1. From what appeared to be a stone, what instruction was given to the man clothed with linen?
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He was told to take coals of fire from between the cherubims and scatter them over the city: “(1) Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. (2) And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight” (Ezekiel 10:1-2).
“Then…”, this ties back to the context that began in chapter 8. Remember… “And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me” (Ezekiel 8:1).
In a vision, we are talking about likenesses. This includes the firmament [sky] (Ezekiel 1:22-26).
He saw the likeness of a throne up in the sky above the vision of cherubims (Ezekiel 1:26). This would symbolize that the Lord is going to be the focal point of what he is about to see and hear (I Kings 22:13-28, Psalms 11:4, and Isaiah 66:1).
The man clothed with linen (Ezekiel 9:2ff.).
The coals of fire (Ezekiel 1:13).
Scatter the coals of fire over the city (Ezekiel 24:9-14; cf. II Kings 25:8-9).
2. Where were the cherubims standing in this vision?
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On the right side of the house of God: “Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house [the house of God; vs. 19], when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court” (Ezekiel 10:3).
This makes sense in this vision. The temple of God in Jerusalem included figures of cherubims (II Chronicles 3:8-13; 5:7).
3. What filled the house and the court?
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In general, the glory of the Lord. Specifically, the house was filled with the cloud and the court with the brightness of the Lord’s glory: “Then the glory of the LORD went 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” (Ezekiel 10:4).
Exodus 16:6-10, Exodus 24:16-17, and Exodus 40:35.
Again, remember this is a vision so we are talking about likeness of things (Ezekiel 1:28).
4. What sounded like the voice of the Almighty?
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The sound of the cherubim’s wings: “And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh” (Ezekiel 10:5).
We saw this in Ezekiel 1:24.
The idea is that this was a mighty, powerful noise (II Samuel 22:14, Job 37:2-5, and John 12:28-29).
5. Who gave the man clothed with linen the coals of fire he was supposed to get?
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One of the cherubs: “(6) And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. (7) And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out” (Ezekiel 10:6-7).
It is interesting, that because of the temple, Israel thought of the Lord as He who sits between the cherubims (Psalms 99:1). Now, fire is to be taken from among the cherubims.
So, think about this. It was a cherubim that guarded the garden of Eden to keep everyone out (Genesis 3:23-24). Now, it is a cherubim that is handing a man fire.
6. From the form of the hand of a man to the living creature in them, how did Ezekiel describe his vision of these cherubims?
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“(8) And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. (9) And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. (10) And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. (11) When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. (12) And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. (13) As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. (14) And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (15) And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. (16) And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. (17) When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them” (Ezekiel 10:8-17).
These things are revealed and have been discussed in chapter 1.
One note to take and think about is this statement: “…for the spirit of the living creature was in them” (Ezekiel 10:17). Angels are spirits (Psalms 104:4 and Hebrews 1:7). Does this mean though that they were guided by the Holy Spirit in this vision (Ezekiel 1:20-21)?
Remember something about angels, they are servants as we are (Hebrews 12:22-23 and Revelation 22:8-9). Later, we shall be exalted (I John 3:1-2) and are said to “judge the angels” (I Corinthians 6:3).
7. What departed as the cherubims lifted up from the earth?
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The glory of God: “(18) Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims. (19) And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above” (Ezekiel 10:18-19).
We considered the glory of the Lord when looking at verse 4. Then the house of the Lord was filled with the glory of the Lord in this vision. Now, the cherubims have ascended up from the earth [the ground] at the glory of the Lord rose above them. Remember, this is all a vision of things above anyway (Ezekiel 10:1), so it is hard to say exactly what it represents.
This could have just meant that God arose. Or, in times of apostasy the Lord departed from among His people (Deuteronomy 31:16-18). “Woe” unto them when the Lord departed (Hosea 9:12).
The chariot of God was said to be thousands of angels (Psalms 68:17-18).
8. What convinced Ezekiel he was seeing cherubims in this vision?
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His previous vision by the river Chebar: “(20) This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. (21) Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. (22) And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward” (Ezekiel 10:20-22).
Again, we reference what he previously saw by the river Chebar (Ezekiel 1:1; 3; 1:22-28, and Ezekiel 3:23.
Ezekiel will again later reference these visions (Ezekiel 43:1-3).
It is interesting to note that language slightly changes in angelic beings during Heavenly visions (i.e. Revelation 4:1-7).
Again, we see the word “likeness” meaning resemblance. This is a vision. There is not an exact description.