hen I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of theLord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
Here v.23 ends with the expression 'fell on my face' on beholding the glory of God. It is significant we have the same expression coming at the end of the first chapter where he on witnessing the glory of God falls down ."This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake(1:28)".
When the risen Christ reveals to John we read a similar expression, 'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead (Re.1:17).' The vision of God that Isaiah saw in the year that King Uzziah died was no less impressive but the vision crushes him,'Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts(Is.6:5)".
When God takes over the life of man there is no face to save. King Saul after becoming an enemy of God requires Old Samuel to walk with him while people are looking. So he has sense of royal dignity to save. Is it not how some behave after having made a shipwreck of their faith lives? They still for the grandstand have something to show: shake their prosperity as reward for their services to God. How clever? Saul began well but in harboring implacable hatred and jealousy he backslid from God. It is true in our times.
There is no yea and no with God. Either your heart is entirely given to do His bidding or none at all. Total surrender is total sanctification which in the case of Ezekiel makes him 'fall on his face.'
It is what faith does. Its effect is total. So whether it is mind's eye or physical vision in question faith cannot be divided from the heart. Flesh profits nothing so the glory of God when seen must draw the entire body to respond.
hen I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of theLord stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
Here v.23 ends with the expression 'fell on my face' on beholding the glory of God. It is significant we have the same expression coming at the end of the first chapter where he on witnessing the glory of God falls down ."This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake(1:28)".
When the risen Christ reveals to John we read a similar expression, 'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead (Re.1:17).' The vision of God that Isaiah saw in the year that King Uzziah died was no less impressive but the vision crushes him,'Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts(Is.6:5)".
When God takes over the life of man there is no face to save. King Saul after becoming an enemy of God requires Old Samuel to walk with him while people are looking. So he has sense of royal dignity to save. Is it not how some behave after having made a shipwreck of their faith lives? They still for the grandstand have something to show: shake their prosperity as reward for their services to God. How clever? Saul began well but in harboring implacable hatred and jealousy he backslid from God. It is true in our times.
There is no yea and no with God. Either your heart is entirely given to do His bidding or none at all. Total surrender is total sanctification which in the case of Ezekiel makes him 'fall on his face.'
It is what faith does. Its effect is total. So whether it is mind's eye or physical vision in question faith cannot be divided from the heart. Flesh profits nothing so the glory of God when seen must draw the entire body to respond.
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