Page 46 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

40 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
visions of God to Jerusalem, now in its day of visita­
tion for its uncleanness of flesh and spirit, beginning
with the sanctuary but taking cognizance of the city
throughout, those only excepted who sighed and cried
for all the abominations done in the midst. If it was a
solemn sight for the captive prophet to see the glory of
God in a heathen land, it was no less significant to see
it arrayed in vengeance against the city whereon His
eyes and His heart are perpetually.
“ Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that
was above the head of the cherubim there appeared
over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance
of the likeness of a throne. 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 cherubim, and scatter
them over the city.' And he went in in my sight.
Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the
house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the
inner court.’1 (Ver. 1—3.) Thus from Him who is
not even named, but who fills the throne above, came
the command intimating consuming judgment for the
city; and he who was commissioned to mark the righ­
teous for exemption is now told to fill his hand with
coals of fire from between the cherubim and to scatter
them over Jerusalem. The cloud of Jehovah’s presence
was there; but it afforded no shelter, no direction now
to the people who had abandoned all care for His will
and preferred a calf or a dung-god to the Eternal of
Israel. How changed from the day when Jehovah
went before them, or filled the sanctuary!
“ Then the glory of Jehovah went up from the cherub