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G
24:1 to 32:32.
Babylon
Parable 'The anointed cherub'.
H
33:1 -22.
Sign 'Watchman'.
I 33:23 -33.Lovely Song
Wastes.
B
34:1 -31.
Shepherds
(a) Feed themselves (Shepherds).
(b) Foul the pastures (sheep).
A
35:1 to 48:35.
Restoration
The Cherubim.
The glory returning.
The Visions:
(a)
The Dry Bones.
(b)
The Two Sticks.
(c)
Healing Leaves.
Such is the outline of prophecy as a whole. Two portions only can be
dealt with here (and that very inadequately) owing to the peculiar character
of their wording. The one subject is 'The Cherubim', the other 'The Vision
of the valley of dry bones'.
The Cherubim. -- The prophecy of Ezekiel opens and closes with a vision
of the Cherubim. In the opening section, the Cherubim are seen reluctantly
leaving the city, with the glory of God associated with their withdrawal;
in the closing section, they appear in the rebuilt temple, where the glory of
the Lord returns. Between these two references, stands the enigmatic passage
which speaks of 'The Anointed Cherub that covereth'.
Ezekiel
A
1 to 11.
The Cherubim
The Glory departing.
a from threshold.
b from east gate.
c from midst of city.
B
28.
The Anointed Cherub.
'Cast out as profane'.
A
43 to 48.
The Cherubim
The Glory returns.
c from the way of the east.
b by the way of the gate.
a
to the inner court.
The title 'Cherubim' is not found in the first chapter, but from
chapter 10:20 we learn that 'the living creatures' of the opening vision are
the Cherubim. In the first chapter we meet with their description, the four
faces, which is repeated in 10:21. The book of the Revelation speaks of
these same 'living creatures', but the Authorized Version unfortunately veils
the reference by translating the word zoon 'beasts' in chapter 5:6,8 and
elsewhere. The Student's Commentary says, of the opening and closing
references to the Cherubim in Ezekiel: 'It (i.e. the glory) leaves slowly
(10:3,4,18,19) and returns suddenly (43:1 -5), such is the way of love; it
lingers when retiring, it hastens when returning'. The prophetic and
symbolic meaning of the Cherubim is a subject too far -reaching to be dealt
with here. (See article Cherubim1). All we can say here is that the four
faces, Man, Lion, Ox and Eagle appear to represent Man and the dominion given