1: 1-3. The date of Ezekiel's first vision was 593 B.C. He was in Babylonia as an exile. The reference to the thirtieth year in verse 1 might indicate his age. Although totally separated from the Jerusalem Temple, he still refers to himself as a priest. Priesthood was an inherited vocation. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, the prophet's central interest in the Jerusalem Temple and priestly traditions, as well as the Covenant and Law, can be found.

1: 4-28. It is not necessary to puzzle out exactly what the great chariot-throne of God looked like, if we understand what the symbolism means.

(i) The great thunder cloud from which the chariot-throne appeared was in the north. The Babylonians believed that their gods lived in the far north so God's manifestation of his presence from that direction indicated that his power was greater than any power which might be attributed to the gods of Babylonia. The north was also the direction from which the exiles had entered Babylon, although Jerusalem was in a straight line to the west. The desert lands between Palestine and Babylonia made it necessary for the exiles to follow a long route round. God's presence came into Babylonia along the route followed by his disgraced people; he was with them in their disgrace and exile. The great significance of the manifestation of God's presence to his prophet in Babylonia was to reveal to the exiles that there is no place where God is not. God was no longer to be associated only with his Temple in Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 10, another vision is described which complements the vision of chapter 1. The prophet sees the same chariot-throne flying up from the entrance of the Temple in Jerusalem, leaving what Ezekiel had previously known as the house of God. God's presence left the Temple and came to Babylon to be with his people there.

(ii) The chariot-throne could go in any direction, symbolizing that God's presence is not limited to any place but may be experienced any-where. The wheels were full of eyes, symbolizing God's all-seeing power everywhere.

(iii) The extraordinary living creatures who supported the chariot-throne represented the major areas of created life. Their four faces were those of man, domesticated animals, birds and wild animals: 'Each living creature had four different faces; a human face in front, a lion's face at the right, a bull's face at the left, and an eagle's face at the back' (verse 10). The chariot-throne was therefore carried by what represented God's creation and these creatures witness to God as the sole creator of the world and sole Lord of all that has been created. The four living creatures may also be understood as the equivalent of the cherubim supporting the Ark in the Temple.

(iv) The indescribable glory of God is referred to in the final verses of the chapter in terms of dazzling, brilliant light and colour. Ezekiel is totally overwhelmed by what he sees, and falls on the ground. This reminds us of the experience of Isaiah when he saw the vision of God's glory in the Temple.

The whole vision of chapter 1 refers to the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and his presence has no limitations. His glory and transcendence are too overwhelming for any human being to understand or experience without being destroyed by the knowledge of what he has seen.

The message of this vision is that God is the God of all life, the one God, the sole creator, beyond any limitations. Ezekiel had to take this message to his people, whose lives had become meaningless to them, in their disgrace and exile. He had to try to communicate to them that this God was their God, who had come to them and who would restore them. In the symbolism of the vision, there is marvellous hope.