Matthew Henry Commentary Ezekiel 1:1-14

"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin`s captivity, the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him. And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf`s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]: their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle. And their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning." — Ezekiel 1:1-14 (ASV)

It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us, and a duty to attend to it diligently when we are in affliction. The voice of God came in the fullness of light and power, by the Holy Spirit. These visions seem to have been sent to fill the prophet's mind with great and high thoughts of God, to strike terror upon sinners, and to speak comfort to those that feared God and humbled themselves.

In Ezekiel 1:4-14, the first part of the vision represents God as attended and served by a vast company of angels, who are all His messengers and His ministers, doing His commandments. This vision would impress the mind with solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure, yet raise expectations of blessings. The fire is surrounded with a glory.

Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection, we still see the brightness around it. The likeness of the living creatures came out of the middle of the fire; angels derive their being and power from God.

They have the understanding of a man, and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox excels in diligence and patience, and in the tireless discharge of the work it has to do. An eagle excels in quickness, piercing sight, and in soaring high. The angels, who excel humans in all these respects, adopt these appearances.

The angels have wings, and whatever business God sends them on, they lose no time. They stood straight, firm, and steady.

They had not only wings for motion but also hands for action. Many people are quick but not active; they hurry about but do nothing to any purpose. They have wings but no hands. But wherever the angels' wings carried them, they also carried hands with them to do what duty required.

Whatever service they went about, they each went straight forward. When we go straight, we go forward; when we serve God with one heart, we perform work. They did not turn when they went. They made no mistakes; and their work did not need to be redone. They did not turn from their business to trifle with anything. They went wherever the Spirit of God would have them go.

The prophet saw these living creatures by their own light, for their appearance was like burning coals of fire; they are seraphim, or "burners," denoting the ardor of their love to God and fervent zeal in His service.

We may learn profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or understand. But let us attend to the things that relate to our peace and duty, and leave secret things to the Lord, to whom alone they belong.