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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel III].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
<CENTER>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
</CENTER>
<FONT SIZE=-1>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In this chapter we have the further preparation of the prophet for the
work to which God called him.
I. His eating the roll that was presented to him in the close of the
foregoing chapter,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
II. Further instructions and encouragements given him to the same
purport with those in the foregoing chapter,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:4-11">ver. 4-11</A>.
III. The mighty impulse he was under, with which he was carried to
those that were to be his hearers,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
IV. A further explication of his office and business as a prophet,
under the similitude of a watchman,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:16-21">ver. 16-21</A>.
V. The restraining and restoring of the prophet's liberty of speech, as
God pleased,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:22-27">ver. 22-27</A>.</P>
</FONT>
<A NAME="Eze3_1"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_2"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_3"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_4"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Prophet Ordered to Eat the Roll; Instructions Given to the Prophet;
The Prophet's Instructions; Ezekiel's Reluctance to Be a Reprover.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN=BOTTOM ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B.&nbsp;C.</FONT>&nbsp;595.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest;
eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
&nbsp; 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
&nbsp; 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and
fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat
<I>it;</I> and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
&nbsp; 4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house
of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
&nbsp; 5 For thou <I>art</I> not sent to a people of a strange speech and
of a hard language, <I>but</I> to the house of Israel;
&nbsp; 6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of a hard
language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I
sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
&nbsp; 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they
will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel <I>are</I>
impudent and hard-hearted.
&nbsp; 8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and
thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
&nbsp; 9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead:
fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they
<I>be</I> a rebellious house.
&nbsp; 10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I
shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine
ears.
&nbsp; 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children
of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the
Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
&nbsp; 12 Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of
a great rushing, <I>saying,</I> Blessed <I>be</I> the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
from his place.
&nbsp; 13 <I>I heard</I> also the noise of the wings of the living
creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels
over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
&nbsp; 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in
bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
was strong upon me.
&nbsp; 15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt
by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained
there astonished among them seven days.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
These verses are fitly joined by some translators to the foregoing
chapter, as being of a piece with it and a continuation of the same
vision. The prophets received the word from God that they might deliver
it to the people of God, furnished themselves that they might furnish
them with the knowledge of the mind and will of God. Now here the
prophet is taught,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. How he must receive divine revelation himself,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
Christ (whom he saw <I>upon the throne,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+1:26"><I>ch.</I> i. 26</A>)
said to him, "<I>Son of man, eat this roll,</I> admit this revelation
into thy understanding, take it, take the meaning of it, understand it
aright, admit it into thy heart, apply it, and be affected with it;
imprint it in thy mind, ruminate and chew the cud upon it; take it as
it is entire, and make no difficulty of it, nay, take a pleasure in it
as thou dost in thy meat, and let thy soul be nourished and
strengthened by it; let it be meat and drink to thee, and as thy
necessary food; be full of it, as thou art of the meat thou hast
eaten." Thus ministers should in their studies and meditations take in
that word of God which they are to preach to others. <I>Thy words were
found, and I did eat them,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+15:16">Jer. xv. 16</A>.
They must be both well acquainted and much affected with the things of
God, that they may speak of them both clearly and warmly, with a great
deal of divine light and heat. Now observe,
1. How this command is inculcated upon the prophet. In the foregoing
chapter, <I>Eat what I give thee;</I> and here
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
"<I>Eat that thou findest,</I> that which is presented to thee by the
hand of Christ." Note, Whatever we find to be the word of God, whatever
is brought to us by him who is the Word of God, we must receive it
without disputing. What we find set before us in the scripture, that we
must eat. And again
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
"<I>Cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll;</I> do
not eat it and bring it up again, as that which is nauseous, but eat it
and retain it, as that which is nourishing and grateful to the stomach.
Feast upon this vision till thou be <I>full of matter,</I> as Elihu
was,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+32:18">Job xxxii. 18</A>.
Let the word have a place in thee, the innermost place." We must take
pains with our own hearts, that we may cause them duly to receive and
entertain the word of God, that every faculty may do its office, in
order to the due digesting of the word of God, that it may be turned
<I>in succum et sanguinem--into blood and spirits.</I> We must empty
ourselves of worldly things, that we may <I>fill our bowels with this
roll.</I>
2. How this command is explained
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:10">(<I>v.</I> 10</A>):
"<I>All my words that I shall speak unto thee,</I> to be spoken unto
the people, <I>thou must receive in thy heart,</I> as well as <I>hear
with thy ears,</I> receive them in the love of them." <I>Let these
sayings sink down into your ears,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+9:44">Luke ix. 44</A>.
Christ demands the prophet's attention not only to what he now says,
but to all that he shall at any time hereafter speak: <I>Receive</I> it
all <I>in thy heart; meditate on these things and give thyself wholly
to them,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:15">1 Tim. iv. 15</A>.
3. How this command was obeyed in vision. He <I>opened his mouth</I>
and Christ <I>caused him to eat the roll,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
If we be truly willing to receive the word into our hearts, Christ will
by his Spirit bring it into them and cause it to <I>dwell in us
richly.</I> If he that <I>opens the roll,</I> and by his Spirit, as a
<I>Spirit of revelation,</I> spreads it before us, did not also <I>open
our understanding,</I> and by his Spirit, as a <I>Spirit of wisdom,</I>
give us the knowledge of it and <I>cause us to eat</I> it, we should be
for ever strangers to it. The prophet had reason to fear that the roll
would be an unpleasant morsel and a sorry dish to make a meal of, but
it proved to be in his <I>mouth as honey for sweetness.</I> Note, if we
readily obey even the most difficult commands, we shall find that
comfort in the reflection which will make us abundant amends for all
the hardships we meet with in the way of our duty. Though <I>the roll
was filled with lamentations, and mourning, and woe,</I> yet it was to
the prophet <I>as honey for sweetness.</I> Note, Gracious souls can
receive those truths of God with great delight which speak most terror
to wicked people. We find St. John let into some part of the revelation
by such a sign as this,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+10:9,10">Rev. x. 9, 10</A>.
He <I>took the book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up, and it
was,</I> as this, <I>in</I> his <I>mouth sweet as honey;</I> but it was
<I>bitter in the belly;</I> and we shall find that this was so too, for
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
the prophet <I>went in bitterness.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. How he must deliver that divine revelation to others which he
himself had received
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
<I>Eat this roll, and</I> then <I>go, speak to the house of Israel.</I>
He must not undertake to preach the things of God to others till he did
himself fully understand them; let him not go without his errand, nor
take it by the halves. But when he does himself fully understand them
he must be both busy and bold to preach them for the good of others. We
must not <I>conceal the words of the Holy One</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+6:10">Job vi. 10</A>),
for that is burying a talent which was given us to trade with. He must
<I>go and speak to the house of Israel;</I> for it is their privilege
to have God's statutes and judgments made known to them; as <I>the
giving of the law</I> (the lively oracles), so prophecy (the living
oracles) <I>pertains to them.</I> He is not sent to the Chaldeans to
reprove them for their sins, but <I>to the house of Israel</I> to
reprove them for theirs; for the father corrects his own child if he do
amiss, not the child of a stranger.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. The instructions given him in speaking to them are much the same
with those in the foregoing chapter.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(1.) He must speak to them all that, and that only, which God spoke to
him. He had said before
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+2:7"><I>ch.</I> ii. 7</A>):
<I>Thou shalt speak my words to them;</I> here he says
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
<I>Thou shalt speak with my words unto them,</I> or <I>in my words.</I>
He must not only say that which for substance is the same that God had
said to him, but as near as may be in the same language and
expressions. Blessed Paul, though a man of a very happy invention, yet
speaks of the things of God <I>in the words which the Holy Ghost
teaches,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:13">1 Cor. ii. 13</A>.
Scripture truths look best in scripture language, their native dress;
and how can we better speak God's mind than with his words?</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(2.) He must remember that they are <I>the house of Israel</I> whom he
is sent to speak to, God's house and his own; and therefore such as he
ought to have a particular concern for and to deal faithfully and
tenderly with. They were such as he had an intimate acquaintance with,
being not only their countryman, but their <I>companion in
tribulation;</I> they and he were fellow-sufferers, and had lately been
fellow-travellers, in very melancholy circumstances, from Judea to
Babylon, and had often mingled their tears, which could not but knit
their affections to each other. It was well for the people that they
had a prophet who knew experimentally how to sympathize with them, and
could not but be touched with the feeling of their infirmities. It was
well for the prophet that he had to do with those of his own nation,
not <I>with a people of strange speech and a hard language,</I> deep of
lip, so that thou canst not fathom their meaning, and heavy of tongue,
whom it is intolerable and impossible to converse with. Every strange
language seems to us to be deep and heavy. "Thou art not sent to
<I>many such people,</I> whom thou couldst neither speak to nor hear
from, neither understand nor be understood among but by an
interpreter." The apostles indeed were sent to <I>many people of a
strange speech,</I> but they could not have done any good among them if
they had not had <I>the gift of tongues;</I> but Ezekiel was sent only
to one people, those but a few, and his own, whom having acquaintance
with he might hope to find acceptance with.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(3.) He must remember what God had already told him of the bad
character of those to whom he was sent, that, if he met with
discouragement and disappointment in them, he might not be offended.
They <I>are impudent and hard-hearted</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
no convictions of sin would make them blush, no denunciations of wrath
would make them tremble. Two things aggravated their obstinacy:--
[1.] That they were more obstinate than their neighbours would have
been if the prophet had been sent to them. Had God sent him to any
other people, though of a <I>strange speech, surely they would have
hearkened</I> to him; they would at least have given him a patient
hearing and shown him that respect which he could not obtain of his own
countrymen. The Ninevites were wrought upon by Jonah's preaching when
the house of Israel, that was compassed about with so great a cloud of
prophets, was unhumbled and unreformed. But what shall we say to these
things? The means of grace are given to those that will not improve
them and withheld from those that would have improved them. We must
resolve this into the divine sovereignty, and say, Lord, <I>thy
judgments are a great deep.</I>
[2.] That they were obstinate against God himself: "They <I>will not
hearken unto thee,</I> and no marvel, <I>for they will not hearken unto
me;</I>" they will not regard the word of the prophet, for they will
not regard the rod of God, by which the <I>Lord's voice cries in the
city.</I> If they believe not God speaking to them by a minister,
neither would they believe though he should speak to them by <I>a voice
from heaven;</I> nay, <I>therefore</I> they reject what the prophet
says, because it comes from God, whom <I>the carnal mind is enmity</I>
to. They are prejudiced against the law of God, and for that reason
turn a deaf ear to his prophets, whose business it is to enforce his
law.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(4.) He must resolve to put on courage, and Christ promises to steel
him with it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
He is sent to such as <I>are impudent and hard-hearted,</I> who will
receive no impressions nor be wrought upon either by fair means or
foul, who will take a pride in affronting God's messenger and
confronting the message. It will be a hard task to know how to deal
with them; but,
[1.] God will enable him to put a good face on it: "<I>I have made thy
face strong against their faces,</I> endued thee with all the firmness
and boldness that the case calls for." Perhaps Ezekiel was naturally
bashful and timorous, but, if God did not find him fit, yet by his
grace he made him fit, to encounter the greatest difficulties. Note,
The more impudent wicked people are in their opposition to religion the
more openly and resolutely should God's people appear in the practice
and defence of it. Let the <I>innocent stir up himself against the
hypocrite,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+17:8">Job xvii. 8</A>.
When vice is daring let not virtue be sneaking. And, when God has work
to do, he will animate men for it and give them strength according to
the day. If there be occasion, God can and will by his grace make the
<I>foreheads</I> of faithful ministers <I>as an adamant,</I> so that
the most threatening powers shall not dash them out of countenance.
<I>The Lord God will help men, therefore have I set my face like a
flint,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:7">Isa. l. 7</A>.
[2.] He is therefore commanded to have a good heart on it, and to go on
in his work with a holy security, not valuing either the censures or
the threats of his enemies: "<I>Fear not, neither be dismayed at their
looks;</I> let not the menaces of their impotent malice cast either a
damp upon thee or a stumbling-block before thee." Bold sinners must
have bold reprovers; <I>evil beasts</I> must be <I>rebuked</I>
cuttingly
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Tit+1:12,13">Tit. i. 12, 13</A>),
must be <I>saved with fear,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:23">Jude 23</A>.
Those that keep closely to the service of God may be sure of the favour
of God, and then they need not be dismayed at the proud looks of men.
Let not the angry countenance that drives away a back-biting tongue
give any check to a reproving tongue.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(5.) He must continue instant with them in his preaching, whatever the
success was,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
He must <I>go to those of the captivity,</I> who, being in affliction,
it was to be hoped would receive instruction; he must look upon them as
<I>the children of his people,</I> to whom he was nearly allied, and
for whom he therefore ought to have a very tender concern, as Paul for
his kinsmen,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:3">Rom. ix. 3</A>.
And he must <I>tell them</I> not only what the Lord said, but that the
Lord said it; let him speak in God's name, and back what he said with
his authority: <I>Thus saith the Lord God; tell them</I> so, <I>whether
they will hear or whether they will forbear.</I> Not that it may be
indifferent to us what success our ministry has, but, whatever it be,
we must go on with our work and leave the issue to God. We must not say
"Here are some so good that we do not need to speak to them," or, "Here
are others so bad that it is to no purpose to speak to them;" but,
however it be, deliver thy message faithfully, <I>tell them, The Lord
God saith</I> so and so, let them reject it at their peril.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. Full instructions being thus given to the prophet, pursuant to his
commission, we are here told,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(1.) With what satisfaction this mission of his was applauded by the
holy angels, who were very well pleased to see one of a nature inferior
to their own thus honourable employed and entrusted. He <I>heard a
voice of a great rushing</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
as if the angels thronged and crowded to see the inauguration of a
prophet; for to them <I>is known by the church</I> (that is, by
reflection from the church) <I>the manifold wisdom of God,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:10">Eph. iii. 10</A>.
They seemed to strive who should get nearest to this great sight. He
<I>heard the noise of their wings that touched,</I> or (as the word is)
<I>kissed one another,</I> denoting the mutual affections and
assistances of the angels. He heard also <I>the noise of the wheels</I>
of Providence moving <I>over-against</I> the angels and in concert with
them. All this was to engage his attention and to convince him that the
God who sent him, having such a glorious train of attendants, no doubt
had power sufficient to bear him out in his work. But all this noise
ended in the voice of praise. He heard them saying, <I>Blessed be the
glory of the Lord from his place.</I>
[1.] From heaven, his place above, whence his glory was now in vision
descending, or whither perhaps it was now returning. Let the
innumerable company of angels above join with those employed in this
vision in saying, <I>Blessed be the glory of the Lord. Praise you the
Lord from the heavens. Praise him, all his angels,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+148:1,2">Ps. cxlviii. 1, 2</A>.
[2.] From the temple, his place on earth, whence his glory was now
departing. They lament the departure of the glory, but adore the
righteousness of God in it: however it be, yet God is blessed and
glorious, and ever will be so. The prophet Isaiah heard God thus
praised when he received his commission
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+6:3">Isa. vi. 3</A>);
and a comfort it is to all the faithful servants of God, when they see
how much God is dishonoured in this lower world, to think how much he
is admired and glorified in the upper world. <I>The glory of the
Lord</I> has many slights from our place, but many <I>praises from his
place.</I></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(2.) With what reluctance of his own spirit, and yet with what a mighty
efficacy of <I>the Spirit of God,</I> the prophet was himself brought
to the execution of his office. <I>The grace given to him was not in
vain;</I> for,
[1.] The Spirit led him with a strong hand. God bade him go, but he
stirred not till <I>the Spirit took him up. The Spirit of the living
creatures</I> that was <I>in the wheels</I> now was in the prophet too,
and <I>took him up,</I> first to hear more distinctly the acclamations
of the angels
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
but afterwards
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
<I>lifted him up, and took him away</I> to his work, which he was
backward to, being very loth either to bring trouble upon himself or
foretel it to his people. He would gladly have been excused, but must
own, as another prophet does
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+20:7">Jer. xx. 7</A>),
<I>Thou was stronger than I, and hast prevailed.</I> Ezekiel would
willingly have kept all he heard and saw to himself, that it might go
no further, <I>but the hand of the Lord was strong upon him</I> and
overpowered him; he was carried on contrary to his own inclinations by
the prophetical impulse, so that he could not <I>but speak the things
which he had heard and seen,</I> as the apostles,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:20">Acts iv. 20</A>.
Note, Those whom God calls to the ministry, as he furnishes their heads
for it, so he bows their hearts to it.
[2.] He followed with a sad heart: <I>The Spirit took me away,</I> says
he, <I>and</I> then <I>I went,</I> but it was <I>in bitterness, in the
heat of my spirit.</I> He had perhaps seen what a hard task Jeremiah
had at Jerusalem when he appeared as a prophet, what pains he took,
what opposition he met with, how he was abused by hand and tongue, and
what ill treatment he met with, and all to no purpose. "And" (thinks
Ezekiel) "must I be set up for a mark like him?" The life of a captive
was bad enough; but what would the life of a prophet in captivity be?
Therefore he went in this fret and under this discomposure. Note, There
may in some cases be a great reluctance of corruption even where there
is a manifest predominance of grace. "<I>I went,</I> not <I>disobedient
to the heavenly vision,</I> or shrinking from the work, as Jonah, but
<I>I went in bitterness,</I> not at all pleased with it." When he
received the divine revelation himself, it was to him <I>sweet as
honey</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
he could with abundance of pleasure have spent all his days in
meditating upon it; but when he is to preach it to others, who, he
foresees, will be hardened and exasperated by it, and have their
condemnation aggravated, then he goes <I>in bitterness.</I> Note, It is
a great grief to faithful ministers, and makes them go on in their work
with a heavy heart, when they find people untractable and hating to be
reformed. He <I>went in the heat of his spirit,</I> because of the
discouragements he foresaw he should meet with; <I>but the hand of the
Lord was strong upon</I> him, not only to compel him to his work, but
to fit him for it, to carry him through it, and animate him against the
difficulties he would meet with (so we may understand it); and, when he
found it so, he was better reconciled to his business and applied
himself to it: <I>Then he came to those of the captivity</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
to some place where there were many of them together, <I>and sat where
they sat,</I> working, or reading, or talking, and continued <I>among
them seven days</I> to hear what they said and observe what they did;
and all that time he was waiting for <I>the word of the Lord</I> to
come to him. Note, Those that would speak suitably and profitably to
people about their souls must acquaint themselves with them and with
their case, must do as Ezekiel did here, must <I>sit where they
sit,</I> and speak familiarly to them of the things of God, and put
themselves into their condition, yea, though they <I>sit by the rivers
of Babylon.</I> But observe, He was <I>there astonished,</I>
overwhelmed with grief for the sins and miseries of his people and
overpowered by the pomp of the vision he had seen. He was <I>there
desolate</I> (so some read it); God showed him no visions, men made him
no visit. Thus was he left to digest his grief, and come to a better
temper, before <I>the word of the Lord</I> should come to him. Note,
Those whom god designs to exalt and enlarge he first humbles and
straitens for a time.</P>
<A NAME="Eze3_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_19"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_20"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_21"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Watchman's Office.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 595.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word
of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
&nbsp; 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of
Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them
warning from me.
&nbsp; 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou
givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his
wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked <I>man</I> shall die in
his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
&nbsp; 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his
wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his
iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
&nbsp; 20 Again, When a righteous <I>man</I> doth turn from his
righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block
before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him
warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he
hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require
at thine hand.
&nbsp; 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous <I>man,</I> that the
righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live,
because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
These further instructions God gave to the prophet <I>at the end of
seven days,</I> that is, on the seventh day after the vision he had;
and it is very probably that both that and this were on the sabbath
day, which <I>the house of Israel,</I> even in their captivity,
observed as well as they could in those circumstances. We do not find
that their conquerors and oppressors tied them to any constant service,
as their Egyptian task-masters had formerly done, but that they might
observe the sabbath-rest for a sign to distinguish between them and
their neighbours; but for the sabbath-work they had not the convenience
of temple or synagogue, only it should seem they had a <I>place by the
river side where prayer was wont to be made</I> (as
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:13">Acts xvi. 13</A>);
there they met on the sabbath day; there their enemies upbraided them
with <I>the songs of Zion</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:1,3">Ps. cxxxvii. 1, 3</A>);
there Ezekiel met them, and <I>the word of the Lord</I> then and there
<I>came to</I> him. He that had been musing and meditating on the
things of God all the week was fit to speak to the people in God's name
on the sabbath day, and disposed to hear God speak to him. This sabbath
day Ezekiel was not so honoured with visions of the glory of God as he
had been the sabbath before; but he is plainly, and by a very common
similitude, told his duty, which he is to communicate to the people.
Note, Raptures and transports of joy are not the daily bread of God's
children, however they may upon special occasions be feasted with them.
We must not deny but that we have truly communion with God
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+1:3">1 John i. 3</A>)
though we have it not always so sensibly as at some times. And, though
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven may sometimes be looked into,
yet ordinarily it is plain preaching that is most for edification. God
here tells the prophet what his office was, and what the duty of that
office; and this (we may suppose) he was to tell the people, that they
might attend to what he said and improve it accordingly. Note, It is
good for people to know and consider what a charge their ministers have
of them and what an account they must shortly give of that charge.
Observe,</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. What the office is to which the prophet is called: <I>Son of man, I
have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
The vision he saw astonished him: he knew not what to make of that, and
therefore God used this plain comparison, which served better to lead
him to the understanding of his work and so to reconcile him to it. He
sat among the captives, and said little, but God comes to him, and
tells him that will not do; he is <I>a watchman,</I> and has something
to say to them; he is appointed to be as <I>a watchman</I> in the city,
to guard against fire, robbers, and disturbers of the peace, as <I>a
watchman</I> over the flock, to guard against thieves and beasts of
prey, but especially as <I>a watchman</I> in the camp, in an invaded
country or a besieged town, that is to watch the motions of the enemy,
and to sound an alarm upon the approach, nay, upon the first
appearance, of danger. This supposes <I>the house of Israel</I> to be
in a military state, and exposed to enemies, who are subtle and
restless in their attempts upon it; yea, and each of the particular
members of that house to be in danger and concerned to stand upon their
guard. Note, Ministers are <I>watchmen on the church's walls</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:6">Isa. lxii. 6</A>),
<I>watchmen that go about the city,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:3">Cant. iii. 3</A>.
It is a toilsome office. Watchmen must keep awake, be they ever so
sleepy, and keep abroad, be it ever so cold; they must stand all
weathers <I>upon the watch-tower,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:8,Ge+31:40">Isa. xxi. 8; Gen. xxxi. 40</A>.
It is a dangerous office. Sometimes they cannot keep their post, but
are in peril of death from the enemy, who gain their point if they kill
the sentinel; and yet they dare not quit their post upon pain of death
from their general. Such a dilemma are the church's watchmen in; men
will curse them if they be faithful, and God will curse them if they be
false. But it is a needful office; <I>the house of Israel</I> cannot be
safe without watchmen, and yet, <I>except the Lord keep</I> it, <I>the
watchman waketh but in vain,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+127:1,2">Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. What is the duty of this office. The work of a watchman is to take
notice and to give notice.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. The prophet, as a watchman, must take notice of what God said
concerning this people, not only concerning the body of the people, to
which the prophecies of Jeremiah and other prophets had most commonly
reference, but concerning particular persons, according as their
character was. He must not, as other watchmen, look round to spy danger
and gain intelligence, but he must look up to God, and further he need
not look: <I>Hear the word at my mouth,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
Note, Those that are to preach must first hear; for how can those teach
others who have not first learned themselves?</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. He must give notice of what he heard. As a watchman must have eyes
in his head, so he must have a tongue in his head; if he be dumb, it is
as bad as if he were blind,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:10">Isa. lvi. 10</A>.
Thou shalt <I>give them warning from me,</I> sound an alarm in the
<I>holy mountain;</I> not in his own name, or as from himself, but in
God's name, and from him. Ministers are God's mouth to the children of
men. The scriptures are written for our admonition. <I>By them is thy
servant warned,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+19:11">Ps. xix. 11</A>.
But, because that which is delivered <I>viv&acirc; voce--by the living
voice,</I> commonly makes the deepest impression, God is pleased, by
men like ourselves, who are equally concerned, to enforce upon us the
warnings of the written word. Now the prophet, in his preaching, must
distinguish between the wicked and the righteous, the precious and the
vile, and in his applications must suit his alarms to each, giving
every one his portion; and, if he did this, he should have the comfort
of it, whatever the success was, but, if not, he was accountable.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(1.) Some of those he had to do with were wicked, and he must warn them
not to go on in their wickedness, but to turn from it,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
We may observe here,
[1.] That the God of heaven has said, and does say, to every wicked
man, that if he go on still in his trespasses he <I>shall surely die.
His iniquity</I> shall undoubtedly be his ruin; it tends to ruin and
will end in ruin. Dying <I>thou shalt die, thou shalt die</I> so great
a death, <I>shalt die</I> eternally, be ever dying, but never dead.
<I>The wicked man shall die in his iniquity, shall fie</I> under the
guilt of it, <I>die</I> under the dominion of it.
[2.] That if a <I>wicked man turn from his wickedness,</I> and <I>from
his wicked way, he shall live,</I> and the ruin he is threatened with
shall be prevented; and, that he may do so, he is warned of the danger
he is in. <I>The wicked man shall die</I> if he go on, but <I>shall
live</I> if he repent. Observe, he is to turn <I>from his
wickedness</I> and <I>from his wicked way.</I> It is not enough for a
man to turn <I>from his wicked way</I> by an outward reformation, which
may be the effect of his sins leaving him rather than of his leaving
his sins, but he must <I>turn from his wickedness,</I> from the love of
it and the inclination to it, by an inward regeneration; if he do not
so much as turn <I>from his wicked way,</I> there is little hope that
he will turn <I>from his wickedness.</I>
[3.] That it is the duty of ministers both to warn sinners of the
danger of sin and to assure them of the benefit of repentance, to set
before them how miserable they are if they go on in sin, and how happy
they may be if they will but repent and reform. Note, The ministry of
the word is concerning matters of <I>life and death,</I> for those are
the things it sets before us, <I>the blessing and the curse,</I> that
we may escape the curse and inherit the blessing.
[4.] That, though ministers do not warn wicked people as they ought of
their misery and danger, yet that shall not be admitted as an excuse
for those that go on still in their trespasses; for, though the
watchman did not <I>give them warning,</I> yet they <I>shall die in
their iniquity,</I> for they had sufficient warning given them by the
providence of God and their own consciences; and, if they would have
taken it, they might have <I>saved</I> their <I>lives.</I>
[5.] That if ministers be not faithful to their trust, if they do not
warn sinners of the fatal consequences of sin, but suffer them to go on
unreproved, the <I>blood</I> of those that perish through their
carelessness <I>will be required at their hand.</I> It shall be charged
upon them in the day of account that it was owing to their
unfaithfulness that such and such precious souls perished in sin; for
who knows but if they had had fair warning given them they might have
fled in time <I>from the wrath to come?</I> And, if it contract so
heinous a guilt as it does to be accessory to the murder of a dying
body, what is it to be accessory to the ruin of an immortal soul?
[6.] That if ministers do their duty in giving warning to sinners,
though the warning be not taken, yet they may have this satisfaction,
that they are j<I>clear from</I> their <I>blood,</I> and have
<I>delivered their own souls,</I> though they cannot prevail to deliver
theirs. Those that are faithful shall have their reward, though they
be not successful.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
(2.) Some of those he had to deal with were <I>righteous,</I> at least
he had reason to think, in a judgment of charity, that they were so;
and he must warn them not to apostatize and <I>turn away from their
righteousness,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:20,21"><I>v.</I> 20, 21</A>.
We may observe here,
[1.] That the best men in the world have need to be warned against
apostasy, and to be told of the danger they are in of it and the danger
they are in by it. God's servants must be warned
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+19:11">Ps. xix. 11</A>)
that they do not neglect his work and quit his service. One good means
to keep us from falling is to keep up a holy fear of falling,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:1">Heb. iv. 1</A>.
<I>Let us therefore fear;</I> and
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:20">Rom. xi. 20</A>)
even those that <I>stand by faith</I> must <I>not be high-minded, but
fear,</I> and must therefore be warned.
[2.] There is a <I>righteousness</I> which a man may <I>turn from,</I>
a seeming <I>righteousness,</I> and, if men turn from this, it thereby
appears that it was never sincere, how passable, nay, how plausible
soever it was; for, <I>if they had been of us, they would no doubt have
continued with us,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:19">1 John ii. 19</A>.
There are many that <I>begin in the spirit,</I> but <I>end in the
flesh,</I> that set their faces heavenward, but look back; that had a
first love, but have lost it, and <I>turned from the holy
commandment.</I>
[3.] When men <I>turn from their righteousness</I> they soon learn to
commit iniquity. When they grow careless and remiss in the duties of
God's worship, neglect them, or a re negligent in them, they become an
easy prey to the tempter. Omissions make way for commissions.
[4.] <I>When men turn from their righteousness, and commit
iniquity,</I> it is just with God to lay <I>stumbling-blocks before
them,</I> that they may grow worse and worse, till they are ripened for
destruction. When Pharaoh hardened his heart God hardened it. When
sinners turn their back upon God, desert his service, and so cast a
reproach upon it, he does, in a way of righteous judgment, not only
withdraw his restraining grace and give them up to their own hearts'
lusts, but order them by his providence into such circumstances as
occasion their sin and hasten their ruin. There are those to whom
Christ himself is <I>a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:8">1 Pet. ii. 8</A>.
[5.] The righteousness which men relinquish shall never be remembered
to their honour or comfort; it will stand them in no stead in this
world or the other. Apostates lose all that they have wrought; their
services and sufferings are all in vain, and shall never be brought to
an account, because not continued in. It is a rule in the law,
<I>Factum non dicitur, quod non perseverat--We are said to do only that
which we do perseveringly,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:3,4">Gal. iii. 3, 4</A>.
[6.] If ministers do no give fair warning, as they ought, of the
weakness of the best, their aptness to stumble and fall, the particular
temptations they are in and the fatal consequences of apostasy, the
ruin of those that do apostatize will be laid at their door, and they
shall answer for it. Not but that there are those who are warned
against it, and yet <I>turn from their righteousness;</I> but that case
is not put here, as was concerning the wicked man, but, on the
contrary, that a <I>righteous man,</I> being warned, takes the warning
and <I>does not sin</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>);
for, if you <I>give instruction to a wise man, he will be yet
wiser.</I> We must not only not flatter the wicked, but not flatter
even the righteous as if they were perfectly safe any where on this
side heaven.
[7.] If ministers give warning, and people take it, it is well for
both. Nothing is more beautiful than <I>a wise reprover upon an
obedient ear;</I> the one <I>shall live because he is warned</I> and
the other <I>has delivered his soul.</I> What can a good minister
desire more than to <I>save himself and those that hear him?</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+4:16">1 Tim. iv. 16</A>.</P>
<A NAME="Eze3_22"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_23"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_24"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_25"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_26"> </A>
<A NAME="Eze3_27"> </A>
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The People's Contumacy Predicted.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 595.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was there upon me; and he said unto
me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with
thee.
&nbsp; 23 Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold,
the glory of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> stood there, as the glory which I saw by
the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
&nbsp; 24 Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet,
and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within
thine house.
&nbsp; 25 But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon
thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out
among them:
&nbsp; 26 And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth,
that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for
they <I>are</I> a rebellious house.
&nbsp; 27 But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou
shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; He that heareth,
let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they
<I>are</I> a rebellious house.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
After all this large and magnificent discovery which God had made of
himself to the prophet, and the full instructions he had given him how
to deal with those to whom he sent him with an ample commission, we
should have expected presently to see him preaching the word of God to
a great congregation of Israel; but here we find it quite otherwise.
his work here, at first, seems not at all proportionable to the pomp of
his call.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
I. We have him here retired for further learning. By his unwillingness
to go it should seem as if he were not so thoroughly convinced as he
might have been of the ability of him that sent him to bear him out;
and therefore, to encourage him against the difficulties he foresaw,
God will favour him with another vision of his glory, which (if any
thing) would put life into him and animate him for his work. In order
for this, God calls him out <I>to the plain</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>)
and there he will have some <I>talk with him.</I> See and admire the
condescension of God in conversing thus familiarly with a man, a <I>son
of man,</I> a poor captive, nay, with a sinful man, who, when God sent
him <I>went in bitterness of spirit,</I> and was at this time out of
humour with his work. And let us own ourselves for ever indebted to the
mediation of Christ for this blessed intercourse and communion between
God and man, between heaven and earth. See here the benefit of
solitude, and how much it befriends contemplation. It is very
comfortable to be alone with God, withdrawn from the word for converse
with him, to hear from him, to speak to him; and a good man will say
that he is never less along than when thus alone. Ezekiel <I>went forth
into the plain</I> more willingly than he went <I>among those of the
captivity</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>);
for those that know what it is to have communion with God cannot but
prefer that before any converse with this world, especially such as is
commonly met with. He <I>went out into the plain,</I> and there he saw
the same vision that he had seen <I>by the river of Chebar;</I> for God
is not tied to places. Note, Those who follow God shall meet with his
consolations, wherever they go. God called him out to <I>talk with
him,</I> but did more than that: he showed him his <I>glory,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
We are not now to expect such visions, but we must own that we have a
favour done us no way inferior if we so by faith <I>behold the glory of
the Lord</I> as to be <I>changed into the same image, by the Spirit of
the Lord;</I> and this <I>honour have all his saints. Praise you the
Lord,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:18">2 Cor. iii. 18</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. We have him here restrained from further teaching for the present.
When he saw <I>the glory of the Lord</I> he <I>fell on his face,</I>
being struck with an awe of God's majesty and a dread of his
displeasure; but <I>the Spirit entered into</I> him to raise him up,
and then he recovered himself and got <I>upon his feet</I> and heard
what the Spirit whispered to him, which is very surprising. One would
have expected now that God would send him directly to the chief place
of concourse, would give him favour in the eyes of his brethren, and
make him and his message acceptable to them, that he would have a wider
door of opportunity opened to him and that God would give him a door of
utterance to open his mouth boldly; but what is here said to him is the
reverse of all this.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
1. Instead of sending him to a public assembly, he orders him to
confine himself to his own lodgings: <I>Go, shut thyself within thy
house,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
He was not willing to appear in public, and, when he did, the people
did not regard him, nor show him the respect he deserved, and as a just
rebuke both to him and them, to him for his shyness of them and to them
for their coldness towards him, God forbids him to appear in public.
Note, Our choice is often made our punishment; and it is a righteous
thing with God to remove teachers into corners when they, or their
people, or both, grow indifferent to solemn assemblies. Ezekiel must
shut up himself, some think, to give a sign of the besieging of
Jerusalem, in which the people should be closely shut up as he was in
his house, and which he speaks of in the next chapter. He must <I>shut
himself within his house,</I> that he might receive further discoveries
of the mind of God and might abundantly furnish himself with something
to say to the people when he went abroad. We find that <I>the elders of
Judah</I> visited him and <I>sat before</I> him sometimes <I>in his
house</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+8:1"><I>ch.</I> viii. 1</A>),
to be witnesses of his ecstasies; but it was not till
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+11:25"><I>ch.</I> xi. 25</A>
that he <I>spoke to those of the captivity all the things that the Lord
had shown him.</I> Note, Those that are called to preach must find time
to study, and a great deal of time too, must often shut themselves up
in their houses, that they may give attendance to reading and
meditation, and so their profiting may appear to all.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
2. Instead of securing him an interest in the esteem and affections of
those to whom he sent him he tells him that <I>they shall put bands
upon him and bind him</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
either
(1.) As a criminal. <I>They shall bind him</I> in order to the further
punishing of him as a disturber of the peace; though they were
themselves sent into bondage in Babylon for persecuting the prophets,
yet there they continue to persecute them. Or, rather,
(2.) As a distracted man. <I>They</I> would go about to <I>bind him</I>
as one beside himself; for to that they imputed his violent motions in
his raptures. The captains asked Jehu, <I>Wherefore came this mad
fellow unto thee?</I> Festus said to Paul, <I>Thou art beside
thyself;</I> and so the Jews said of our Lord Jesus,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+3:21">Mark iii. 21</A>.
Perhaps this was the reason why he must keep within doors, because
otherwise they would bind him, under pretence of his being mad, and
therefore he must not <I>go out among them.</I> Justly are prophets
forbidden to go to those that will abuse them.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
3. Instead of opening his lips that his mouth might show forth God's
praise, God silence him, made his <I>tongue cleave to the roof of his
mouth,</I> so that he was dumb for a considerable time,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
The pious captives in Babylon used this imprecation upon themselves,
that, <I>if</I> they should <I>forget Jerusalem,</I> there
<I>tongue</I> might <I>cleave to the roof of their mouth,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+137:6">Ps. cxxxvii. 6</A>.
Ezekiel remembers Jerusalem more than any of them, and yet his
<I>tongue cleaves to the roof of his mouth,</I> and he that can speak
best is forbidden to speak at all; and the reason given is because
<I>they are a rebellious house</I> to whom he is sent, and they are not
worthy to have him for <I>a reprover.</I> He shall not give them
instructions and admonitions, for they are lost and thrown away upon
them. He is before commanded to speak boldly to them because <I>they
are most rebellious</I>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+2:7"><I>ch.</I> ii. 7</A>);
but, since that proves to no purpose, he is now for that reason
enjoined silence and shall not speak at all to them. Note, Those whose
hearts are hardened against conviction are justly deprived of the mans
of conviction. Why should not the reprovers be dumb, if, after long
trials, it be found that the reproved resolve to be deaf? If Ephraim be
<I>joined to idols, let him alone. Thou shalt be dumb, and not be a
reprover,</I> implying that unless he were dumb he would be reproving;
if he could speak at all, he would witness against the wickedness of
the wicked. <I>But when</I> God <I>speaks with</I> him, and designs to
speak by him, he <I>will open</I> his <I>mouth,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
Note, Though God's prophets may be silenced awhile, there will come a
time when God will give them the opening of the mouth again. And, when
God speaks to his ministers, he not only opens their ears to hear what
he says, but opens their mouth to return an answer. Moses, who had a
veil on his face when he went down to the people, took it off when he
went up again to God,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+34:34">Exod. xxxiv. 34</A>.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
4. Instead of giving him assurance of success when he should at any
time speak to the people, he here leaves the matter very doubtful, and
Ezekiel must not perplex and disquiet himself about it, but let it be
as it will. <I>He that hears, let him hear,</I> and he is welcome to
the comfort of it; <I>let him hear, and his soul shall live;</I> but
<I>he that forbears, let him forbear</I> at his peril, and take what
comes. If <I>thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it;</I> neither God
nor his prophet shall be any losers by it; but the prophet shall be
rewarded for his faithfulness in reproving the sinner, and God will
have the glory of his justice in condemning him for not taking the
reproof.</P>
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