‘And there was a voice above the levelled out plate that was over their heads. When they stood they let down their wings. And above the levelled out plate that was over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. And on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. And I saw as the colour of brightly shining metal (amber), as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upwards. And from the appearance of his loins and downwards I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh.'
The word ‘appearance' occurs in the passage nine times. Again he was fighting for words to describe what he saw and could not describe it exactly. First there was the voice. What it said is revealed in chapter 2. Then there was ‘the likeness of a throne', and ‘the likeness as of the appearance of a man'. Both indefinite and yet telling. This was Yahweh's movable throne, similar to the mercy seat above the Ark, but with the cherubim accompanying it and bearing it along. And the appearance of a man was Yahweh revealed in human form as in Genesis 18:1; compare Exodus 33:18-23; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:2-3. In the midst of the living creatures, who represented all living creatures, His sole concern here was with man. But His appearance was ‘as a man', yet not a man.
The throne shone like the deep blue, with ‘golden' flecks, of the sapphire (sappir) or lapis lazuli, a highly valued semi-precious stone (compare Ezekiel 10:1; Exodus 24:10). The ‘man' shone like ‘amber' (compare Ezekiel 8:2), which was some kind of brilliantly shining metal with the appearance of fire within it, upwards from the loins, and he was like the appearance of fire from the loins downwards (compare Revelation 10:1), signifying that He was a heavenly Being. Fire is both awesome and destructive, especially for those who go too near. Then he adds, ‘and there was brightness round about Him'. The picture is intended to be one of total glory. In all this we must remember that the amber shone through the cloud (Ezekiel 1:4). He did not see the full glory of God.
For the throne of God compare Exodus 19:20; Isaiah 6:1-3; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:2-3).
The ‘brightness round about Him' is now described. It was the multicoloured brightness of the rainbow (compare Revelation 4:2-3). The throne and the cherubim have been a reminder of the covenant with Israel, for in the Tabernacle they were above Ark of the covenant of Yahweh, the rainbow is a reminder of the covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:12-15). This was the God of covenant, the covenant with Israel and the covenant with all men.
‘This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh.' It is this with which he finishes his vision. The likeness of the glory of Yahweh. This is what will sustain him through his ministry ahead. He does not claim to have seen God in His fullness, but he has seen something of the appearance of His likeness. This does not mean that God essentially looks like a man. It was what was different about Him that was the appearance of His likeness. But in representing Himself in physical form He chose the highest of His creations. We need to remember that when angels appeared to men, they also appeared as ‘a man'.