Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" (Ann Peebles/Paul Young)

Welcome to a day that can only happen every 100 years.  It is 02/22/22 AND it's a Tuesday!  How much better can it get than that!!!  We hope you will take at least 2 seconds, 2 minutes, or 2 hours if you wish, to celebrate the day of 2.  And of course, the best way to celebrate this unique day is by spending it with friends all over the world who read, you guessed it, Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! 

 

We can certainly see you celebrating the day of 2 by investing a couple of minutes, or hours if you have the time, perusing the annals of anthems, the landscape of lyric, and the mural of music that is enclosed in the archives of Tuesday's Musical Notes!  They are found directly to your left, listed by month and year.  Or if you choose to, you can search by your favorite song or artist to see what might be given that special Tuesday's Musical Note flair!  Regardless of how you read, we thank you for hanging out with us and spending this exceptionally rare day here!  If you get the chance, share with your friends the incredible insight and wonder you may have by reading each week's Tuesday's Musical Notes...or just tell them about it, if you like it!  

Now let's get to it so your valuable time of 2 is not wasted.  There might be ramifications if we failed to meet your high standards and expectations.  Please do not resort to the actions of our song of the day...we kinda like our playhouse just the way it is...

"I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" by Ann Peebles from the 1974 album I Can't Stand The Rain

"I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" from the March 25, 1985 album The Secret of Association by Paul Young

While known as a great music town, Memphis, Tennessee rarely gets its props for being a place where music is born.  Today's featured song is an exception as it was one of those rare songs, written and recorded in Memphis.  Hi Records was the beneficiary of the Earl Randle song originally recorded by Memphis native, Soul Songstress, Ann Peebles. Utilizing the Memphis-based Hi Rhythm Section (including the Memphis Horns) and produced by Memphis' Royal Studios manager Willie Mitchell, Peebles' version of "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" would continue in the tradition of other Memphis greats like Al Green. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" (Jackie DeShannon/Annie Lennox and Al Green)) We're kinda fond of our neighbor to the east...

The 1973 single by Ann Peebles peaked at #31 on the R&B chart but just missed the Hot 100, peaking at #111.  "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" would get renewed interest as English singer Paul Young would launch his cover of the song as a rerelease in 1985, taking the song to #13.  After listening to both takes on the song, my preference is the original.  Young is a great vocalist, but there is just something about that Memphis bluesy sound that causes the song to better last the test of time than the 80's sounding remake.  Besides, it is the rare cover that is better or equal to the original recording.  And again, I live close to Memphis! Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walking In Memphis" (Marc Cohn)

The song decries the anxiety brought on by a contentious, unfaithful relationship.  The "playa" in the relationship uses her charm to the extent that all of their friends are fooled into believing that everything is good in the relationship when the reality is not so much.  The tension builds until the singer begins to mete out his plans for revenge and exposure.  It seems like we've heard this story told somewhere before...

Ezekiel 6-7 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Our most recent excursion into the great stories of the Bible has brought us to our character focus on Ezekiel, the prophet to Judah who finds himself in exile in Babylon. Ezekiel has begun having visions and instructions from God.  Check out last week's Musical Note to see some of the colorful ways God uses Ezekiel to get the attention of his fellow exiles.  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (The Animals)

Today we find Ezekiel's message and visions from God continuing, but this time God describes His revenge on the nation of Israel for its contentiousness and unfaithfulness.  At this point, only the first wave of exiles have been taken to Babylon, as Judah had not been destroyed by the invading armies.  God begins to describe the destruction on the land by first striking out at the locations of its idol worship, the high places of the mountains.  He continues to reign in the idolatry by taking it to the ravines and caves.  It is apparent that idolatry is prevalent all over the land.  

God then begins detailing His loathing towards the icons of worship that the Israelites had used.  Their incense altars, which were originally intended to burn a fragrant aroma to God, had been reverted into the worship of the gods of the Canaanites and other surrounding areas.  If this sounds eerily reminiscent, it's because these actions by the Hebrew Children were foretold back in Judges during their initial conquest of the land. Judges 2:1-5 NASB/AMP/KJV  They were now experiencing the prophecy that God had told them about and was bearing the brunt of the consequences of their poor decisions and disobedience.    

It is really easy for us to be critical of the Israelites of Ezekiel's day.  How could they abandon the ways of God when He had provided such deliverance?  However, if modern-day believers take a glance in a mirror, we find ourselves needing to rend our clothes and wear a little real ash on our heads.  Our idols may be different, but they are idols nonetheless.  Anything we place in priority over God is an idol.  

For me, the idol of choice that I battle and repent from is my schedule.  I have specific things that should be done at specific times and if that doesn't happen, I get, at the very least anxious and at the most what the Bible calls downcast when I get behind in my weekly layout of tasks (normally packed, no wiggle room) or have something come at me from left field.  (Welcome to baseball season, Go Hogs Go!!!...umm could that be another idol, God wasn't especially fond of pigs in the Bible...but I digress) 

The bad thing about idolatry is that the ones who love you the most are the ones most annoyed by your sin.   I think I just heard everyone in my family say AMEN!!!  Yup!  A little OCD about when things are supposed to happen in my life.  Please pray for me...

Anyway, what is the idol you have in your life? It may not take the form of a golden or wooden statue, but it keeps God from being the priority in your life.  Could be a relationship.  Could be a hobby.  Could be really...anything.  What keeps you from reading the Bible, God's Word?  What keeps you from attending a local church and interacting (iron sharpening iron Proverbs 27:17 NASB/AMP/KJV)  with God's people?  What keeps you from talking to God, crying out to Him in intercession for others, or yourself in prayer?  These things are dangerously keeping you away from having the relationship with God that He desires and you need.  

There are consequences for our idolatry.  God describes the consequences quite well through Ezekiel...It is apparent that soon He is gonna tear the Israelite's playhouse down.  What makes us so arrogant to think that He won't do the same as a consequence of our idol worship, regardless of what that idol might be?  "...One of these days while you're at play (or work maybe?), I'm gonna catch you off guard..."

Let's learn from the Israelite's mistakes.  Let's not be exiled figuratively or literally because of our lack of regard for God.  Let's not see our world ruined by the ramifications of our poor decisions regarding our relationship with God.   Let's turn to His Word, turn to His people, turn to His Spirit.  Otherwise, "...when we look up one day, we'll see our playhouse tumblin' down..."

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (The Animals)

I recently saw a meme that explained that 2022 was to 1970 what 1970 was to 1918.  That put my formative years into perspective and made me feel really old...for a moment.  Reality kicked back in and instead I began to think of all the things my age that are considered "Classics".  The old adage, "It gets better with age" begins to apply to many of the things I treasure.  Don't get me wrong.  I haven't completely gotten to the point where my 6-year-old grandson has to show me how to use my cell phone, but there are some things that I seem to be getting to be a "cranky-old-man" about.  One of those is music.  

Let me be clear.  I don't subscribe to the notion that there is no good music out today, you have to search for what you like, but it does exist.    I do think that the music of today will struggle to have "legs".  I can't fathom there ever being a time when our current pop artists sell their catalogs like Springsteen, Dylan, and Sting have recently to the highest bidder.  There are some really good new artists out there and their music resonates with me and some of my older compatriots.  However, one wonders if they will ever have the staying power of Presley, The Beatles, Mr. Cash, or even acts from my generation like Heart, The Bangles, or The Go-Gos.  

I guess what I'm trying to say is that good music never really goes out of style.  "Beauty is in the eye (or in this case, the ear) of the beholder.  All genres of music have their place as well as evidenced by those who continue to financially support the artists of that genre.  Maybe I should have started this monologue with the music video.  

After all, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good...

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" - 1965 single by The Animals

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" has been recorded by 4 different artists  It was written in response to an argument with the woman who would become songwriter Horace Ott's wife and was first captured on a platter by ingenue Nina Simone. ("Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" by Nina Simone from the 1964 album Broadway, Blues, Ballads).  This slower release failed to chart but brought Simone positive exposure as some thought it carried Civil Rights subtexts.  The Animals released a bluesy, faster-paced, version of the song in January of 1965 and carried it all the way to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.   The Animals cover was also listed at #322 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list.   Any really good song from the 60s deserves a Disco cover at some point and the band Santa Esmeralda foisted a 16:12 (the song took up the entire album side...) version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" onto the dance floors of 1977.  Finally, Elvis Costello put his spin on the song on his 1986 album King of America. ("Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (1986))  The release caused tension between Costello and his record label as he didn't want a cover to be the first single released from the album.  Seems like Mr. Costello's intentions were misunderstood as the label released the song anyway as the first single.  

The song is written from an apologetic perspective.  It attempts to convey that the singer realizes the failed attempts at communicating how he feels.  He feels like if he can just get the listener to really soak in what he is saying, their ability to understand one another would be made complete.  The underlying idea however is that there is resistance due to previous actions by the person making the apology.  It seems we may be in a stalemate...

Ezekiel 4-5 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

Has anyone ever asked you to do something totally out of character for you?  Have they asked you to do it in public?   When last we left Ezekiel, we found him eager to serve God.  Now, remember, Ezekiel had been training to be a priest in the temple for most of his life.  His standards of living were a bit higher than those of his fellow captives and he felt he had an example to set for the Hebrews living in Babylon.  So when God called Ezekiel, he was ready! But was he ready for what God had planned?

God comes along with an opportunity for Ezekiel to fulfill his priestly duties by being obedient to Him not necessarily the laws of Moses.  Here is where the wrinkle happens.  God first tells Ezekiel to get a set of toy soldiers and a brick that is to be labeled "Jerusalem" and make like he is leading a siege on the brick.  God tells him to do this in a public place.  "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."  After Ezekiel sets up the siege street theater, God commands Ezekiel to lay on his left side for 390 days and then on his right side for 40 days all the while facing his toy siege of Jerusalem.  Depending on which side he is laying, he is to have the arm that is exposed completely uncovered.  "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."  The numbers 390 and 40 are symbolic of the years of Israel's disobedience and rebellion (via their bad kings), and then the years of Judah's similar sinful past.  For sustenance, while Ezekiel was in this prone position, he was supposed to eat only about 10 ounces of a predetermined mix of bread and drink only about 1 and 1/3 pints of water per day.  Ok, that doesn't sound too bad, even prisoners get bread and water.  But there was a catch, this bread was to be baked with a fire that was fueled by human excrement.  This is where Ezekiel drew the line, he had remained ritually clean his entire life.  He begged God to allow him to remain clean.  God relented and allowed Ezekiel to bake his bread over cow dung.  Yum! Yum! "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."

Can you imagine walking down the dusty road of your refugee camp and there you see a guy who was supposed to be a spiritual leader laying on the ground, tied up, with a bare arm facing the sky, looking at a toy representation of Jerusalem under siege?  Then the whispering begins..."umm is anyone going to do something about Ezekiel?  He's lost it!  Oh, you don't even know all the story...see that bread he's eating, you really don't want to know where THAT came from..."

Ezekiel's "example tour" doesn't stop there,  In chapter 5 he is told to cut off his hair...with...a...sword!  God then tells Ezekiel to split the hair into 3 piles.  One will be burned, the other will be struck by the sword, and the final third will be scattered by the breeze.  Small portions will be kept to put in Ezekiel's garment and burn in a different fire.  "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."

Ok, so let's unpack this dramatic upheaval in the life of the prophet Ezekiel.  All of these "acts" are pointing to the devastation that is about to befall Jerusalem as the Babylonians are going to lay siege to the city and destroy it.  The bread Ezekiel eats is representative of the famine that will beset the citizens of the region who aren't taken into captivity.  Ezekiel's haircut decries the shame that Israel/Judah is about to face.  The remaining hair represents the remnant that God will preserve even though they will see tribulation.  

All throughout, Ezekiel humbled himself to be an obedient servant to God.  A devout adult jew would never be seen in public playing with the toys of a child.  An upstanding citizen of the Hebrew community and priest-candidate would never defile himself by eating items that are considered unclean.   Devout priests/priests-in-training were never to cut their hair or beards, (much less...with...a...sword) and then burn 1/3, sword slam 1/3, and then throw 1/3 to the wind, all in a public display.  But Ezekiel did.  His prayer I think echoed the song of the day..."Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood..."

Unfortunately, for the most part Ezekiel was misunderstood.  We see that the inhabitants of the area and the hearers of the prophecies didn't listen.  That's right!  After all of his exhibitionism, the folks that Ezekiel was trying to warn, turned their backs and continued in their sin.  

So friend, what are you willing to do for God? 

Are you willing to be misunderstood?

Are you willing to get completely out of your comfort zone and do what seems to be absolutely ridiculous to the world around you?  Perhaps you've trained or earned a college degree in business and God says..."Have you ever considered leading music for your church as a full time vocation?"  Maybe you have your life completely planned out and God says "it's time for you to adopt a teenager".  Maybe God has told you to tell that Walmart cashier about Jesus' love for them (obviously this excludes those of you who are using self-checkout...or does it?)  What if you humble yourself and do the things God asks you to do, and there are no discernable results?  "Oh, Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood."

Regardless of the fact that we are souls whose intentions are good, we fail.  In Ezekiel, we see a man who was obedient but he was still misunderstood AND his focus audience didn't even listen to the warnings he was playing out before their eyes.     But our intentions and our strength are not the things on which God asks us to rely.  His strength, wisdom, providence, comfort, and care are all we need.  

It doesn't seem too far-fetched to think that Ezekiel drew comfort as he considered the words of the prophet Isaiah... (God Speaking)“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,  Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord."  (Isaiah 55:8) Ezekiel 

Ummm, could someone pass the bread and water? I'm a little tied up...

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Call On Me" (Chicago)

Welcome to another fabulous Tuesday!  You've clicked into Tuesday's Musical Notes!  We're a blog about music and the deeper meaning of life.  Don't worry, even though we dabble into some pretty heady topics, philosophy isn't our strong suit so it's mostly a blog about music.  We're glad you're here as we encounter the nuances of notes and the paradigm of paradiddles, with a few things that make you go hmmm just to make you go, well, hmmm.  So welcome to the blog that is read in every country of the world...well most of the country's of the world...well we've tracked at least 36 different countries and even one that can't be named...Anyway, we're Tuesday's Musical Notes and wherever you may be reading us from, we're starting...right...now...

"Call On Me" from the March 11, 1974 album Chicago VII

We have a confession to make.  There is an affinity and fondness we have for the band from the Windy City, unlike any other musical group we showcase. That's right!  Chicago is our favorite band ever!!!  Tuesday's Musical Notes has featured songs by the "Rock Band with Horns" more times than any other musical act.  Oh yeah, that's a dare to go search "Chicago" in the archives and see what you get...go ahead...we'll wait till you get back.  No seriously...we just pushed "pause"...

Great!!!  You're back!!!

With 3 of its original members (Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals), Lee Loughnane (trumpet/vocals), and James Pankow (trombone/vocals)  still recording and touring, Chicago continues to be in the ranks of the few bands that can say they have been around for more than 50 years.  The 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and 2020 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners continue to thrill fans with their Grammy-winning favorites and collaborative tour arrangements as evidenced by their recent announcement of their summer 2022 touring schedule with The Beach Boys (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Be True To Your School" (The Beach Boys) and Tuesday's Musical Notes - "I Get Around" (The Beach Boys))

Soaring into transistor radios (the mp3 player of the time...it had ads and it was JUST a radio...ah the good 'ol days...) in 1974 is the #6 smash "Call On Me".  It was the first song ever written by founding member and trumpet player of Chicago, Lee Loughnane, marking his debut as a songwriter for the band. "Call On Me" also solidified Loughnane as a songwriting contributor to the band as he was the last of the band's founding members to receive a songwriting credit.  The song featured vocals by Peter Cetera who also assisted with the songwriting of "Call On Me" but was not credited. (Peter Cetera is not a favored son of Tuesday's Musical Notes, but I digress...) 

Part of the charm of "Call On Me" is the simplicity of the Loughnane penned lyric.  It tells the story of found love and finding that same love transitioning into friendship after the romance has faded.  Simply, "Let's just be friends, but if you need something?  Call on me, because I love you, you know I do..."  Strong relationships are all people crave, whether they are willing to admit to it or not.  For a relationship to be strong even after the romantic entanglements diminish is even something more.  Hopefully, the platonic love we have for others is strong enough that our friends have the assurance that we are ones on whom they can depend.  I hope that I have such deep love for my friends, that if they call on me, I'll drop everything to assist them because of my love for them.  

What about you?  Have you ever had a relationship so tight that you could be ready in an instant to be at the side of a friend in need?  Have you ever heard a call like that?  We'd like to tell you about someone who answered a very unique "call on me" moment...

Ezekiel 2-3 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

As we encountered the prophet, Ezekiel, last week, we failed to mention that we will probably be exploring his life and prophecies for, to use the new colloquialism, "a minute".  Ezekiel joins Isaiah and Jeremiah from the Old Testament as writers who were considered the "major" prophets.  That is not to say the other men who penned smaller books of the OT were less significant, it just seems that the brevity of their prophecy lacks the literary and sometimes poetic flair of some of their contemporaries with longer books.  Similar message, shorter delivery.

Last week's Tuesday's Musical Note (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wheel In The Sky" (Journey)) immediately propelled us into the realm of dreams and visions that were reminiscent of the past, yet portended events of the future at the same time.  In our focal passage today we settle in and find Ezekiel telling God...you guessed it..."Call On Me".

Up to this point, Ezekiel had been a bystander as he watched the vision of chapter 1 unfold.  Now, as God speaks directly to him, we see the perspective change and the rationale behind Ezekiel's seeing the vision explained.  

In verse 2 of chapter 2, God calls Ezekiel "Son of man" for the first of 93 times.  The significance of this comes to fruition in Jesus as His favorite term for referring to Himself as the "Son of Man".  When Jesus said this to the Hebrews, who would have studied Ezekiel as children, an instantaneous message was sent.  (Ex. - The Gospel of Jesus according to the tax collector Matthew, chapter 12, verse 32 NASB/AMP/KJV; 13:37, The Gospel of Jesus according to the physician Luke, chapter 12, verse 8 NASB/AMP/KJV, The Gospel of Jesus according to the fisherman John, chapter 1, verse 51 NASB/AMP/KJV)

Ezekiel goes on in chapter 3 to explain how God would give him a message to tell the people.  Ezekiel describes the message as something as sweet as honey to the taste, yet God told him that the message itself would fall on the ears of rebellious and sinful people.  There is a great lesson for believers today in this.  The Gospel is the greatest message we can tell.  We can tell it with words and actions as we go about showing folks God's love in tangible ways.  "...Because no one made me feel, the way I felt with You, oh-woah..."

It is interesting to note, that God also tells Ezekiel that he is being sent to folks who will understand the message from God but will still not react in a positive way to that message.  So the telling won't be difficult, but the hearing will.  Paul also has a similar message for Timothy as he mentors the young pastor.  2 Timothy 4:1-5 NASB/AMP/KJV

In Ezekiel 3:11 NASB/AMP/KJV God tells Ezekiel to go and tell what God says, whether the people will listen or they will not.  It doesn't change God's message if people won't listen to it.  God is preparing Ezekiel for his friends and perhaps even his family members to reject the fact that Holy Spirit had come into Ezekiel.  In other words, Ezekiel affirmed that his feeling was clear, clear as a blue sky on a sunny day and he was ready for the task.

Also of note, Ezekiel, though he was a captive, was exactly where God needed him to be to tell the message God had for the other captives.  Ezekiel was also in a place of spiritual maturity so he was eager to receive the message and go about being obedient.  I need to be more like Ezekiel...how about you?  

So what?  What does a prophet to a captive people hearing a message from God have to do with us today? 

Remember friend, God never changes.  He is the same God who created the Garden of Eden in Genesis, created your next breath,  and will be the same God who establishes His eternal Kingdom at the end of what we understand is time.  Because of that consistency, His message is also never changing.  What He told to Ezekiel, He tells to believers today.  "Fill your body with my Word.  Taste that it is sweet and understand that it can sustain you as you tell people the never-changing message about Me.  Understand this sustenance will be sufficient for the rejection you will receive.  Don't take it personally.  They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Me and My love for them. You keep being in the place spiritually and physically that I need you to be."  As we read Ezekiel, we must be able as believers to echo this paraphrase of Ezekiel's words back to God with a resounding "...call on me 'cause I Love You, You know I do, You love me too, oh woh, woh, woh..."

'Til Tuesday,

Loving Him by Loving You,

randy

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Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Wheel In The Sky" (Journey)

Where were you in March of 1978?  Me?  Well, I was cruising down the pathways of being an industrious 8th grader!  There were right around 100 of us at our town's Jr. High School in 1978.  We were all in that stage of life where we were no longer the fresh crop of used to be 6th graders but had not yet arrived at the point where we would be accepted by the older, cooler upperclassmen.  We were just getting the hang of working the combination on our locker and having 7 different classrooms to find!  

Those were some really good days.  It is nice occasionally to break out the yearbook from those past years.  Our minds soon become flooded with memories of those good days.  And then we occasionally wince at a memory that perhaps wasn't as pleasant.  Maybe we respectfully reflect on those from that time that are no longer with us.  Regardless, this introspection of our past can be a cathartic and beneficial exercise.  It also serves to remind us of the forward progression of time...as the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'...

"Wheel In The Sky" by Journey from the January 20, 1978 album Infinity

1978 would prove to be a big year for the band Journey.  The would have lead singer changes in the form of lead singer/keyboardist Greg Rolie (remained at keys until 1980) being replaced by Robert Fleischman who was replaced by Steve Perry.  This merry-go-round of frontmen was an attempt to heed the advice of label reps who thought the jazz fusion sound of Journey needed to be a little edgier. 

With Perry's arrival, a classic Journey lineup was born and the ascension of the band had begun.  Infinity would mark the first time that Journey had a single on the Billboard Hot 100. All three singles released from Infinity would hit the Hot 100.  ("Wheel In The Sky" #57, "Anytime" #83, and "Lights" #68) 

"Wheel In The Sky" was cowritten by Fleischman, Neal Schon (lead guitarist, songwriter), and Diane Valory, wife of Journey bassist Ross Valory.  It was written as a testimony to being gone from home for a very long time and the toll that can take on relationships.  It is easy to assume that given the songwriters, the song is semi-autobiographical, reflecting the life of a touring musician.  With its vivid imagery,  there is the hint of potential sadness as the passing of time continues its triumphant march regardless of the quality of life being lived.  Yup...44 years.

Imagery, the painting of an illustrious picture to describe what is going on before your eyes, became a staple of many of the songs of the 70s and 80s.  Some of the visions from those songs cause us to scratch our heads today as much as they did when they were first conceived.  This leap into the fantastic became a staple of many of the rock groups of their time, especially the progressive rock groups. Even today several of the songwriters from that time confess that they don't know what their song is about. These songs were almost as difficult to decipher as say another set of wheels in the sky...

Ezekiel 1 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel

As we continue through the great stories of the Bible, we come today to the prophet Ezekiel. When reading the book of Ezekiel in the Bible, you are immediately impacted by the difficulty Ezekiel must have had while writing down what he could hardly believe he was seeing.  Just imagine being a Jewish priest around the year 597 BC.  Can you imagine writing this in ancient Hebrew? 

It is interesting to note that Ezekiel makes much of being 30 years old.  ("In the thirtieth year" references HIS thirtieth year).  Ezekiel was a priest and at the age of 30, the Hebrew priests would go into the rotation of priests who served at the temple in Jerusalem.  Unfortunately for Ezekiel, Babylon had other ideas about that same time.  You can read more about the world events around Jerusalem and what happened to Ezekiel as he was turning 30 here:  2 Kings 24 NASB/AMP/KJV 

Because of the national disobedience, (spoiler alert,  in case you didn't remember, this is a recurring theme for the Israelites!  we will read about it over and over as we continue), the city of Jerusalem and the temple of the Hebrews was about the be overrun by the "Chaldeans", the "Babylonians", or the "people of the north" depending on the prophet you are reading.  Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar was about to take a second wave of residents into captivity and carry them off to Babylon.  This is where we find our intrepid priest, Ezekiel.

He was in captivity, making the best of a bad situation when all of a sudden his priestly training became an absolute necessity.  God had other plans for Ezekiel as he turned 30.  Ezekiel would be the priest who would become a prophet and have an awesome vision straight from the throne room of God.  I don't know about you, but this is significantly better than trimming the wicks on the incense lamps, making sure the "sea" was full of water, and the bread hadn't gotten moldy in the Holy of Holies.  (no disrespect to those activities, send your emails in care of this station to rawacr@gmail.com)

Ezekiel's visions?  The simplest way to put it is that his vision was that of the throne of God coming down to earth in all of its splendor.  As Ezekiel would have told the people of Israel about his vision, they would instantly be reminded of the times that God, through clouds and fire, came down to first the tabernacle in the wilderness and then the temple in Jerusalem.  They would be reminded and encouraged that the God who was with them before, would now be with them again, despite their defiance to God's direction.  

On the throne, God in the form of a man was attended by cherubim who had four faces.  Some theologians have surmised that these four faces are reminiscent of Israel's past in that they represent the four positions around the tabernacle the fledgling nation took as they camped while traveling in the wilderness.  Others think that the four faces represent a pointing to the future Jesus with each face depicting one of the four Gospel writers.  Perhaps they do both, as some of prophetical Scripture points to the past, present, and future simultaneously.  

Regardless of the interpretation, each face delineated all of the animate creations.  With one face being that of a lion, the mightiest of wild animals, the ox, the strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle, king of all birds, and man, as the highest of all creation.  (Enduring Word Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 1)

These cherubim were holding up the throne of one who was in the image of a man.  Colors nearly beyond description emanated from around the throne.  The description of the cherubim was unlike any creature that the readers of Ezekiel's tome would have encountered.  And yet, they served in their rightful place.  The man image on the throne was exalted and carried by the cherubim who were transported by the wheels within wheels that had eyes on their rims.  There was no regressing for this entourage.  They neither turned to the right nor to the left but continued on the pathway forward.  

That's right.  Ezekiel was the first to see wheels in the sky.  This entire vision was to provide comfort and remembrance for the priest.  He would have known the significance of God's splendor coming down.  With his priestly training, he would have some semblance of recognition of the importance of how the cherubim looked and the direction those wheels in the sky took.  All of this was to serve as God's way of saying to Ezekiel.  "Sorry friend that you aren't getting to serve in the temple, but guess what, I have a much more important role for you to play as you minister to the captives.  Tell them the things that you see and draw comfort from your past, draw peace in your present, and draw anticipation in your future." 

That's our lesson from Ezekiel today as well.  Sure, we could get caught up in why the cherubim had hands under their wings or feet that looked like cows, but the more important thing is that we understand that we are currently captives in a place that was not intended for us.  As we study God's Word, we are instantly engaged with God's providence in our past, His assurance in our present, and even if we don't know where we'll be tomorrow, the splendor of our future. 

Essentially, this portion of Ezekiel points us to revel in the fact that God didn't allow us to be destroyed in our captivity, that He (Jesus) was the ultimate redemption and rescuer from that captivity, and as we believe in Him, His Spirit resides in us today providing that peace in the face of whatever it is that may be holding us captive.  It also causes us to optimistically embrace a future that we can only anticipate...as the wheels in the sky keep on turning...

'Til Tuesday,

Loving HIM and loving you,

randy

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