God’s Glory Matters…
Author: Dan
Greetings from Tucson
Welcome to ShalomWalk. A place of respite for the inquisitive mind and the weary heart.
I'm Dan Craig, my I co-writer is Beth McKean. We are both retired professionals, we're both Christians, and we both enjoy writing about things that matter to us. We want to share things that we think about, as the days come and go. The blog will be comprised of; (1) single page essays on a wide range of topics derived from reading scripture; (2) recipes from Pepper with a story behind each recipe; (3) other kinds of useful information for running a household; (4) Photographs from Pepper and original instrumental music from Dan.
Our blog focus. By wisdom our house is built on a sturdy foundation; by understanding the roof brings comfort from the heat of life; by knowledge the rooms are filled with grandeur. As a person thinks in their heart, they become in real life (implied in Proverbs 24:3-4 and Proverbs 23:7).
May God bless you and keep you safe in His heart. May God bring you his truth and peace. Amen.
Operating Outside the Box
It has been my observation while reading Ezekiel that the initial vision in chapter 1 has many implications for how God interacts with us during ‘real life’. Even something as obscure as the wheels that the angels ride provides us with a subtle backstory on how God gets things done.
Ezekiel 1:19-21 says — When the living creatures [the four angels] moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures [four angels] rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit [Spirit of God] would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures [Spirit of God] was in the wheels. When the creatures [four angels] moved, they also moved; when the creatures [four angels] stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures [four angels] rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures [Spirit of God] was in the wheels [NIV].
In general, the wheels appear to move in a steady stable motion, consistent with the nature of God. However, there may be times when the wheel appears to be out of synch with God’s power (recall the time when Jesus wondered who touched him in Luke 8:45). During these times of ‘out of sync’ power, I suspect the angels were engaged in service that was outside the normal course of nature’s laws and of human interaction. What appears to be a disconnect, an ‘out of sync’ event, is simple normal operations from God’s perspective. One might think the occasions where the gifts of the Spirit as supported by angelic operations could fall into this model of thought.
One could say that when the angels are lifted up by the rims, they have been elevated to service outside the normal course of natural law and human interaction. This type of lifting was mentioned twice, see Ezekiel 1:19 and Ezekiel 1:21. I think it is safe to say that we humans move and act as we are directed or influenced by God. I recall God telling us he uses all people, their faith status is not the deciding factor, his decision to use somebody is the deciding factor (see Ezra 1 concerning Cyrus).
Furthermore, the things we see and hear are governed by things we cannot see or hear. The Spirit of the living God is the Spirit driving the living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision. They are tapping directly into the wisdom, power, and holiness of God. They are getting the plan direct from the source, ungarbled truth so they know exactly how to proceed.
God is on his throne and driving the wheels of the throne room. He controls the whole so the components move in perfect unison. Just as our body moves in unison, so do the wheels, angels, platform, throne, and all the visuals surrounding the angels and hardscape. It all moves as a unit in accordance with God’s will as he purposes things to be accomplished. These angels move exactly in accordance with his plan, not one thing is done incorrectly. No errors. The angels are persuasive. As needed, they move us to serve the intention of God. Even Cyrus was moved as directed (see Ezra 1).
Pondering on this thing with the eyes on the rim and God using anyone to achieve his objectives takes us to a new place. The eyes of the rim are on all things in his creation. They see it all. They are part of the inner sanctum; they are one small step away from the God of this universe. One of the eyes is looking at you right now even as you read this. God can use anyone. He is looking for a few people who are willing to serve God. The big wheels are turning (yes, I smiled with this phrase, a glib reference to the song Proud Mary). The Holy Spirit will speak the will of the God who is there. Angels are moving. It is time to get in step, to find the river (opps, I still have that song in my head). I choose Jesus.
Be Thou My Vision
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended
1 Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that we to judge thee have in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted!
2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.
3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered.
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.
4 For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.
5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.
Johann Heermann was a German poet and hymnodist. He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 26 October with Philipp Nicolai and Paul Gerhardt.
Born: October 11, 1585, Rudna, Poland
Died: February 17, 1647 (age 61 years), Leszno, Poland
Church and Respect
by Leanne Guenther
Have you ever been to a King or Queen’s palace? How would you act if you were invited there? Would you run around and talk loudly? Would you push your brother or sister and talk back to your parents? Would you ignore the Queen if she talked to you?
I’m sure you would be on your best behavior. You would listen to your parents, mind all your manners, say “please” and “thank-you”, and be careful not to break anything.
One last question, why would you be on your best behavior at the Queen’s palace? Is it because the Queen is important and she has lots of nice things, and you just know that you are supposed to be good in a fancy place like that?
This lesson is about how we should behave in God’s house. Church is a special place where we learn more about God and worship him. God doesn’t actually live there because God is everywhere but it’s one of the special places we can go just to honor him without any distractions of the outside world.
Have you ever noticed that people dress up when they go to church. That’s because people are trying to be respectful to God and to get ready to worship him. Have you ever wondered why people close their eyes and bow their heads when they pray? People do that so they can think about what they’re praying to God and not looking and thinking about other things. We bow our heads because God is our King and he deserves respect like a King and so much more!
When you are respectful you listen to others and treat others the way you want to be treated. So how can you respect others at church? By treating church like God’s house and listening to your teachers and parents, by walking instead of running and using your quiet voice instead of your loud voice.
Sometimes in church there are special times that we’re allowed to run around (in the church gym or a during a special lesson in Sunday School) and that’s okay if the teachers or parents give you permission but otherwise we need to learn and listen to what the leaders say.
Your teachers spend lots of time getting ready for a special Sunday School lesson just for you. They care a lot about each one of you and want you to learn important things that can help you. It makes them sad and disappointed if you don’t listen and that makes God sad.
When we respect others we are also respecting God. So you may have guessed that we aren’t just supposed to be good in church but everywhere! Respecting everyone we pass by. Since God is everywhere he can see how we treat others and if we are making them happy or sad.
There’s a verse in the Bible (Romans 12:10) that says, love each other honestly and treat others better than you would treat yourself.
That means listening to your teachers at school, babysitters, parents and grandparents. It also means respecting other people’s things. So when someone has a toy or book that you want it’s not right just to take it away from them. Ask them nicely and if they still don’t want to share play with something else until they’re finished. I know that can be tough but that’s what God wants us to do.
Start to think about respect everywhere you go (the grocery store, other people’s houses, even restaurants). Sometimes it’s important to be on your very best behavior, but your parents understand you need play time and a time to be loud too.
So have lots of fun but just keep in mind that church is a special place to learn about God and we need to treat it just like a king’s palace (because God is our king). Listen to your parents and teachers, they love you and want the best for you and that’s how you can make God happy!
Friday Quote
“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and, in the ages, to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums, I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” ― a quote from AW Tozer
God delights in our Humility
It was my observation that one thing God is not is silent. He is the God who is there (Jehovah Shammah). And, our God is not silent. Ezekiel tells us of the noise present just under the platform (the vault) that supports the throne. A quiet murmuring? Gentle talking amongst the angels? Nope! We are told of a roar, like the sound of rushing waters. This is not ‘quietness’; this is in your face ‘loudness’. This is a wall of sound – 125 decibels of thundering water. Enough sound to cause your body to vibrate. The sound was like the tumult of an army. Imagine a couple of thousand soldiers carrying all types of heavy metal gear. The clanging and crunching of steel on steel. This is described as loudness at a significant decibel level. I remember once a few years back, part of my job was to bend over and walk under a wing of an F4 while the engines were running to confirm the proper installation of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles just before a launch. The volume was overwhelming, organs in my body vibrated, the movement of the air because of the sound was intense. Then, above all that noise and air movement, comes a voice (in my ear from a headset) – we good? the young lieutenant pilot asks. I reply – Sir, you are clear to launch.
Ezekiel 1:22-25 says — Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings. Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings [NIV].
Over the heads of the angels (living creatures) we see something that is awesome. Some translate this idea as sea of ice, hail congealed like a glazer, or mountain snow that has melted and frozen again like ice. Psalms 33:14 is clear, he can see is clearly 24/7 from his throne as we move about on earth. He sees the angel wings from his throne, even though they are on the other side of the platform that supports the throne (see Ezekiel 1:23). One thing is for sure, the wings are used for flight or covering. God is above platform; the angels are below the platform. They are ready for dispatch. They are under God’s authority, subject to his plan, ready to fly on errands and such, and serve God. Then comes the eye of God attached to the wheels.
There is a chain of events which is always drawing the eye of God one way or other. Fortunately, he has a lot of eyes on the job. Life ebbs and flows, in the same way God’s plan unfolds, but always in the stated appointed times and measures. We see things in part, we do not see all of the story. We know of the shortcomings in our ability to see and accept them. But we know God sees so much more. He sees everything. Everything! As he sees events unfolding, he speaks, he makes known his will.
Consider the loudness of a bee when they fly near our ear, it is amazing how much noise their wings create. Transfer that magnification of sound to four angel’s wings. This suggests tremendous volume. Then add in the notion of intelligent communication. God’s voice appearing over the top of the loud waters, the mass of sound coming from the angelic wings.
When God starts talking, the angels drop their wings in respect, their noise subsides, God’s voice now fills the space. There will be order in the universe. We hear the voice by opening up our ears to hear the message from the word. I have heard testimony many times from young Christians; before I knew Jesus, the bible made little sense to me, but now when I read, God jumps off the page. Thus, when the town crier speaks out the message of God; men yield to God or perish. Earthly noise distorts the message, but when people respect the sound, they hear the message. Selah. I choose Jesus.
Shalom Talk 