And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
Original Language Analysis
כַּמַּרְאֶ֕הAnd it was according to the appearanceH4758
כַּמַּרְאֶ֕הAnd it was according to the appearance
Ezekiel connects this vision to two previous encounters:
the cherubim vision by the Chebar canal (Ezekiel 1),
the vision of Jerusalem's judgment (Ezekiel 8-11).
The phrase 'when I came to destroy the city' doesn't mean Ezekiel destroyed it but that he came with God's message announcing destruction—the prophet identified with God's purposes. Ezekiel's prostration ('I fell upon my face') demonstrates proper response to divine glory—overwhelming reverence, humility, and awe. This isn't casual observation but transformative encounter. The repetition emphasizes continuity: the same God who revealed His glory in exile, pronounced judgment on apostasy, now promises restoration. Reformed theology emphasizes God's unchanging character—He is both judge and redeemer, holy and merciful. The vision's consistency across contexts teaches that God's nature doesn't fluctuate based on circumstances. His glory remains constant whether in judgment (destroying) or mercy (restoring).
Historical Context
The Chebar canal (Ezekiel 1:1-3) was an irrigation canal near Nippur in Babylonia where Jewish exiles settled. Ezekiel's initial vision (593 BC) introduced the merkavah (throne-chariot) imagery central to his prophecy. The vision of Jerusalem's abominations (Ezekiel 8-11, around 592 BC) showed God's glory departing the corrupted temple—tragic but necessary. Now in 573 BC (Ezekiel 40:1), fourteen years after Jerusalem's fall, the glory returns. This chronological progression—glory revealed in exile, glory departing from apostate Jerusalem, glory returning to restored temple—structures Ezekiel's theology. For the exiles, this continuity was crucial: their God hadn't abandoned them despite exile. The same divine presence encountered in foreign land would return to dwell among them. This assured that God's covenantal faithfulness transcends historical catastrophe.
Questions for Reflection
How do you respond when encountering God's glory—with prostrate reverence or casual familiarity?
What comfort comes from recognizing that the God who judges sin is the same God who promises restoration?
How does Ezekiel's progression (glory in exile, glory departing, glory returning) mirror your own spiritual journey?
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Analysis & Commentary
Ezekiel connects this vision to two previous encounters:
The phrase 'when I came to destroy the city' doesn't mean Ezekiel destroyed it but that he came with God's message announcing destruction—the prophet identified with God's purposes. Ezekiel's prostration ('I fell upon my face') demonstrates proper response to divine glory—overwhelming reverence, humility, and awe. This isn't casual observation but transformative encounter. The repetition emphasizes continuity: the same God who revealed His glory in exile, pronounced judgment on apostasy, now promises restoration. Reformed theology emphasizes God's unchanging character—He is both judge and redeemer, holy and merciful. The vision's consistency across contexts teaches that God's nature doesn't fluctuate based on circumstances. His glory remains constant whether in judgment (destroying) or mercy (restoring).