The watchman: tsaphah: someone who looks out or about; expectancy 1 Chronicles 12:32 Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.