Encountering The Throne Of God

God is Still On His Throne

2 Kings 24:8-16 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it. Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother and his servants and his captains and his officials. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land. So he led Jehoiachin away into exile to Babylon; also the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his officials and the leading men of the land, he led away into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. All the men of valor, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, one thousand, all strong and fit for war, and these the king of Babylon brought into exile to Babylon.

The sin of Jehoiachin and the people of Judah had severe consequences. Judah was conquered and all but the poorest and infirm were taken captive to Babylon the temple was stripped of its holy vessels and ultimately the city of Jerusalem burned with fire it was a time of great sorrow, Psalm 137:1-6. Everyone is questioning whether or not they will be in exile a long time, or if they are still the people of God.

Ezekiel 1:1-1:28 The theme of the whole book of Ezekiel is the glory of God. The last verse of Ezekiel talks about a city whose name is "The Lord is there." That to me is the theme of the Feast of Tabernacles; it is the Lord manifests Himself there. He is the glory of God. The theme of the Book of Ezekiel being the glory of God actually reveals to us that the theme of the Book of Ezekiel is the revelation of Christ. Ezekiel is the Old Testament book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation we know, the last book in the Bible, is the book of the revealing of the Son in the New Testament. The Book of Ezekiel is the revealing of the Son in the Old Testament. Isn't it amazing that it ends by saying, "The Lord is there."

Some facts about Ezekiel:

Age 30. "In the thirtieth year . . . the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God" (1:1) - Occupations. "Ezekiel the priest" (1:3) - Birthday. "Take the sum of the sons of Kohath . . . from thirty years old and upwards" (Num. 4:2,3) -

Captive. "I was among the captives" (1:1) - Taken from home at age 27. "Which was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity" (1:2). Taken in 597 B.C. he was called in 593-92 B.C. Five years later the Temple was destroyed 587 B.C. -

"I was . . . by the river Chebar (at Tel Abib) and the hand of the Lord was there upon him" (1:3). Called the Grand Canal for transportation between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers -

Received letter from Jeremiah. (Jer. 29) That destroyed their dreams.

(1) Settle down. "Build ye houses . . . plant gardens . . . take ye wives" (Jer. 29:5,6).

(2) Don’t rebel. "Seek the peace of the city" (Jer. 29:7).

(3) 70 years. "After seventy years . . . I will visit you . . . to return you to this place (Jerusalem)" (Jer. 29:10).

EZEKIEL ENCOUNTERS GOD

An encounter occurs when: God intentionally meets with you - in a time of great personal need - through unexpected circumstances - telling you something about Himself - you learn something about yourself - preparing you for a specific task - even though you don’t fully understand all the mysterious elements of the encounter.

God called Ezekiel, on the day he should have been consecrated as a priest. In time of need because dreams were destroyed. God told them they would not return home to Jerusalem (Jer. 29). Unexpected circumstances.

Then A Vision.

Remember Ezekiel was at the River. This is a type of The Holy Spirit. To encounter God we must be In The Spirit, by The River.......