Diving into Ezekiel Again

     I have read Ezekiel quite a few times, and I must say it is a hard and beautiful book that I'm not sure I will ever completely comprehend.  Ezekiel has such rich imagery that makes it beautiful. It opens with this vision of the throne of God with imagery of who Christ is that seems perhaps to parallel the four gospels: Jesus as a king, lion (Matthew), Jesus as a servant, ox  (Mark), Jesus as a man, man (Luke), and Jesus as God, eagle (John). There are similarities to John's vision in Revelation. Another interpretation is that it refers to four realms of creation, with man supreme, then domestic animals, wild animals, and birds. Either way, God is seen as glorious and above all.  The wheels with eyes all around and that can go in all directions reveal God's omniscient, omnipresent character. He knows all, sees all, and is everywhere at all times.  There was coal like in Isaiah's vision. Oh how I love Isaiah 6 and the image of God taking away our sin. Then those outstretched wings sound familiar like the cherubim above the mercy seat in the temple. The sights and sounds were breathtaking. And that radiance around God lifted high upon His throne, with all the colors of the rainbow, oh how majestic He is in all His glory!
   After seeing all this, I cannot imagine how Ezekiel must be feeling, and then God asks him to stand upon his feet! I bet they were a bit weak, but the Spirit stood him upon his feet. He told him to go out and speak His words to a rebellious people, to go forth in obedience whether the people listened or not. Isn't that how we are to walk? To go forth faithfully following God no matter what the outcome, not knowing everything, but knowing that our God is faithful (and that's all we need to know.)?
     It is hard to imagine these meetings Ezekiel has with God. Again we see the Spirit having to put Ezekiel on his feet in chapter 3. Beginning in 4, we see Ezekiel is to use object lessons for his audience as we often do today, but he was often the object. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for him to lay bound for over a year.
     I'm excited to be diving into Ezekiel again. I always long to get to the part where God talks about redemption and restoration. But isn't that the best part of the whole story of this world, the beautiful love story of a God who loves His people (though rebellious and undeserving) and will do whatever it takes to redeem and restore our right standing?