Ezekiel 1:28

This radiance resembled a rainbow; it encircled the person on the throne. This radiance represents the glory that surrounds Yahweh as He sits on this heavenly throne (cf. Exodus 19; 1 Kings 8; Isaiah 6; Daniel 10; Revelation 4).

"Noah saw the rainbow after the storm (Genesis 9:13-16), the Apostle John saw it before the storm (Revelation 4:3), but Ezekiel saw it over the storm and in control of the storm." [Note: Warren W. Wiersbe, "Ezekiel," in The Bible Exposition Commentary/Prophets, p. 166.]

Ezekiel realized that what he was seeing was a representation of Yahweh, perhaps the preincarnate Christ, and he fell prostrate on the ground (cf. Ezekiel 3:23; Isaiah 6:5; Daniel 8:17; Daniel 10:8-9; Revelation 1:17). Then he heard a voice speaking.

"It was a deeply-held tenet of Israelite religion from Moses onwards that God could not be visibly expressed, and for that very reason idolatry was out. But given the possibility of a theophany, no form but the human form could conceivably have been used to represent the Deity. It was, however, no mere human that Ezekiel saw: His radiance was surrounded by the glory of a rainbow, and the prophet could show his awe in no other way than by falling on his face in the dust before his God (28)." [Note: Taylor, p. 59.]

Ezekiel realized that he was in the presence of the glorious, holy God who could judge sin and uncleanness instantaneously and finally. His only appropriate response was humble prostration, throwing himself on God’s mercy (cf. Isaiah 6:5).

"The opening vision of Ezekiel’s ministry affirmed three significant truths about God that are summarized in Ezekiel 1:28. First, the vision was a reaffirmation of the nature of God as holy, powerful, and majestic. Second, the rainbow was a reminder of God’s promise-making and promise-keeping character (Genesis 9:16). It was a rekindler of hope that God could and would help. Third, it was an assurance that nothing, including geographic location, separated one from God (cf. Romans 8:38-39)." [Note: Cooper, p. 72. See also Peter C. Craigie, Ezekiel, pp. 12-14.]

The awesome holiness (otherness, difference, purity, perfection) of God overwhelmed Ezekiel. He undoubtedly associated the revelation in this vision with other similar manifestations that God had given of Himself in Israel’s past: at Mount Sinai, in the wilderness wanderings, at the dedications of the tabernacle and temple, and in Isaiah’s commission. As a priest Ezekiel would have been familiar with these former revelations, as the modern reader of the Old Testament is. Consequently he would have understood much that he saw. It provided a backdrop against which he understood Israel’s sinfulness and God’s judgment of sinful nations. [Note: On the problem of textual corruptions in Ezekiel 1:4-28, see Daniel C. Fredericks, "Diglossia, Revelation, and Ezekiel’s Inaugural Rite," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 41:2 (June 1998):189-99.]

"Jacob saw God at Peniel and his life was transformed from that hour. Moses went up to Mount Sinai and communed with God face to face and thereafter was marked for the rest of his life. Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord in the sanctuary and his entire ministry was suffused with the beauty of the holiness of the Lord. Paul saw the risen and glorified Redeemer on the Damascus road and was blinded from that day on to all the allurements of the world. John saw visions of the glorious unfolding of God’s program for Christ, the church and all the redeemed, and as a result was unmoved by the adverse circumstances that surrounded him. Ezekiel saw visions of the glory of the Lord God of Israel and his ministry never lost the impress of it." [Note: Feinberg, p. 17.]

Every servant of the Lord must appreciate the glory of God to serve Him effectively. One may not see a vision of God’s glory or have a strongly emotional experience that devastates him or her, as Ezekiel did. Nevertheless the Holy Spirit will impress the glory of God on the servant’s heart as that person views God in His Word. Appreciating the glory of God humbles a person and affects how one views other people and all of life.

"Let us hope that the majesty of God would always cause us, similarly, to respect and honor Him." [Note: Stuart, p. 36.]