Immerse: Prophets - Flipbook - Page 342
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IMMERSE
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PROPHETS
10:13–11:11
eyes. The cherubim had eyes all over their bodies, including their hands,
their backs, and their wings. I heard someone refer to the wheels as “the
whirling wheels.” Each of the four cherubim had four faces: the first was
the face of an ox, the second was a human face, the third was the face of a
lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.
Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the same living beings I
had seen beside the Kebar River. When the cherubim moved, the wheels
moved with them. When they lifted their wings to fly, the wheels stayed
beside them. When the cherubim stopped, the wheels stopped. When
they flew upward, the wheels rose up, for the spirit of the living beings
was in the wheels.
Then the glory of the Lord moved out from the entrance of the Temple
and hovered above the cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew
with their wheels to the east gate of the Lord’s Temple. And the glory of
the God of Israel hovered above them.
These were the same living beings I had seen beneath the God of Israel
when I was by the Kebar River. I knew they were cherubim, for each had
four faces and four wings and what looked like human hands under their
wings. And their faces were just like the faces of the beings I had seen at the
Kebar, and they traveled straight ahead, just as the others had.
Then the Spirit lifted me and brought me to the east gateway of the Lord’s
Temple, where I saw twenty-five prominent men of the city. Among them
were Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders
among the people.
The Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are planning
evil and giving wicked counsel in this city. They say to the people, ‘Is it
not a good time to build houses? This city is like an iron pot. We are safe
inside it like meat in a pot.’ Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them
loudly and clearly.”
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he told me to say, “This
is what the Lord says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying,
for I know every thought that comes into your minds. You have murdered
many in this city and filled its streets with the dead.
“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: This city is an iron
pot all right, but the pieces of meat are the victims of your injustice. As for
you, I will soon drag you from this pot. I will bring on you the sword of war
you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign Lord. I will drive you out of Jeru
salem and hand you over to foreigners, who will carry out my judgments
against you. You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel. I
will execute judgment on you, and you will know that I am the Lord. No,
this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be like meat safe
