Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:5-11
Ⅰ
The four faces are the expression of the living creatures, and the wings, the hands, and the hoofs are related to the actions and moves of the living creatures—Ezek. 1:5-11.
Ⅱ
The spiritual significance of the wings of an eagle—vv. 6b, 9, 11b:
A
The eagle's wings signify the grace, the strength, and the power of God applied to us—Exo. 19:4; Isa. 40:31; 2 Cor. 4:7; 1:12; 12:9; 1 Cor. 15:10:
１
What we are and what we do should not be according to our wisdom, strength, and ability but by the grace of God—2 Cor. 1:12.
２
We have no boast in ourselves or in anything else but only in the Lord—10:17; 1 Cor. 3:21; Gal. 6:14; Phil. 3:3; Jer. 9:23-24.
B
The grace, power, and strength of the Lord are both for moving and for covering us:
１
On the one hand, the Lord's grace is the power for us to move; on the other hand, the Lord's power is our protection, our hiding place—1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 12:9; Psa. 17:8; 57:1; 63:7; 91:4.
２
The front face of the four living creatures is the face of a man, but the body is that of an eagle—Ezek. 1:10a, 11b:
ａ
The living creatures look like a man but move like an eagle.
ｂ
The two wings for moving and the two wings for covering indicate that there is something mysterious about us and that this gives others the impression of the Divine Being.
Ⅲ
The spiritual significance of the hands of a man—v. 8a:
A
A normal Christian should always do things exactly like a man—Acts 20:34.
B
Paul's writings indicate that although he experienced the eagle's wings, he was still very human in his living, taking the human way and doing things in a human way—1 Thes. 2:5-8; 1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:20.
C
No matter how much the grace of God is with us and no matter how much the Lord is empowering us, we must nevertheless do things in a human way:
１
Under the eagle's wings there should be human hands, and these hands should always be working—Eph. 4:28; Acts 20:35; 18:3; 2 Thes. 3:6-12.
２
We need both the wings of the Lord's empowering grace and the hands of a man, cooperating with God in a human way.
Ⅳ
The spiritual significance of the hoofs of a calf—Ezek. 1:7:
A
We should walk like a calf, having straight hoofs; we should walk not according to our crooked human feet but with the hoofs of a calf—2 Cor. 1:12:
１
"We are not like the many, adulterating the word of God for profit; but as out of sincerity, but as out of God, before God we speak in Christ"—2:17.
２
"For our exhortation is not out of deception nor out of uncleanness nor in guile; but even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who proves our hearts"—1 Thes. 2:3-4.
３
"I beseech you therefore, I, the prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called"—Eph. 4:1:
ａ
"This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk in the vanity of their mind"—v. 17.
ｂ
"Walk in love"—5:2.
ｃ
"Walk as children of light"—v. 8.
４
"That you might walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory"—1 Thes. 2:12.
５
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked"—1 John 2:6.
６
"I rejoiced greatly at the brothers' coming and testifying to your steadfastness in the truth, even as you walk in truth. I have no greater joy than these things, that I hear that my children are walking in the truth"—3 John 3-4.
B
The calf's hoofs are not only straight but also cloven, divided—Lev. 11:4-6:
１
The divided hoof signifies that in our walk with the Lord we need discernment—Phil. 1:9; 1 Cor. 2:14-15.
２
In our Christian walk we need to have the discernment to know what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God.
C
The calf's hoofs "sparkled like the sight of burnished brass" (Ezek. 1:7); this indicates that we need a walk that has been tested and burned by the Lord so that it will be like shining brass, enlightening and testing others—Rev. 1:15a.
D
In the Bible a calf signifies freshness and livingness:
１
A calf is young, vigorous, and full of energy; this indicates that our Christian walk should be a "skipping walk," a walk that is full of life—Psa. 29:6; Mal. 4:2.
２
If we enjoy grace and live in the presence of God, we will always be new and fresh, and with us there will be no oldness.
Ⅴ
If as living creatures we have the wings of an eagle, the hands of a man, and the hoofs of a calf, we can be coordinated and become one corporate entity for the carrying out of God's economy.