1024 lines
48 KiB
Plaintext
1024 lines
48 KiB
Plaintext
|
<HTML>
|
||
|
|
<HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel XXII].</TITLE>
|
||
|
|
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="description" content=
|
||
|
|
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
|
||
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
||
|
|
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
|
||
|
|
</HEAD>
|
||
|
|
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
|
||
|
|
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
|
||
|
|
on the Whole Bible</h1>
|
||
|
|
<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
|
||
|
|
</h3>
|
||
|
|
</center>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC26021.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC26023.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<CENTER>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
|
||
|
|
<BR>
|
||
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXII.</FONT>
|
||
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
|
||
|
|
</CENTER>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here are three separate messages which God entrusts the prophet to
|
||
|
|
deliver concerning Judah and Jerusalem, and all to the same purport, to
|
||
|
|
show them their sins and the judgments that were coming upon them for
|
||
|
|
those sins.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Here is a catalogue of their sins, by which they had exposed
|
||
|
|
themselves to shame and for which God would bring them to ruin,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:1-16">ver. 1-16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. They are here compared to dross, and are condemned as dross to the
|
||
|
|
fire,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:17-22">ver. 17-22</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. All orders and degrees of men among them are here found guilty of
|
||
|
|
the neglect of the duty of their place and of having contributed to the
|
||
|
|
national guilt, which therefore, since none appeared as intercessors,
|
||
|
|
they must all expect to share in the punishment of,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:23-31">ver. 23-31</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
</FONT>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_5"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_6"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_7"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_8"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_9"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_10"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sins of Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 591.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Moreover the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
|
||
|
|
2 Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the
|
||
|
|
bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
|
||
|
|
3 Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>, The city sheddeth
|
||
|
|
blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh
|
||
|
|
idols against herself to defile herself.
|
||
|
|
4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and
|
||
|
|
hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and
|
||
|
|
thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come <I>even</I> unto
|
||
|
|
thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the
|
||
|
|
heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
|
||
|
|
5 <I>Those that be</I> near, and <I>those that be</I> far from thee,
|
||
|
|
shall mock thee, <I>which art</I> infamous <I>and</I> much vexed.
|
||
|
|
6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to
|
||
|
|
their power to shed blood.
|
||
|
|
7 In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the
|
||
|
|
midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in
|
||
|
|
thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
|
||
|
|
8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my
|
||
|
|
sabbaths.
|
||
|
|
9 In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee
|
||
|
|
they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit
|
||
|
|
lewdness.
|
||
|
|
10 In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in
|
||
|
|
thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
|
||
|
|
11 And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's
|
||
|
|
wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and
|
||
|
|
another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.
|
||
|
|
12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken
|
||
|
|
usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy
|
||
|
|
neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord
|
||
|
|
G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest
|
||
|
|
gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in
|
||
|
|
the midst of thee.
|
||
|
|
14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the
|
||
|
|
days that I shall deal with thee? I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> have spoken <I>it,</I>
|
||
|
|
and will do <I>it.</I>
|
||
|
|
15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee
|
||
|
|
in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
|
||
|
|
16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the
|
||
|
|
sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In these verses the prophet by a commission from Heaven sits as a judge
|
||
|
|
upon the bench, and Jerusalem is made to hold up her hand as a prisoner
|
||
|
|
at the bar; and, if prophets were set over other nations, much more
|
||
|
|
over God's nation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+1:10">Jer. i. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This prophet is authorized to <I>judge the bloody city,</I> the <I>city
|
||
|
|
of bloods.</I> Jerusalem is so called, not only because she had been
|
||
|
|
guilty of the particular sin of blood-shed, but because her crimes in
|
||
|
|
general were bloody crimes
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+7:23"><I>ch.</I> vii. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
such as polluted her in her blood, and for which she deserved to have
|
||
|
|
blood given her to drink. Now the business of a judge with a malefactor
|
||
|
|
is to convict him of his crimes, and then to pass sentence upon him for
|
||
|
|
them. These two things Ezekiel is to do here.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. He is to find Jerusalem guilty of many heinous crimes here
|
||
|
|
enumerated in a long bill of indictment, and it is <I>billa vera--a true
|
||
|
|
bill;</I> so he writes upon it whose judgment we are sure is according
|
||
|
|
to truth. He must <I>show her all her abominations</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that God may be justified in all the desolations brought upon her. Let
|
||
|
|
us take a view of all the particular sins which Jerusalem here stands
|
||
|
|
charged with; and they are all exceedingly sinful.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Murder: <I>The city sheds blood,</I> not only in the suburbs, where
|
||
|
|
the strangers dwell, but <I>in the midst of it,</I> where, one would
|
||
|
|
think, the magistrates would, if any where, be vigilant. Even there
|
||
|
|
people were murdered either in duels or by secret assassinations and
|
||
|
|
poisonings, or in the courts of justice under colour of law, and there
|
||
|
|
was no care taken to discover and punish the murderers according to the
|
||
|
|
law
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:6">Gen. ix. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
no, nor so much as the ceremony used to expiate an uncertain murder
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:1">Deut. xxi. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and so the guilt and pollution remains upon the city. Thus <I>thou hast
|
||
|
|
become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This crime is insisted most upon, for it was Jerusalem's
|
||
|
|
measure-filling sin more than any; it is said to be that <I>which the
|
||
|
|
Lord would not pardon,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+24:4">2 Kings xxiv. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The <I>princes of Israel,</I> who should have been the protectors
|
||
|
|
of injured innocence, <I>every one were to their power to shed
|
||
|
|
blood,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They thirsted for it, and delighted in it, and whoever came within
|
||
|
|
their power were sure to feel it; whoever lay at their mercy were sure
|
||
|
|
to find none.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) There were those who <I>carried tales to shed blood,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They told lies of men to the princes, to whom they knew it would be
|
||
|
|
pleasing, to incense them against them; or they betrayed what passed in
|
||
|
|
private conversation, to make mischief among neighbours, and set them
|
||
|
|
together by the ears, to bite, and devour, and worry one another, even
|
||
|
|
to death. Note, Those who, by giving invidious characters and telling
|
||
|
|
ill-natured stories of their neighbours, sow discord among brethren,
|
||
|
|
will be accountable for all the mischief that follows upon it; as he
|
||
|
|
that kindles a fire will be accountable for all the hurt it does.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) There were those who <I>took gifts to shed blood</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who would be hired with money to swear a man out of his life, or, if
|
||
|
|
they were upon a jury, would be bribed to find an innocent man guilty.
|
||
|
|
When so much barbarous bloody work of this kind was done in Jerusalem
|
||
|
|
we may well conclude,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] That men's consciences had become wretchedly profligate and seared
|
||
|
|
and their hearts hardened; for those would stick at no wickedness who
|
||
|
|
would not stick at this.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] That abundance of quiet, harmless, good people were made away
|
||
|
|
with, whereby, as the guilt of the city was increased, so the number of
|
||
|
|
those that should have stood in the gap to turn away the wrath of God
|
||
|
|
was diminished.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Idolatry: <I>She makes idols against herself to destroy herself,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And again
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou hast defiled thyself in thy idols which thou hast made.</I>
|
||
|
|
Note, Those who make idols for themselves will be found to have made
|
||
|
|
them against themselves, for idolaters put a cheat upon themselves and
|
||
|
|
prepare destruction for themselves; besides that thereby they pollute
|
||
|
|
themselves, they render themselves odious in the eyes of the just and
|
||
|
|
jealous God, and even <I>their mind and conscience are defiled,</I> so
|
||
|
|
that to them <I>nothing is pure.</I> Those who did not make idols
|
||
|
|
themselves were yet found guilty of <I>eating upon the mountains,</I>
|
||
|
|
or high places
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
in honour of the idols and in communion with idolaters.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Disobedience to parents
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>In thee have</I> the children <I>set light by their father and
|
||
|
|
mother,</I> mocked them, cursed them, and despised to obey them, which
|
||
|
|
was a sign of a more than ordinary corruption of nature as well as
|
||
|
|
manners, and a disposition to all manner of disorder,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:5">Isa. iii. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those that set light by their parents are in the highway to all
|
||
|
|
wickedness. God had made many wholesome laws for the support of the
|
||
|
|
paternal authority, but no care was taken to put them in execution;
|
||
|
|
nay, the Pharisees in their day taught children, under pretence of
|
||
|
|
respect to the Corban, to set light by their parents and refuse to
|
||
|
|
maintain them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:5">Matt. xv. 5</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Oppression and extortion. To enrich themselves they wronged the poor
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They dealt by oppression</I> and <I>deceit with the stranger,</I>
|
||
|
|
taking advantage of his necessities, and his ignorance of the laws and
|
||
|
|
customs of the country. In Jerusalem, that should have been a sanctuary
|
||
|
|
to the oppressed, <I>they vexed the fatherless and widows</I> by
|
||
|
|
unreasonable demands and inquisitions, or troublesome law-suits, in
|
||
|
|
which might prevails against right. "<I>Thou hast taken usury and
|
||
|
|
increase</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
not only there are those in thee that do it, but thou hast done it." It
|
||
|
|
was an act of the city or community; the public money, which should
|
||
|
|
have been employed in public charity, was put out to usury, with
|
||
|
|
extortion. <I>Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours</I> by
|
||
|
|
<I>violence</I> and <I>wrong.</I> For neighbours to gain by one another
|
||
|
|
in a way of fair trading is well, but those who are <I>greedy of
|
||
|
|
gain</I> will not be held within the rules of equity.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Profanation of the sabbath and other holy things. This commonly goes
|
||
|
|
along with the other sins for which they here stand indicted
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou hast despised my holy things,</I> holy oracles, holy
|
||
|
|
ordinances. The rites which God appointed were thought too plain, too
|
||
|
|
ordinary; they despised them, and therefore were fond of the customs of
|
||
|
|
the heathen. Note, Immorality and dishonesty are commonly attended with
|
||
|
|
a contempt of religion and the worship of God. <I>Thou hast profaned my
|
||
|
|
sabbaths.</I> There was not in Jerusalem that face of
|
||
|
|
sabbath-sanctification that one would have expected in the <I>holy
|
||
|
|
city.</I> Sabbath-breaking is an iniquity that is an inlet to all
|
||
|
|
iniquity. Many have owned it to contribute as much to their ruin as any
|
||
|
|
thing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. Uncleanness and all manner of seventh-commandment sins, fruits of
|
||
|
|
those vile affections to which God in a way of righteous judgment gives
|
||
|
|
men up, to punish them for their idolatry and profanation of holy
|
||
|
|
things. Jerusalem had been famous for its purity, but now <I>in the
|
||
|
|
midst of thee they commit lewdness</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
lewdness goes bare-faced, though in the most scandalous instances, as
|
||
|
|
that of a man's having his father's wife, which is the <I>discovery of
|
||
|
|
the father's nakedness</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and is a sin not <I>to be named among Christians</I> without the utmost
|
||
|
|
detestation
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+5:1">1 Cor. v. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and was made a capital crime by the law of Moses,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+20:11">Lev. xx. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The time <I>to refrain from embracing</I> has not been observed
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+3:6">Eccles. iii. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for <I>they have humbled her that was set apart for her pollution.</I>
|
||
|
|
They made nothing of committing lewdness with a <I>neighbour's
|
||
|
|
wife,</I> with a <I>daughter-in-law,</I> or a sister,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And <I>shall not God visit for these things?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
7. Unmindfulness of God was at the bottom of all this wickedness
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Thou hast forgotten me,</I> else thou wouldst not have done thus."
|
||
|
|
Note, Sinners do that which provokes God because they forget him; they
|
||
|
|
forget their descent from him, dependence on him, and obligations to
|
||
|
|
him; they forget how valuable his favour is, which they make themselves
|
||
|
|
unfit for, and how formidable his wrath, which they make themselves
|
||
|
|
obnoxious to. Those that <I>pervert their ways forget the Lord their
|
||
|
|
God,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+3:21">Jer. iii. 21</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. He is to pass sentence upon Jerusalem for these crimes.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Let her know that she has filled up the measure of her iniquity, and
|
||
|
|
that her sins are such as forbid delays and call for speedy vengeance.
|
||
|
|
She has made <I>her time to come</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>her days to draw near;</I> and she <I>has come to her years</I> of
|
||
|
|
maturity for punishment
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as an heir that has <I>come to age</I> and is ready for his
|
||
|
|
inheritance. God would have borne longer with them, but they had
|
||
|
|
arrived at such a pitch of impudence in sin that God could not in
|
||
|
|
honour give them a further day. Note, Abused patience will at last be
|
||
|
|
weary of forbearing. And, when sinners (as Solomon speaks) grow
|
||
|
|
<I>overmuch wicked,</I> they <I>die before their time</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+7:17">Eccl. vii. 17</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and shorten their reprieves.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Let her know that she has exposed herself, and therefore God has
|
||
|
|
justly exposed her, to the contempt and scorn of all her neighbours
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I have made thee a reproach to the heathen,</I> both <I>those who
|
||
|
|
are near,</I> who are eye-witnesses of Jerusalem's apostasy and
|
||
|
|
degeneracy, and <I>those afar off,</I> who, though at a distance, will
|
||
|
|
think it worth taking notice of
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they shall all <I>mock thee.</I> While they were reproached by their
|
||
|
|
neighbours for their adherence to God it was their honour, and they
|
||
|
|
might be sure that God would roll away their reproach. But, now that
|
||
|
|
they are laughed at for their revolt from God, they must lie down in
|
||
|
|
their shame, and must say, <I>The Lord is righteous.</I> They make a
|
||
|
|
mock at Jerusalem, both because her sins had been very
|
||
|
|
<I>scandalous</I> (she is <I>infamous, polluted in name,</I> and has
|
||
|
|
quite lost her credit), and because her punishment is very
|
||
|
|
<I>grievous</I>--she is <I>much vexed</I> and frets without measure at
|
||
|
|
her troubles. Note, Those who fret most at their troubles have commonly
|
||
|
|
those about them who will be so much the more apt to make a jest of
|
||
|
|
them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. Let her know that God is displeased, highly displeased, at her
|
||
|
|
wickedness, and does and will witness against it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I have smitten my hand at thy dishonest gain.</I> God, both by his
|
||
|
|
prophets and by his providence, revealed his wrath from heaven against
|
||
|
|
their <I>ungodliness</I> and <I>unrighteousness,</I> the oppressions
|
||
|
|
they were guilty of, though they got by them, and <I>their murders</I>
|
||
|
|
(the <I>blood which has been in the midst of thee</I>), and all their
|
||
|
|
other sins. Note, God has sufficiently discovered how angry he is at
|
||
|
|
the wicked courses of his people; and, that they may not say that they
|
||
|
|
have not had fair warning, he <I>smites his hand</I> against the sin
|
||
|
|
before he <I>lays his hand</I> upon the sinner. And this is a good
|
||
|
|
reason why we should despise dishonest gain, even the <I>gain of
|
||
|
|
oppressions,</I> and <I>shake our hands from holding bribes,</I>
|
||
|
|
because these are sins against which God <I>shakes his hands,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:15">Isa. xxxiii. 15</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Let her know that, proud and secure as she is, she is no match for
|
||
|
|
God's judgments,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) She is assured that the destruction she has deserved will come:
|
||
|
|
<I>I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it.</I> He that is true to
|
||
|
|
his promises will be true to his threatenings too, for he is not a man
|
||
|
|
that he should repent.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is supposed that she thinks herself able to contend with God,
|
||
|
|
and so stand a siege against his judgments. She bade defiance to the
|
||
|
|
day of the Lord,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:19">Isa. v. 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) She is convinced of her utter inability to make her part good with
|
||
|
|
him: "<I>Can thy heart endure, or can thy hand be strong, in the days
|
||
|
|
that I shall deal with thee?</I> Thou thinkest thou hast to do only
|
||
|
|
with men like thyself, but shalt be made to know that thou fallest into
|
||
|
|
the hands of a living God." Observe here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] There is a day coming when God will <I>deal with sinners,</I> a
|
||
|
|
day of visitation. He deals with some to bring them to repentance, and
|
||
|
|
there is no resisting the force of convictions when he sets them on; he
|
||
|
|
deals with others to bring them to ruin. He deals with sinners in this
|
||
|
|
life, when he brings upon them his sore judgments; but the days of
|
||
|
|
eternity are especially the days in which God will deal with them, when
|
||
|
|
the full vials of God's wrath will be poured out without mixture.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] The wrath of God against sinners, when he comes to deal with them,
|
||
|
|
will be found both intolerable and irresistible. There is no heart
|
||
|
|
stout enough to endure it; it is none of the infirmities which <I>the
|
||
|
|
spirit of a man will sustain.</I> Damned sinners can neither forget nor
|
||
|
|
despise their torments, nor have they any thing wherewith to support
|
||
|
|
themselves under their torments. There are no hands strong enough
|
||
|
|
either to ward off the strokes of God's wrath or to break the chains
|
||
|
|
with which sinners are bound over to the day of wrath. <I>Who knows the
|
||
|
|
power of God's anger?</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
5. Let her know that, since she has walked in the way of the heathen,
|
||
|
|
and learned their works, she shall have enough of them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>I will</I> not only send thee <I>among the heathen,</I> out of thy
|
||
|
|
own land, but <I>I will scatter thee</I> among them and <I>disperse
|
||
|
|
thee in the countries,</I> to be abused and insulted over by
|
||
|
|
strangers." And since her <I>filthiness</I> and <I>filthy ones</I>
|
||
|
|
continued in her, notwithstanding all the methods God had taken to
|
||
|
|
<I>refine</I> her (she <I>would not be made clean,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+13:27">Jer. xiii. 27</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he will be his judgments <I>consume her filthiness out of her;</I> he
|
||
|
|
will destroy those that are incurably bad and reform those that are
|
||
|
|
inclined to be good.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
6. Let her know that God has disowned her and cast her off. He had been
|
||
|
|
her heritage and portion; but now
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
"<I>Thou shalt take thy inheritance in thyself,</I> shift for thyself,
|
||
|
|
make the best hand thou canst for thyself, for God will no longer
|
||
|
|
undertake for thee." Note, Those that give up themselves to be ruled by
|
||
|
|
their lusts will justly be given up to be portioned by them. Those that
|
||
|
|
resolve to be their own masters, let them expect no other comfort and
|
||
|
|
happiness than what their own hands can furnish them with, and a
|
||
|
|
miserable portion it will prove. <I>Verily, I say unto you, They have
|
||
|
|
their reward. Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things.</I>
|
||
|
|
These are the same with this, "<I>Thou shalt take thy inheritance in
|
||
|
|
thyself,</I> and then, when it is too late, shalt own <I>in the sight
|
||
|
|
of the heathen that I am the Lord,</I> who alone am a portion
|
||
|
|
sufficient for my people." Note, Those that have lost their interest in
|
||
|
|
God will know how to value it.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sins of Jerusalem.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 591.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
|
||
|
|
18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all
|
||
|
|
they <I>are</I> brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of
|
||
|
|
the furnace; they are <I>even</I> the dross of silver.
|
||
|
|
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; Because ye are all become
|
||
|
|
dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of
|
||
|
|
Jerusalem.
|
||
|
|
20 <I>As</I> they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and
|
||
|
|
tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to
|
||
|
|
melt <I>it;</I> so will I gather <I>you</I> in mine anger and in my fury,
|
||
|
|
and I will leave <I>you there,</I> and melt you.
|
||
|
|
21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my
|
||
|
|
wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
|
||
|
|
22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye
|
||
|
|
be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
||
|
|
have poured out my fury upon you.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The same melancholy string is still harped upon, and various turns are
|
||
|
|
given it, to make it affecting, that it may be influencing. The prophet
|
||
|
|
must here show, or at least it is here shown him, that the whole house
|
||
|
|
of Israel has become as dross and that as dross they shall be consumed.
|
||
|
|
What David has said concerning the wicked ones of the world is here
|
||
|
|
said concerning the wicked ones of the church, now that it is corrupt
|
||
|
|
and degenerate
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+119:119">Ps. cxix. 119</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. See here how the wretched degeneracy of the house of Israel is
|
||
|
|
described. That state, in David's and Solomon's time, had been <I>a
|
||
|
|
head of gold;</I> when the kingdoms were divided it was as the <I>arms
|
||
|
|
of silver.</I> But now,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. It has degenerated into baser metal, of no value in comparison with
|
||
|
|
what it formerly was: <I>They are all brass, and tin, and iron, and
|
||
|
|
lead,</I> which some make to signify divers sorts of sinners among
|
||
|
|
them. Their being brass denotes the impudence of some in their
|
||
|
|
wickedness; they are <I>brazen-faced,</I> and cannot blush; their
|
||
|
|
<I>shoes</I> had been <I>iron and brass</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:25">Deut. xxxiii. 25</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but now their brow is so,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+48:4">Isa. xlviii. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Their being tin denotes the hypocritical profession of piety with which
|
||
|
|
many of them cover their iniquity; they have a specious show, but no
|
||
|
|
intrinsic worth. Their being iron denotes the cruel disposition of
|
||
|
|
some, and their delight in war, according to the character of the
|
||
|
|
<I>iron age.</I> Their being lead denotes their dulness, sottishness,
|
||
|
|
and stupidity: though soft and pliable to evil, yet heavy and not
|
||
|
|
movable to good. <I>How has the gold become dross! How has the most
|
||
|
|
fine gold changed!</I> So is Jerusalem's degeneracy bewailed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:1">Lam. iv. 1</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Yet this is not the worst; these metals, though of less value, are yet
|
||
|
|
of good use. But,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The <I>house of Israel has become dross to me.</I> So she is in
|
||
|
|
God's account, whatever she is in her own and her neighbours' account.
|
||
|
|
They were silver, but now they are <I>even the dross of silver;</I> the
|
||
|
|
word signifies all the dirt, and rubbish, and worthless stuff, that are
|
||
|
|
separated from the silver in the washing, melting, and refining of it.
|
||
|
|
Note, Sinners, and especially degenerate professors, are in God's
|
||
|
|
account as dross, vile, and contemptible, and of no account, as the
|
||
|
|
<I>evil figs</I> which <I>could not be eaten, they were so evil.</I>
|
||
|
|
They are useless and fit for nothing; of no consistency with themselves
|
||
|
|
and no service to man.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. How the woeful destruction of this degenerate house of Israel is
|
||
|
|
foretold. They are all gathered together in Jerusalem; thither people
|
||
|
|
fled from all parts of the country as to a city of refuge, not only
|
||
|
|
because it was a strong city, but because it was the holy city. Now God
|
||
|
|
tells them that their flocking into Jerusalem, which they intended for
|
||
|
|
their security, should be as the gathering of various sorts of metal
|
||
|
|
into the furnace or crucible, to be melted down, and to have the dross
|
||
|
|
separated from them. They are <I>in the midst of Jerusalem,</I>
|
||
|
|
surrounded by the forces of the enemy; and, being thus enclosed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The <I>fire of God's wrath</I> shall be kindled upon this furnace,
|
||
|
|
and it shall be <I>blown,</I> to make it burn fiercely and strongly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
God will <I>gather them in his anger and fury.</I> The blowing of the
|
||
|
|
fire makes a great noise, so will the judgments of God upon Jerusalem.
|
||
|
|
When God stirs up himself to execute judgments upon a provoking people,
|
||
|
|
from the consideration of his own glory and the necessity of making
|
||
|
|
some examples, then he may be said to <I>blow the fire of his wrath</I>
|
||
|
|
against sin and sinners, to <I>heat the furnace seven times hotter.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The several sorts of metal gathered in it shall be melted; by a
|
||
|
|
complication of judgments, as by a raging fire, their constitution
|
||
|
|
shall be dissolved, they shall lose all their former shape and
|
||
|
|
strength, and shall be utterly unable to stand before the wrath of God.
|
||
|
|
The various sorts of sinners shall be melted down together, and united
|
||
|
|
in a common overthrow, as <I>brass</I> and <I>lead</I> in the same
|
||
|
|
furnace, as trees are <I>bound in bundles for the fire.</I> They came
|
||
|
|
together into Jerusalem as a place of defence, but God brought them
|
||
|
|
together there as unto a place of execution.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. God will leave them in the furnace
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I will <I>gather you into the furnace</I> and will <I>leave you
|
||
|
|
there.</I> When God brings his own people into the furnace he sits by
|
||
|
|
them, as the refiner by his gold, to see that they be not continued
|
||
|
|
there any longer than is fitting and needful; but he will bring these
|
||
|
|
people into the furnace, as men throw dross into it, which they design
|
||
|
|
shall be consumed, and therefore are in no care about it, but <I>leave
|
||
|
|
it there.</I> Compare with this
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+5:14">Hos. v. 14</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I will tear and go away.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. Hereby the dross shall be wholly separated and the good metal
|
||
|
|
purified, the impenitent shall be destroyed and the penitent reformed
|
||
|
|
and fitted for deliverance. <I>Take away the dross from the silver, and
|
||
|
|
there shall come forth a vessel for the finer,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+25:4">Prov. xxv. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This judgment shall do that in the house of Israel for the doing of
|
||
|
|
which other methods had been tried in vain, and <I>reprobate silver
|
||
|
|
shall they no more be called,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:30">Jer. vi. 30</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_26"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_27"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_28"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_29"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_30"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Eze22_31"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Charge against Prophets and Priests.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 591.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>23 And the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
|
||
|
|
24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou <I>art</I> the land that is not
|
||
|
|
cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
|
||
|
|
25 <I>There is</I> a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst
|
||
|
|
thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have
|
||
|
|
devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things;
|
||
|
|
they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
|
||
|
|
26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine
|
||
|
|
holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and
|
||
|
|
profane, neither have they shewed <I>difference</I> between the
|
||
|
|
unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths,
|
||
|
|
and I am profaned among them.
|
||
|
|
27 Her princes in the midst thereof <I>are</I> like wolves ravening
|
||
|
|
the prey, to shed blood, <I>and</I> to destroy souls, to get dishonest
|
||
|
|
gain.
|
||
|
|
28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered <I>mortar,</I>
|
||
|
|
seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith
|
||
|
|
the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>, when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath not spoken.
|
||
|
|
29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised
|
||
|
|
robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have
|
||
|
|
oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
|
||
|
|
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the
|
||
|
|
hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should
|
||
|
|
not destroy it: but I found none.
|
||
|
|
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I
|
||
|
|
have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have
|
||
|
|
I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. A general idea given of the land of Israel, how well it deserved the
|
||
|
|
judgments coming to destroy it and how much it needed these judgments
|
||
|
|
to refine it. Let the prophet tell her plainly, "<I>Thou art the land
|
||
|
|
that is not cleansed,</I> not refined as metal is, and therefore
|
||
|
|
needest to be again put into the furnace. Means and methods of
|
||
|
|
reformation have been ineffectual; thou art <I>not rained upon in the
|
||
|
|
day of indignation.</I>" This was one of the judgments which God
|
||
|
|
brought upon them in the day of his wrath, he <I>withheld the rain</I>
|
||
|
|
from them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+14:4">Jer. xiv. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Or, "When thou art under the tokens of God's displeasure, even in the
|
||
|
|
day of indignation thou art <I>not rained upon;</I> thou hast not
|
||
|
|
received instruction by the prophets, whose doctrine is said to
|
||
|
|
<I>descend as the rain.</I>" Or, "When thou art corrected thou art not
|
||
|
|
cleansed; thy filth is not carried away as that in the streets is by a
|
||
|
|
sweeping rain. Nay, though it be a <I>day of indignation</I> with thee,
|
||
|
|
yet thy filthiness, which should be done away, has become more
|
||
|
|
<I>offensive,</I> as that of a city is in dry weather, when it is not
|
||
|
|
rained upon." Or, "Thou hast nothing to refresh and comfort thyself
|
||
|
|
with <I>in the day of indignation;</I> thou art not rained upon by
|
||
|
|
divine consolations." So the rich man in torment had not a <I>drop of
|
||
|
|
water,</I> or rain, <I>to cool his tongue.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. A particular charge drawn up against the several orders and degrees
|
||
|
|
of men among them, which shows that they had all helped to fill the
|
||
|
|
measure of the nation's guilt, but none had done any thing towards the
|
||
|
|
emptying of it; they are therefore all alike.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They have every one <I>corrupted his way,</I> and those who should
|
||
|
|
have been the brightest examples of virtue were ringleaders in iniquity
|
||
|
|
and patterns of vice.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The <I>prophets,</I> who pretended to make known the mind of God
|
||
|
|
to them, were not only <I>deceivers,</I> but <I>devourers</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and hardened them in their wickedness both by their preaching, wherein
|
||
|
|
they promised them impunity and prosperity, and by their conversation,
|
||
|
|
in which they were as profligate as any. <I>There is a conspiracy of
|
||
|
|
her prophets</I> against God and religion, against the true prophets
|
||
|
|
and all good men; they conspired together to be all in one song, as
|
||
|
|
Ahab's prophets were, to assure them of peace in their sinful ways.
|
||
|
|
Note, The unity which is found among pretenders to infallibility, and
|
||
|
|
which they so much boast of, is only the result of a secret
|
||
|
|
<I>conspiracy</I> against the truth. Satan is not <I>divided against
|
||
|
|
himself.</I> The prophets are <I>in conspiracy</I> with the murderers
|
||
|
|
and oppressors, to patronise and protect them in their wickedness, and
|
||
|
|
justify what they did with their false prophecies, provided they may
|
||
|
|
come in sharers with them in the profits of it. They are like <I>a
|
||
|
|
roaring lion ravening the prey;</I> they thunder out threats against
|
||
|
|
those whose ruin is aimed at, terrify them, or make them odious to the
|
||
|
|
people, and so make themselves masters,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Of their lives: They <I>have devoured souls,</I> have been
|
||
|
|
accessory to the shedding of the blood of many an innocent person, and
|
||
|
|
so have made many to become sorrowful widows who were comfortable
|
||
|
|
wives. They have persecuted those to death who witnessed against their
|
||
|
|
pretensions to prophecy and would not be imposed upon by their
|
||
|
|
counterfeit commission. Or, They devoured souls by flattering sinners
|
||
|
|
into a false peace and a vain hope, and seducing them into the paths of
|
||
|
|
sin, which would be their eternal ruin. Note, Those who draw men to
|
||
|
|
wickedness, and encourage them in it, are the devourers and murderers
|
||
|
|
of their souls.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Of their estates. When Naboth is slain they take possession of his
|
||
|
|
vineyard; <I>They have seized the treasure and precious things,</I> as
|
||
|
|
forfeited; some way or other they had of <I>devouring the widows'
|
||
|
|
houses,</I> as the Pharisees,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+23:14">Matt. xxiii. 14</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Or, They got this <I>treasure,</I> and all these <I>precious
|
||
|
|
things,</I> as fees for false and flattering prophecies; for <I>he that
|
||
|
|
puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+3:5">Mic. iii. 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was said with Jerusalem when such men as these passed for
|
||
|
|
prophets.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The priests, who were teachers by office, and had the custody of
|
||
|
|
the sacred things, and should have called the false prophets to
|
||
|
|
account, were as bad as they,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] They violated the law of God, which they should have observed and
|
||
|
|
taught others to observe. They made no conscience of the law of the
|
||
|
|
priesthood, but openly broke it, and with contempt, as Hophni and
|
||
|
|
Phinehas. They did what they had a mind, with an express <I>non
|
||
|
|
obstante--notwithstanding</I> to the word of God. And how should those
|
||
|
|
teach the people their duty who lived in contradiction to their own?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] They <I>profaned God's holy things,</I> about which they were to
|
||
|
|
minister, and which they ought to have restrained others from the
|
||
|
|
profanation of. They suffered those to eat of the holy things who were
|
||
|
|
unqualified by the law. The table of the Lord was contemptible with
|
||
|
|
them. By dealing in holy things with such unhallowed hands they did
|
||
|
|
themselves profane them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] They did not themselves put a difference, nor did they show the
|
||
|
|
people how to <I>put a difference, between the holy and profane, the
|
||
|
|
clean and the unclean,</I> according to the directions and distinctions
|
||
|
|
of the law. They did not exclude those from God's courts who were
|
||
|
|
excluded by the law, nor teach the people to observe the difference the
|
||
|
|
law had made between food clean and unclean, between times and places
|
||
|
|
holy and common; but they lived at large themselves and encouraged the
|
||
|
|
people to do so too.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] They <I>hid their eyes from God's sabbaths;</I> they took no care
|
||
|
|
about them; it was all one to them whether God's sabbaths were kept
|
||
|
|
holy or no; they neither gave countenance to those who observed them
|
||
|
|
nor check to those who profaned them, nor did they themselves show any
|
||
|
|
regard to them or veneration for them. They winked at those who did
|
||
|
|
servile works on that day, and looked another way when they should have
|
||
|
|
inspected the behaviour of the people on sabbath days. God's sabbaths
|
||
|
|
have such a beauty and glory put upon them by the divine institution as
|
||
|
|
may command respect; but they <I>hid their eyes</I> from them and would
|
||
|
|
not see that excellency in them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[5.] By all this God himself was <I>profaned among them;</I> his
|
||
|
|
authority was slighted, his goodness made light of, and the highest
|
||
|
|
affront and contempt imaginable were put upon his holiness. Note, The
|
||
|
|
profanation of the honour of the scriptures, of sabbaths and sacred
|
||
|
|
things, is a profanation of the honour of God himself, who is
|
||
|
|
interested in them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The princes, who should have interposed with their authority to
|
||
|
|
redress these grievances, were as daring transgressors of the law as
|
||
|
|
any
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>They are like wolves ravening the prey;</I> for such is power
|
||
|
|
without justice and goodness to direct it. All their business was to
|
||
|
|
gratify,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Their own pride and ambition, by making themselves arbitrary and
|
||
|
|
formidable.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Their own malice and revenge, by <I>shedding blood</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>destroying souls,</I> sacrificing to their cruelty all those that
|
||
|
|
stood in their way or had in any thing disobliged them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] Their own avarice; all they aim at is to <I>get dishonest
|
||
|
|
gain,</I> by crushing and oppressing their subject. <I>Lucri bonus est
|
||
|
|
odor ex re qualibet. Rem, rem, quocunque modo rem--Sweet is the odour
|
||
|
|
of gain, from whatever substance it ascends. Money, money, by fairness
|
||
|
|
or by fraud, get money.</I> But, though they had power sufficient to
|
||
|
|
carry them on in their oppressive courses, yet how could they answer it
|
||
|
|
both to their credit and to their consciences? We are told how
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The prophets <I>daubed them with untempered mortar,</I> told them in
|
||
|
|
God's name (horrid wickedness!) that there was no harm in what they
|
||
|
|
did, that they might dispose of the lives and estates of their subjects
|
||
|
|
as they pleased, and could do no wrong, nay, that in prosecuting such
|
||
|
|
and such whom they had marked out they did God service; and thus they
|
||
|
|
stopped the mouth of their consciences. They also justified what they
|
||
|
|
did, to the people, nay, and <I>magnified</I> it as if it were all for
|
||
|
|
the public good, and so saved their reputation, and kept their
|
||
|
|
oppressed subjects from murmuring. Note, Daubing prophets are the great
|
||
|
|
supporters of ravening princes, but will prove at last their great
|
||
|
|
deceivers, for they daub with untempered mortar which will not hold,
|
||
|
|
nor will the wall stand long that is built up with it. They pretend to
|
||
|
|
be seers, but they <I>see vanity;</I> they pretend to be diviners, but
|
||
|
|
they <I>divine lies;</I> they pretend a warrant from Heaven for what
|
||
|
|
they say, and that it is all as true as gospel; they say, <I>Thus saith
|
||
|
|
the Lord God,</I> but it is all a sham, for <I>the Lord has not spoken
|
||
|
|
any such thing.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) The people that had any power in their hands learned of their
|
||
|
|
princes to abuse it,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those that should have complained of the oppression of the subject, and
|
||
|
|
have put in a <I>claim of rights</I> on behalf of the injured, that
|
||
|
|
should have stood up for liberty and property, were themselves invaders
|
||
|
|
of them: <I>The people of the land have used oppression and exercised
|
||
|
|
robbery.</I> The rich oppress the poor, masters their servants,
|
||
|
|
landlords their tenants, and even parents their own children; nay, the
|
||
|
|
buyers and sellers will find some way to oppress one another. This is
|
||
|
|
such a sin as, when it is national, is indeed a national judgment, and
|
||
|
|
is threatened as such.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:5">Isa. iii. 5</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The people shall be oppressed every one by his neighbour.</I> It is
|
||
|
|
an aggravation of the sin that they have <I>vexed the poor and
|
||
|
|
needy,</I> whom they should have relieved, and have <I>oppressed the
|
||
|
|
stranger</I> and deprived him of <I>his right,</I> to whom they ought
|
||
|
|
to have been not only just, but kind. Thus was the apostasy universal
|
||
|
|
and the disease epidemical.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. There is none that appears as an intercessor for them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>I sought for a man among them that should stand in the gap, but I
|
||
|
|
found none.</I> Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Sin makes a gap in the hedge of protection that is about a people
|
||
|
|
at which good things run out from them and evil things pour in upon
|
||
|
|
them, a gap by which God enters to destroy them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) There is a way of standing in the gap, and making up the breach
|
||
|
|
against the judgments of God, by repentance, and prayer, and
|
||
|
|
reformation. Moses stood in the gap when he made intercession for
|
||
|
|
Israel to <I>turn away the wrath of God,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+106:23">Ps. cvi. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) When God is coming forth against a sinful people to destroy them
|
||
|
|
he expects some to intercede for them, and enquires if there be but one
|
||
|
|
that does; so much is it his desire and delight to show mercy. If there
|
||
|
|
be but a man that stands in the gap, as Abraham for Sodom, he will
|
||
|
|
discover him and be well pleased with him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them,
|
||
|
|
and the spirit of prayer is restrained, so that <I>not one is found</I>
|
||
|
|
that will either give them a good word or speak a good word for them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(5.) When it is so, what can be expected but utter ruin? <I>Therefore
|
||
|
|
have I poured out my indignation upon them</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
have given it full scope, that it may come upon them in a full stream;
|
||
|
|
yet, whatever God's wrath inflicts upon a people, it is <I>their own
|
||
|
|
way</I> that is therein <I>recompensed upon their heads,</I> and God
|
||
|
|
deals with them no worse, but even much better, than their iniquity
|
||
|
|
deserves.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC26021.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
||
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC26023.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
||
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
||
|
|
<TR>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Ezekiel_XXII.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
|
||
|
|
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
|
||
|
|
<br>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
||
|
|
<HR>
|
||
|
|
</BODY>
|
||
|
|
</HTML>
|