Ezekiel 1:21

Ezekiel 1:21 says, When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.  To me, this means that the Holy Spirit was with the living creatures at all times and that their spirit rested in His spirit.  As followers of Christ, wherever we are, the Holy Spirit is with us and we are lifted up above the cares and concerns of this world as we become a part of God’s kingdom and are guided by His principles and not by our own.   

Verse twenty-two adds, And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.  Ezekiel saw the heavens above as a beautiful crystal that was also somewhat terrifying. When we look up to the heavens, or to God Who dwells there, it should be a beautiful sight and yet somewhat terrifying because we recognize our own unworthiness to enter into God’s kingdom.  It is only by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord that we are made worthy. 

Verse twenty-three continues, And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.  The living creatures were under the firmament, or under God’s authority or direction.  Their wings could be used to either cover themselves or to take flight as God directed them.  As Christians, we are under the authority of God and should be ready to move as He directs us, but we cannot cover our sins.  Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that, and we simply have to place ourselves under His purifying blood.   

Verse twenty-four states, And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.  Ezekiel said that when the living beings moved that the sound of their wings was like great waters moving.  Matthew Henry said this noise was to get the attention of Ezekial, and then he heard the Voice, not of the living creatures, but the Voice of the Almighty.  It may not be by the sound of angel wings, but God will get our attention before He speaks to us. We just have to recognize His voice when he does.   

Verse twenty-five adds, And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.  Ezekiel makes it clear that the Voice that the living creatures heard was from above them, out of the heavens, and they let down their wings in submission, I believe.  This would also eliminate the noise and make it easier for them to hear.  Sometimes, we need to just shut out the noise of the world and listen to the Voice of God.