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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Ezekiel XXXIII].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC26032.HTM">Previous</A>]
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The prophet has now come off his circuit, which he went as judge, in
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God's name, to try and pass sentence upon the neighbouring nations,
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and, having finished with them, and read them all their doom, in the
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eight chapters foregoing, he now returns to the children of his people,
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and receives further instructions what to say to them.
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I. He must let them know what office he was in among them as a prophet,
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that he was a watchman, and had received a charge concerning them, for
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which he was accountable,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:1-9">ver. 1-9</A>.
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The substance of this we had before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:17"><I>ch.</I> iii. 17</A>,
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&c.
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II. He must let them know upon what terms they stand with God, that
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they are upon their trial, upon their good behaviour, that if a wicked
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man repent he shall not perish, but that if a righteous man apostatize
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he shall perish,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:10-20">ver. 10-20</A>.
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III. Here is a particular message sent to those who yet remained in the
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land of Israel, and (which is very strange) grew secure there, and
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confident that they should take root there again, to tell them that
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their hopes would fail them because they persisted in their sins,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:21-29">ver. 21-29</A>.
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IV. Here is a rebuke to those who personally attended Ezekiel's
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ministry, but were not sincere in their professions of devotion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:30-33">ver. 30-33</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eze33_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Watchman's Office; The Prophet a Watchman to Israel.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 587.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Again the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
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2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto
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them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the
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land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
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3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the
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trumpet, and warn the people;
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4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh
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not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood
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shall be upon his own head.
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5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his
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blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver
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his soul.
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6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the
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trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and
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take <I>any</I> person from among them, he is taken away in his
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iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
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7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the
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house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth,
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and warn them from me.
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8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked <I>man,</I> thou shalt surely
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die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
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wicked <I>man</I> shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I
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require at thine hand.
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9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from
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it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity;
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but thou hast delivered thy soul.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The prophet had been, by express order from God, taken off from
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prophesying to the Jews, just then when the news came that Jerusalem
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was invested, and close siege laid to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+24:27"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 27</A>.
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But now that Jerusalem is taken, two years after, he is appointed again
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to direct his speech to them; and there his commission is renewed. If
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God had abandoned them quite, he would not have sent prophets to them;
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nor, if he had not had mercy in store for them, would he have <I>shown
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them such things as these.</I> In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. The office of a watchman laid down, the trust reposed in him, the
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charge given him, and the conditions adjusted between him and those
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that employ him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:2,6"><I>v.</I> 2, 6</A>.
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1. It is supposed to be a public danger that gives occasion for the
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appointing of a watchman--when <I>God brings the sword upon a land,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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The sword of war, whenever it comes upon a land, is of God's bringing;
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it is the <I>sword of the Lord,</I> of his justice, how unjustly soever
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men draw it. At such a time, when a country is in fear of a foreign
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invasion, that they may be informed of all the motions of the enemy,
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may not be surprised with an attack, but may have early notice of it,
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in order to their being at their arms and in readiness to give the
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invader a warm reception, they <I>set a man of their coast,</I> some
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likely person, that lives upon the borders of their country, where the
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threatened danger is expected, and is therefore well acquainted with
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all the avenues of it, and make him <I>their watchman.</I> Thus
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<I>wise</I> are the <I>children of this world in their generation.</I>
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Note, One man may be of public service to a whole country. Princes and
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statesmen are the watchmen of a kingdom; they are continually to employ
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themselves, and, if occasion be, as watchmen, to expose themselves for
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the public safety.
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2. It is supposed to be a public trust that is lodged in the watchman
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and that he is accountable to the public for the discharge of it. His
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business is,
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(1.) To discover the approaches and advances of the enemy; and
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therefore he must not be blind nor asleep, for then he cannot <I>see
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the sword coming.</I>
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(2.) To give notice of them immediately by sound of trumpet, or, as
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sentinels among us, by the discharge of a gun, as a signal of danger. A
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special trust and confidence is reposed in him by those that set him to
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be their watchman that he will faithfully do these two things; and they
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venture their lives upon his fidelity. Now,
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[1.] If he do his part, if he be betimes aware of all the dangers that
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fall within his cognizance, and give warning of them, he has discharged
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his trust, and has not only <I>delivered his soul,</I> but earned his
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wages. If the people do not take warning, if they either will not
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believe the notice he gives them, will not believe the danger to be so
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great or so near as really it is, or will not regard it, and so are
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surprised by the enemy in their security, it is their own fault; the
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blame is not to be laid upon the watchman, but their blood is upon
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their own head. If any person goes presumptuously into the mouth of
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danger, though he heard the sound of the trumpet, and was told by it
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where the danger was, and <I>so the sword comes</I> and <I>takes him
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away</I> in his folly, he is <I>felo de se--a suicide;</I> foolish man,
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he has <I>destroyed himself.</I> But,
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[2.] If the watchman do not do his duty, if he might have seen the
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danger, and did not, but was asleep, or heedless, or looking another
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way, or if he did <I>see the danger</I> (for so the case is put here)
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and shifted only for his own safety, and <I>blew not the trumpet</I> to
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<I>warn the people,</I> so that some are surprised and cut off <I>in
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their iniquity</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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cut off suddenly, without having time to cry, <I>Lord, have mercy upon
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me,</I> time to repent and make their peace with God (which makes the
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matter much the worse, that the poor creature is <I>taken away in his
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iniquity</I>), his blood shall be required <I>at the watchman's
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hand;</I> he shall be found guilty of his death, because he did not
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<I>give him warning</I> of his danger. But if the watchman do his part,
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and the people do theirs, all is well; both he that gives warning and
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he that takes warning have delivered their souls.</P>
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<P>
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II. The application of this to the prophet,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:7,9"><I>v.</I> 7, 9</A>.</P>
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<P>
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1. He is a <I>watchman to the house of Israel.</I> He had occasionally
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given warning to the nations about, but to the house of Israel he was a
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watchman by office, for they were the <I>children of the prophets and
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the covenant</I> They did not <I>set him for a watchman,</I> as the
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people of the land,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>
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(for they were not so wise for their souls as to secure the welfare of
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them, as they would have been for the protection of their temporal
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interests); but God did it for them; he appointed them a watchman.</P>
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<P>
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2. His business as a watchman is to give warning to sinners of their
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misery and danger by reason of sin. This is the word he must <I>hear
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from God's mouth</I> and <I>speak to them.</I>
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(1.) God has said, <I>The wicked man shall surely die;</I> he shall be
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miserable. Unless he repent, he shall be cut off from God and all
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comfort and hope in him, shall be cut off from all good. He shall fall
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and lie for ever under the wrath of God, which is the death of the
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soul, as his favour is its life. The righteous God has said it, and
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will never unsay it, nor can all the world gainsay it, that the
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<I>wages of sin is death. Sin, when it is finished, brings froth
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death.</I> The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, not only against
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wicked nations, speaking ruin to them as nations, but against wicked
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persons, speaking ruin to them in their personal capacity, their
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personal interests, which pass into the other world and last to
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eternity, as national interests do not.
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(2.) It is the will of God that the wicked man should be warned of
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this: <I>Warn them from me.</I> This intimates that there is a
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possibility of preventing it, else it were a jest to give warning of
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it; nay, and that God is desirous it should be prevented. Sinners are
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<I>therefore</I> warned of the wrath to come, that they may <I>flee
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from it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:7">Matt. iii. 7</A>.
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(3.) It is the work of ministers to give him warning, to say to the
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wicked, <I>It shall be ill with thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+3:11">Isa. iii. 11</A>.
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God ways in general, <I>The soul that sinneth it shall die.</I> The
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minister's business is to apply this to particular persons, and to say,
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"<I>O wicked man! thou shalt surely die,</I> whoever thou art; if thou
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go on still in thy trespasses, they will inevitably be thy ruin. O
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adulterer! O robber! O drunkard! O swearer! O sabbath-breaker! <I>thou
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shalt surely die.</I>" And he must say this, not in passion, to provoke
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the sinner, but in compassion, to <I>warn the wicked from hi way,</I>
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warn him to <I>turn from it,</I> that he may live. This is to be done
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by the faithful preaching of the word in public, and by personal
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application to those whose sins are open.</P>
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<P>
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3. If souls perish through his neglect of his duty, he brings guilt
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upon himself. "If the prophet do not warn the wicked of the ruin that
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is at the end of his wicked way, that <I>wicked man shall die in his
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iniquity;</I> for, though the watchman did not do his part, yet the
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sinner might have taken warning from the written word, from his own
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conscience, and from God's judgments upon others, by which his mouth
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shall be stopped, and God will be justified in his destruction." Note,
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It will not serve impenitent sinners to plead in the great day that
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their watchmen did not give them warning, that they were careless and
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unfaithful; for, though they were so, it will be made to appear that
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<I>God left not himself without witness.</I> "But he shall not perish
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alone in his iniquity; the watchman also shall be called to an account:
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<I>His blood will I require at thy hand.</I> The blind leader shall
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fall with the blind follower into the ditch." See what a desire God has
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of the salvation of sinners, in that he resents it so ill if those
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concerned do not what they can to prevent their destruction. And see
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what a great deal those ministers have to answer for another day who
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palliate sin, and flatter sinners in their evil way, and by their
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wicked lives countenance and harden them in their wickedness, and
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encourage them to believe that they shall have peace though they go
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on.</P>
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<P>
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4. If he do his duty, he may take the comfort of it, though he do not
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see the success of it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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"<I>If thou warn the wicked of his way,</I> if thou tell him faithfully
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what will be the end thereof, and call him earnestly to turn from it,
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and he do not turn, but persist in it, <I>he shall die in his
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iniquity,</I> and the fair warning given him will be an aggravation of
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his sin and ruin; but <I>thou hast delivered thy soul.</I>" Note, It is
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a comfort to ministers that they may through grace save themselves,
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though they cannot be instrumental to save so many as they wish of
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those that hear them.</P>
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<A NAME="Eze33_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze33_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Cavils of the People Answered.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 587.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of
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Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins
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<I>be</I> upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
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11 Say unto them, <I>As</I> I live, saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>, I have no
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pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn
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from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for
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why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy
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people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him
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in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the
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wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from
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his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for
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his <I>righteousness</I> in the day that he sinneth.
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13 When I shall say to the righteous, <I>that</I> he shall surely
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live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity,
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all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his
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iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
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14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if
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he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
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15 <I>If</I> the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had
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robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing
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iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned
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unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall
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surely live.
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17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is
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not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
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18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and
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committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
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19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that
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which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
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20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of
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Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
|
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These verses are the substance of what we had before
|
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|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+18:20"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 20</A>,
|
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&c.) and they are so full and express a declaration of the terms on
|
|
which people stand with God (as the former were of the terms on which
|
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ministers stand) that it is no wonder that they are here repeated, as
|
|
those were, though we had the substance of them before. Observe
|
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here,</P>
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<P>
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I. The cavils of the people against God's proceedings with them. God
|
|
was now in his providence contending with them, but their uncircumcised
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hearts were not as yet humbled, for they were industrious to justify
|
|
themselves, though thereby they reflected on God. Two things they
|
|
insisted upon, in their reproaches of God, and in both they added
|
|
iniquity to their sin and misery to their punishment:--
|
|
|
|
1. They quarrelled with his promises and favours, as having no kindness
|
|
nor sincerity in them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
God had <I>set life before them,</I> but they plead that he had set it
|
|
out of their reach, and therefore did but mock them with the mention of
|
|
it. The prophet had said, some time ago
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+24:23"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>You shall pine away for your iniquities;</I> with that word he had
|
|
concluded his threatenings against Judah and Jerusalem; and this they
|
|
now upbraided him with, as if it had been spoken absolutely, to drive
|
|
them to despair; whereas it was spoken conditionally, to bring them to
|
|
repentance. Thus are the sayings of God's ministers perverted by men of
|
|
corrupt minds, who are inclined to pick quarrels. He puts them in hopes
|
|
of life and happiness; and herein they would make him contradict
|
|
himself; "for" (say they) "<I>if our transgressions and our sins be
|
|
upon us,</I> as thou hast often told us they are, and if we must, as
|
|
thou sayest, <I>pine away in them,</I> and wear out a miserable
|
|
captivity in a fruitless repentance, <I>how shall we then live?</I> If
|
|
this be our doom, there is no remedy. <I>We die, we perish, we all
|
|
perish.</I>" Note, It is very common for those that have been hardened
|
|
with presumption when they were warned against sin to sink into despair
|
|
when they are called to repent, and to conclude there is no hope of
|
|
life for them.
|
|
|
|
2. They quarrelled with his threatenings and judgments, as having no
|
|
justice or equity in them. They said, <I>The way of the Lord is not
|
|
equal</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:17,20"><I>v.</I> 17, 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
suggesting that God was partial in his proceedings, that with him there
|
|
was respect of persons and that he was more severe against sin and
|
|
sinners than there was cause.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here is a satisfactory answer given to both these cavils.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Those that despaired of finding mercy with God are here answered
|
|
with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
When they spoke of <I>pining away in their iniquity</I> God sent the
|
|
prophet to them, with all speed, to tell them that though their case
|
|
was sad it was not desperate, but there was yet <I>hope in Israel.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) It is certain that God has no delight in the ruin of sinners, nor
|
|
does he desire it. If they will destroy themselves, he will glorify
|
|
himself in it, but he has no pleasure in it, but would rather they
|
|
should <I>turn and live,</I> for his goodness is that attribute of his
|
|
which is most his glory, which is most his delight. He would rather
|
|
sinners should turn and live than go on and die. He has said it, he has
|
|
sworn it, that by these two immutable things, in both which it is
|
|
impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. We have
|
|
his word and his oath; and, since he could <I>swear by no greater, he
|
|
swears by himself: As I live.</I> They questioned whether they should
|
|
<I>live,</I> though they did repent and reform; yea, says God, as sure
|
|
<I>as I live,</I> true penitents shall live also; for <I>their life is
|
|
hid with Christ in God.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is certain that God is sincere and in earnest in the calls he
|
|
gives sinners to repent: <I>Turn you, turn you, from your evil way.</I>
|
|
To repent is to turn from our evil way; this God requires sinners to
|
|
do; this he urges them to do by repeated pressing instances: <I>Turn
|
|
you, turn you.</I> O that they would be prevailed with to turn, to turn
|
|
quickly, without delay! This he will enable them to do if they will but
|
|
<I>frame their doings to turn to the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+5:4">Hos. v. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
For he has said, <I>I will pour out my Spirit unto you,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:23">Prov. i. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
And in this he will accept of them; for it is not only what he
|
|
commands, but what he courts them to.
|
|
|
|
(3.) It is certain that, if sinners perish in their impenitency, it is
|
|
owing to themselves; they die because they will die; and herein they
|
|
act most absurdly and unreasonably: <I>Why will you die, O house of
|
|
Israel?</I> God would have heard them, and they would not be heard.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Those that despaired of finding justice with God are here answered
|
|
with a solemn declaration of the rule of judgment which God would go by
|
|
in dealing with the children of men, which carries along with it the
|
|
evidence of its own equity; he that runs may read the justice of it.
|
|
The Jewish nation, as a nation, was now <I>dead;</I> it was ruined to
|
|
all intents and purposes. The prophet must therefore deal with
|
|
particular persons, and the rule of judgment concerning them is much
|
|
like that concerning a nation,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+18:8-10">Jer. xviii. 8-10</A>.
|
|
|
|
If God speak concerning it to build and to plant, and it do wickedly,
|
|
he will recall his favours and leave it to ruin. But if he speak
|
|
concerning it to pluck up and destroy, and it repent, he will revoke
|
|
the sentence and deliver it. So it is here. In short, The most
|
|
plausible professors, if they apostatize, shall certainly perish for
|
|
ever in their apostasy from God; and the most notorious sinners, if
|
|
they repent, shall certainly be happy for ever in their return to God.
|
|
This is here repeated again and again, because it ought to be again and
|
|
again considered, and preached over to our own hearts. This was
|
|
necessary to be inculcated upon this stupid senseless people, that
|
|
said, <I>The way of the Lord is not equal;</I> for these rules of
|
|
judgment are so plainly just that they need no other confirmation of
|
|
them than the repetition of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) If those that have made a great profession of religion throw off
|
|
their profession, quit the good ways of God and grow loose and carnal,
|
|
sensual and worldly, the profession they made and all the religious
|
|
performances with which they had for a great while kept up the credit
|
|
of their profession shall stand them in no stead, but they shall
|
|
certainly perish in their iniquity,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:12,13,18"><I>v.</I> 12, 13, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] God says to the <I>righteous man</I> that <I>he shall surely
|
|
live,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
He says it by his word, by his ministers. He that lives regularly, his
|
|
own heart tells him, his neighbours tell him, He shall live. Surely
|
|
such a man as this cannot but be happy. And it is certain, if he
|
|
proceed and persevere in his righteousness, and if, in order to that,
|
|
he be upright and sincere in it, if he be really as good as he seems to
|
|
be, he shall live; he shall continue in the love of God and be for ever
|
|
happy in that love.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Righteous men, who have very good hopes of themselves and whom
|
|
others have a very good opinion of, are yet in danger of turning to
|
|
iniquity by trusting to their righteousness. So the case is put here:
|
|
<I>If he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity,</I> and
|
|
come to make a trade of sin--if he not only take a false step, but turn
|
|
aside into a false way and persist in it. This may possibly be the
|
|
case of a righteous man, and it is the effect of his trusting to his
|
|
own righteousness. Note, Many eminent professors have been ruined by a
|
|
proud conceitedness of themselves and confidence in themselves. He
|
|
trust to the merit of his own righteousness, and thinks he has already
|
|
made God so much his debtor that now he may venture to commit iniquity,
|
|
for he has righteousness enough in stock to make amends for it; he
|
|
fancies that whatever evil deeds he may do hereafter he can be in no
|
|
danger from them, having so many good deeds beforehand to
|
|
counterbalance them. Or, He trust to the strength of his own
|
|
righteousness, thinks himself now so well established in a course of
|
|
virtue that he may thrust himself into any temptation and it cannot
|
|
overcome him, and so by presuming on his own sufficiency he is brought
|
|
to commit iniquity. By making bold on the confines of sin he is drawn
|
|
at length into the depths of hell. This ruined the Pharisees; they
|
|
<I>trusted to themselves that they were righteous,</I> and that their
|
|
long prayers, and fasting twice in the week, would atone for their
|
|
devouring widows' houses.
|
|
|
|
[3.] If righteous men <I>turn to iniquity,</I> and return not to their
|
|
righteousness, they shall certainly perish in their iniquity, and all
|
|
the righteousness they have formerly done, all their prayers, and all
|
|
their alms, shall be forgotten. No mention shall be made, no
|
|
remembrance had, of their good deeds; they shall be overlooked, as if
|
|
they had never been. The <I>righteousness of the righteous shall not
|
|
deliver him</I> from the wrath of God, and the curse of the law, <I>in
|
|
the day of his transgression.</I> When he becomes a traitor and a
|
|
rebel, and takes up arms against his rightful Sovereign, it will not
|
|
serve for him to plead in his own defence that formerly he was a loyal
|
|
subject, and did many good services to the government. No; <I>he shall
|
|
not be able to live.</I> The remembrance of his former righteousness
|
|
shall be no satisfaction either to God's justice or his own conscience
|
|
<I>in the day that he sins,</I> but rather shall, in the estimate of
|
|
both, highly aggravate the sin and folly of his apostasy. And therefore
|
|
<I>for his iniquity that he committed he shall die,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He shall even die thereby;</I> and it is owing to himself.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) If those that have lived a wicked life repent and reform, forsake
|
|
their wicked ways and become religious, their sins shall be pardoned,
|
|
and they shall be justified and saved, if they persevere in their
|
|
reformation.
|
|
|
|
[1.] God says <I>to the wicked, "Thou shalt surely die.</I> The way
|
|
that thou art in leads to destruction. The wages of thy sin is death,
|
|
and thy iniquity will shortly be thy ruin." It was said to the
|
|
righteous man, <I>Thou shalt surely live,</I> for his encouragement to
|
|
proceed and persevere in the way of righteousness; but he made an ill
|
|
use of it, and was emboldened by it to commit iniquity. It was said to
|
|
the wicked man, <I>Thou shalt surely die,</I> for warning to him not to
|
|
persist in his wicked ways; and he makes a good use of it, and is
|
|
quickened thereby to return to God and duty. Thus even the threatenings
|
|
of the word are to some, by the grace of God, a savour of life unto
|
|
life, while even the promises of the word become to others, by their
|
|
own corruption, a savour of death unto death. When God says to the
|
|
wicked man, <I>Thou shalt surely die,</I> die eternally, it is to
|
|
frighten him, not out of his wits, but out of his sins.
|
|
|
|
[2.] There is many a wicked man who was hastening apace to his own
|
|
destruction who yet is wrought upon by the grace of God to return and
|
|
repent, and live a holy life. He <I>turns from his sin</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
and is resolved that he will have no more to do with it; and, as an
|
|
evidence of his repentance for wrong done, he <I>restores the
|
|
pledge</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>)
|
|
|
|
which he had taken uncharitably from the poor, <I>he gives again that
|
|
which he had robbed</I> and taken unjustly from the rich. Nor does he
|
|
only <I>cease to do evil,</I> but he <I>learns to do well;</I> he
|
|
<I>does that which is lawful and right,</I> and makes conscience of his
|
|
duty both to God and man--a great change, since, awhile ago, he neither
|
|
feared God nor regarded man. But many such amazing changes, and blessed
|
|
ones, have been wrought by the power of divine grace. He that was going
|
|
on in the paths of death and the destroyer now walks in <I>the statues
|
|
of life,</I> in the way of God's commandments, which has both life in
|
|
it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+12:28">Prov. xii. 28</A>)
|
|
|
|
and life at the end of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+19:17">Matt. xix. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
And in this good way he perseveres <I>without committing iniquity,</I>
|
|
though not free from remaining infirmity, yet under the dominion of no
|
|
iniquity. He repents not of his repentance, nor returns to the
|
|
commission of those gross sins which he before allowed himself in.
|
|
|
|
[3.] He that does thus repent and return shall escape the ruin he was
|
|
running into, and his former sins shall be no prejudice to his
|
|
acceptance with God. Let him not pine away in his iniquity, for, if he
|
|
confess and forsake it, he shall find mercy. He <I>shall surely live;
|
|
he shall not die,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He shall surely live.</I> Again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He has done that which is lawful and right,</I> and <I>he shall live
|
|
thereby.</I> But will not his wickednesses be remembered against him?
|
|
No; he shall not be punished for them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>As for the wickedness of the wicked,</I> though it was very heinous,
|
|
<I>yet he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns from his
|
|
wickedness.</I> Now that it has become his grief it shall not be his
|
|
ruin. Now that there is a settled separation between him and sin there
|
|
shall be no longer a separation between him and God. Nay, he shall not
|
|
be so much as upbraided with them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>None of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned unto
|
|
him,</I> either as a clog to his pardon or an allay to the comfort of
|
|
it, or as any blemish and diminution to the glory that is prepared for
|
|
him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now lay all this together, and then judge whether the <I>way of the
|
|
Lord be not equal,</I> whether this will not justify God in the
|
|
destruction of sinners and glorify him in the salvation of penitents.
|
|
The conclusion of the whole matter is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>"O you house of Israel,</I> though you are all involved now in the
|
|
common calamity, yet there shall be a distinction of persons made in
|
|
the spiritual and eternal state, and <I>I will judge you every one
|
|
after his ways.</I>" Though they were sent into captivity by the lump,
|
|
good fish and bad enclosed in the same net, yet there he will separate
|
|
between the precious and the vile and will <I>render to every man
|
|
according to his works.</I> Therefore God's way is equal and
|
|
unexceptionable; but, as for the <I>children of thy people,</I> God
|
|
turns them over to the prophet, as he did to Moses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+32:7">Exod. xxxii. 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
"They are thy people; I can scarcely own them for mine." As for them,
|
|
<I>their way is unequal;</I> this way which they have got of
|
|
quarrelling with God and his prophets is absurd and unreasonable. In
|
|
all disputes between God and his creatures it will certainly be found
|
|
that he is in the right and they are in the wrong.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_29"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Message to Inhabitants of Judah; Rebuke to the Proud Jews.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 587.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in
|
|
the tenth <I>month,</I> in the fifth <I>day</I> of the month, <I>that</I> one
|
|
that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city
|
|
is smitten.
|
|
22 Now the hand of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was upon me in the evening, afore
|
|
he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came
|
|
to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more
|
|
dumb.
|
|
23 Then the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
|
|
24 Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of
|
|
Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land:
|
|
but we <I>are</I> many; the land is given us for inheritance.
|
|
25 Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; Ye eat
|
|
with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed
|
|
blood: and shall ye possess the land?
|
|
26 Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile
|
|
every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
|
|
27 Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; <I>As</I> I
|
|
live, surely they that <I>are</I> in the wastes shall fall by the
|
|
sword, and him that <I>is</I> in the open field will I give to the
|
|
beasts to be devoured, and they that <I>be</I> in the forts and in the
|
|
caves shall die of the pestilence.
|
|
28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her
|
|
strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be
|
|
desolate, that none shall pass through.
|
|
29 Then shall they know that I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, when I have laid
|
|
the land most desolate because of all their abominations which
|
|
they have committed.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The tidings brought to Ezekiel of the burning of Jerusalem by the
|
|
Chaldeans. The city was burnt in the eleventh year of the captivity and
|
|
the fifth month,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+52:12,13">Jer. lii. 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Tidings hereof were brought to the prophet by one that was an
|
|
eye-witness of the destruction, in the twelfth year, and the tenth
|
|
month
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
which was a year and almost five months after the thing was done; we
|
|
may well suppose that, there being a constant correspondence at this
|
|
time more than ever kept up between Jerusalem and Babylon, he had heard
|
|
the news long before. But this was the first time he had an account of
|
|
it from a refugee, from one who escaped, who could be particular, and
|
|
would be pathetic, in the narrative of it. And the sign given him was
|
|
the coming of such a one to him as had himself narrowly escaped the
|
|
flames
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+24:26"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 26</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He that escapes in that day shall come unto thee,</I> to <I>cause
|
|
thee to hear it with thy ears,</I> to hear it more distinctly than
|
|
ever, from one that could say, <I>Quæque ipse miserrima
|
|
vidi--These miserable scenes I saw.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The divine impressions and influences he was under, to prepare him
|
|
for those heavy tidings
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>The hand of the Lord was upon me before he came, and had opened my
|
|
mouth</I> to speak to the house of Israel what we had in the former
|
|
part of this chapter. And now <I>he was no more dumb;</I> he prophesied
|
|
now with more freedom and boldness, being by the event proved a true
|
|
prophet, to the confusion of those that contradicted him. All the
|
|
prophecies from
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+24:1-32:32"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. to this chapter</A>
|
|
|
|
have relation purely to the nations about, it is probable that the
|
|
prophet, when he received them from the Lord, did not deliver them by
|
|
word of mouth, but in writing; for he could not <I>Say to the
|
|
Ammonites, Say unto Tyrus, Say unto Pharaoh,</I> &c., so and so, but by
|
|
letters directed to the persons concerned, as Zacharias, when he could
|
|
not speak, wrote; and herein he was as truly executing his prophetic
|
|
office as ever. Note, Even silenced ministers may be doing a great deal
|
|
of good by writing letters and making visits. But now the prophet's
|
|
<I>mouth is opened,</I> that he may <I>speak to the children of his
|
|
people.</I> It is probable that he had, during these three years, been
|
|
continually speaking to them as a friend, putting them in mind of what
|
|
he had formerly delivered to them, but that he never spoke to them as a
|
|
prophet, by inspiration, till now, when <I>the hand of the Lord came
|
|
upon him,</I> renewed his commission, gave him fresh instructions, and
|
|
<I>opened his mouth,</I> furnished him with power to speak to the
|
|
people <I>as he ought to speak.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The particular message he was entrusted with, relating to these
|
|
Jews that yet remained in the <I>land of Israel,</I> and <I>inhabited
|
|
the wastes</I> of that land,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
See what work sin had made. <I>The cities of</I> Israel had now become
|
|
the wastes of Israel, for they lay all in ruins; some few that had
|
|
escaped the sword and captivity still continued there and began to
|
|
think of re-settling. This was so long after the destruction of
|
|
Jerusalem that it was some time before this that Gedaliah (a modest
|
|
humble man) and his friends were slain; but probably at this time
|
|
Johanan, and the <I>proud men</I> that joined with him, were at the
|
|
height
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+43:2">Jer. xliii. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
and before they came to a resolution to go into Egypt, wherein Jeremiah
|
|
opposed them, it is probable that the project was to establish
|
|
themselves in the wastes of the land of Israel, in which Ezekiel here
|
|
opposed them, and probably despatched the message away by the person
|
|
that brought him the news of Jerusalem's destruction. Or, perhaps,
|
|
those here prophesied against might be some other party of Jews, that
|
|
remained in the land, hoping to take root there and to be sole masters
|
|
of it, after Johanan and his forces had gone into Egypt. Now here we
|
|
have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. An account of the pride of these remaining Jews, who dwelt in the
|
|
<I>wastes of the land of</I> Israel. Though the providence of God
|
|
concerning them had been very humbling, and still was very threatening,
|
|
yet they were intolerably haughty and secure, and promised themselves
|
|
peace. He that brought the news to the prophet that Jerusalem was
|
|
smitten could not tell him (it is likely) what these people said, but
|
|
God tells him, <I>They say, "The land is given us for inheritance,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our partners being gone, it is now all our own by survivorship, or, for
|
|
want of heirs, it comes to us as occupants; we shall now be placed
|
|
alone in the midst of the earth and have it all to ourselves." This
|
|
argues great stupidity under the weighty hand of God, and a reigning
|
|
selfishness and narrow-spiritedness; they pleased themselves in the
|
|
ruin of their country as long as they hoped to find their own account
|
|
in it, cared not though it were <I>all waste,</I> so that they might
|
|
have the sole property--a poor inheritance to be proud of! They have
|
|
the impudence to compare their case with Abraham's, glorying in this,
|
|
<I>We have Abraham to our father.</I> "Abraham," say they, "<I>was
|
|
one,</I> one family, and <I>he inherited the land,</I> and lived many
|
|
years in the peaceable enjoyment of it; <I>but we are many,</I> many
|
|
families, more numerous than he; <I>the land is given us for
|
|
inheritance.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(1.) They think they can make out as good a title from God to this land
|
|
as Abraham could: "If God <I>gave this land</I> to him, who was but one
|
|
worshipper of him, as a reward of his service, much more will he give
|
|
it to us, who are many worshippers of him, as the reward of our
|
|
service." This shows the great conceit they had of the own merits, as
|
|
if they were greater than those of Abraham their father, who yet was
|
|
not justified by works.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They think they can make good the possession of this land against
|
|
the Chaldeans and all others invaders, as well as Abraham could against
|
|
those that were competitors with him for it: "If he, who was but one,
|
|
could hold it, much more shall we, who are many, and have many more at
|
|
command than his 300 <I>trained servants.</I>" This shows the
|
|
confidence they had in their own might; they had got possession, and
|
|
were resolved to keep it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. A check to this pride. Since God's providences did neither humble
|
|
them nor terrify them, he sends them a message sufficient to do
|
|
both.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) To humble them, he tells them of the wickedness they still
|
|
persisted in, which rendered them utterly unworthy to possess this
|
|
land, so that they could not expect God should give it to them. They
|
|
had been followed with one judgment after another, but they had not
|
|
profited by those means of grace as might be expected; they were still
|
|
unreformed, and how could they expect <I>that they should possess the
|
|
land? "Shall you possess the land?</I> What! such wicked people as you
|
|
are? <I>How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a
|
|
pleasant land?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+3:19">Jer. iii. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Surely you never reflect upon yourselves, else you would rather wonder
|
|
that you are in the land of the living than expect to possess this
|
|
land. For do you now know how bad you are?"
|
|
|
|
[1.] "You make no conscience of forbidden fruit, forbidden food: <I>You
|
|
eat with the blood,</I>" directly contrary to one of the precepts given
|
|
to Noah and his sons when God gave them possession of the earth,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:4">Gen. ix. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] "Idolatry, that covenant-breaking sin, that sin which the jealous
|
|
God has been in a particular manner provoked by to lay your country
|
|
waste, is still the sin that most easily besets you and which you have
|
|
a strong inclination to: <I>You lift up your eyes towards your
|
|
idols,</I> which is a sign that though perhaps you do not bow your knee
|
|
to them so much as you have done, yet you set your hearts upon them and
|
|
hanker after them."
|
|
|
|
[3.] "You are as fierce, and cruel, and barbarous as ever: <I>You shed
|
|
blood,</I> innocent blood."
|
|
|
|
[4.] "You confide in your own strength, your own arm, your own bow, and
|
|
have no dependence on, or regard to, God and his providence: <I>You
|
|
stand upon your sword</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>);
|
|
|
|
you think to carry all before you, and make all your own, by force of
|
|
arms." How can those expect the inheritance of Isaac (as these did) who
|
|
are of Ishmael's disposition, that had <I>his hand against every
|
|
man</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+16:12">Gen. xvi. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Esau's resolution to <I>live by his sword?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+27:40">Gen. xxvii. 40</A>.
|
|
|
|
We met with those
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+32:27"><I>ch.</I> xxxii. 27</A>)
|
|
|
|
who, when they died, thought they could not lie easy underground unless
|
|
they had their swords under their heads. Here we meet with those who,
|
|
while they live, think they cannot stand firmly above ground unless
|
|
they have their swords under their feet, as if swords were both the
|
|
softest pillows and the strongest pillars; though it was sin, it was
|
|
sin, that first drew the sword. But, blessed be God, there are those
|
|
who know better, who stand upon the support of the divine power and
|
|
promise and lay their heads in the bosom of divine love, <I>not
|
|
trusting in their own sword,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
[5.] "You are guilty of all manner of abominations, and, particularly,
|
|
<I>you defile every one his neighbour's wife,</I> which is an
|
|
abomination of the first magnitude, <I>and shall you possess the
|
|
land?</I> What! such vile miscreants as you?" Note, Those cannot expect
|
|
to <I>possess the land,</I> nor to enjoy any true comfort or happiness
|
|
here or hereafter, who live in rebellion against the Lord.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) To terrify them, he tells them of the further judgments God had in
|
|
store for them, which should make them utterly unable to possess this
|
|
land, so that they could not stand it out against the enemy. Do they
|
|
say that they shall possess the land? God has said they shall not, he
|
|
has sworn it, <I>As I live, saith the Lord.</I> Though he has sworn
|
|
that he delights not <I>in the death of sinners,</I> yet he has sworn
|
|
also that those who persist in impenitency and unbelief <I>shall not
|
|
enter into his rest.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] Those that are in the cities, here called the <I>wastes,</I> shall
|
|
<I>fall by the sword,</I> either by the sword of the Chaldeans, who
|
|
come to avenge the murder of Gedaliah, or by one another's swords, in
|
|
their intestine broils.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Those that are in the open field shall be <I>devoured by</I> wild
|
|
<I>beasts,</I> which swarmed, of course, in the country when it was
|
|
dispeopled, and there were none to master them and keep them under,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+23:29">Exod. xxiii. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the army of the enemy had quitted the country still there was no
|
|
safety in it. <I>Noisome beasts</I> constituted one of the four
|
|
<I>sore judgments,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+14:15"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Those that are <I>in the forts and in the caves,</I> that think
|
|
themselves safe in artificial or natural fastnesses, because men's eyes
|
|
cannot discover them nor men's darts reach them, there the arrows of
|
|
the Almighty shall find them out; they shall <I>die of the
|
|
pestilence.</I>
|
|
|
|
[4.] The whole land, even the land of Israel, that had been the glory
|
|
of all lands, shall be <I>most desolate,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>It shall be desolation, desolation,</I> all over as desolate as
|
|
desolation itself can make it. The <I>mountain of Israel,</I> the
|
|
fruitful mountains, Zion itself the holy mountain not excepted,
|
|
<I>shall be desolate,</I> the roads unfrequented, the houses
|
|
uninhabited, that <I>none shall pass through;</I> as it was threatened
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:62">Deut. xxviii. 62</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>You shall be left few in number.</I>
|
|
|
|
[5.] The <I>pomp of her strength,</I> whatever she glories in as her
|
|
pomp and trusts to as her strength, shall be made to cease.
|
|
|
|
[6.] The cause of all this was very bad; it is for <I>all their
|
|
abominations which they have committed.</I> It is sin that does all
|
|
this mischief, that makes nations desolate; and therefore we ought to
|
|
call it an abomination.
|
|
|
|
[7.] Yet the effect of all this will be very good: <I>Then shall they
|
|
know that I am the Lord,</I> am their Lord, and shall return to their
|
|
allegiance, <I>when I have made the land most desolate.</I> Those are
|
|
untractable unteachable indeed that are not made to know their
|
|
dependence upon God when all their creature-comforts fail them and are
|
|
made desolate.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze33_33"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hypocritical Professions.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 587.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are
|
|
talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses,
|
|
and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come,
|
|
I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit
|
|
before thee <I>as</I> my people, and they hear thy words, but they
|
|
will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, <I>but</I>
|
|
their heart goeth after their covetousness.
|
|
32 And, lo, thou <I>art</I> unto them as a very lovely song of one
|
|
that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument:
|
|
for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
|
|
33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall
|
|
they know that a prophet hath been among them.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:1-29">foregoing verses</A>
|
|
|
|
spoke conviction to the Jews who remained in the land of Israel, who
|
|
were monuments of sparing mercy and yet returned not to the Lord; in
|
|
these verses those are reproved who were now in captivity in Babylon,
|
|
under divine rebukes, and yet were not reformed by them. They are not
|
|
indeed charged with the same gross enormities that the others are
|
|
charged with. They made some show of religion and devotion; but their
|
|
hearts were not right with God. The thing they are here accused of is
|
|
<I>mocking the messengers of the lord,</I> one of their measure-filling
|
|
sins, which brought this ruin upon them, and yet they were not cured of
|
|
it. Two ways they mocked the prophet Ezekiel:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. By invidious ill natured reflections upon him, privately among
|
|
themselves, endeavouring by all means possible to render him
|
|
despicable. The prophet did not know it, but charitably thought that
|
|
those who spoke so well to him to his face, with so much seeming
|
|
respect and deference, would surely not speak ill of him behind his
|
|
back. But God comes and tells him, <I>The children of thy people are
|
|
still talking against thee</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
or <I>talking of thee,</I> no good, I doubt. Note, Public persons are a
|
|
common theme or subject of discourse; every one takes a liberty to
|
|
censure them at pleasure. Faithful ministers know not how much ill is
|
|
said of them every day; it is well that they do not; for, if they did,
|
|
it might prove a discouragement to them in their work not to be easily
|
|
got over. God takes notice of all that is said against his ministers,
|
|
not only what is decreed against them, or sworn against them, not only
|
|
what is written against them, or spoken with solemnity and
|
|
deliberation, but of what is said against them in common talk, among
|
|
neighbours when they meet in an evening, <I>by the walls and in the
|
|
doors of their houses,</I> where whatever freedom of speech they use,
|
|
if they reproach and slander any of God's ministers, God will reckon
|
|
with them for it; his prophets shall not be made the song of the
|
|
drunkards always. They had no crime to lay to the prophet's charge, but
|
|
they loved to talk of him in a careless, scornful, bantering way; they
|
|
said, jokingly, "<I>Come, and let us hear what is the word that comes
|
|
forth from the Lord;</I> perhaps it will be something new, and will
|
|
entertain us, and furnish us with matter for discourse." Note, Those
|
|
have arrived as a great pitch of profaneness who can make so great a
|
|
privilege, and so great a duty, as the preaching and hearing of the
|
|
word of God, a matter of sport and ridicule, yea though it be not done
|
|
publicly, but in private conversation among themselves. Serious things
|
|
should be spoken of seriously.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. By dissembling with him in their attendance upon his ministry.
|
|
Hypocrites mock God and mock his prophets. But their hypocrisy is open
|
|
before God, and the day is coming when, as here, it will be laid open.
|
|
Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The plausible profession which these people made and the
|
|
speciousness of their pretensions. They are like those
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:8">Matt. xv. 8</A>)
|
|
|
|
who <I>draw nigh to God with their mouths and honour him with their
|
|
lips, but their hearts are far from him.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) They were diligent and constant in their attendance upon the means
|
|
of grace: <I>They come unto thee as the people come.</I> In Babylon
|
|
they had no temple or synagogue, but they went to the prophet's house
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+8:1"><I>ch.</I> viii. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and there, it is probable, they spent their <I>new moons and their
|
|
sabbaths</I> in religious exercises,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+4:23">2 Kings iv. 23</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the prophet was bound the word of the Lord was not bound; and the
|
|
people, when they had not the help for their souls that they wished
|
|
for, were thankful for what they had; it was a reviving in their
|
|
bondage. Now these hypocrites came, <I>according to the coming of the
|
|
people,</I> as duly and as early as any of the prophet's hearers. Their
|
|
being said to come <I>as the people came</I> seems to intimate that the
|
|
reason why they came was because other people came; they did not come
|
|
out of conscience towards God, but only for company, for fashion-sake,
|
|
and because it was now the custom of their countrymen. Note, Those that
|
|
have no inward principle of love to God's ordinances may yet be found
|
|
much in the external observance of them. Cain brought his sacrifice as
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well as Abel; and the Pharisee went up to the temple to pray as well as
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the publican.
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(2.) They behaved themselves very decently and reverently in the public
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assembly; there were none of them whispering, or laughing, or gazing
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about them, or sleeping. But <I>they sit before thee as my people,</I>
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with all the shows of gravity, and sereneness, and composure of mind.
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They sit out the time, without weariness, or wishing the sermon done.
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(3.) They were very attentive to the word preached: "They are not
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thinking of something else, but they <I>hear thy words,</I> and take
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notice of what thou sayest."
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(4.) They pretended to have a great kindness and respect for the
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prophet. Though, behind his back, they could not give him a good word,
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yet, to his face, <I>they showed much love</I> to him and his doctrine;
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they pretended to have a great concern lest he should spend himself too
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|
much in preaching or expose himself to the Chaldeans, for they would be
|
|
thought to be some of his best friends and well-wishers.
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(5.) They took a great deal of pleasure in the word; they <I>delighted
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|
to know God's word,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:2">Isa. lviii. 2</A>.
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<I>Herod heard John Baptist gladly,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+6:20">Mark vi. 20</A>.
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<I>Thou art unto them as a very lovely song.</I> Ezekiel's matter was
|
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surprising, his language fine, his expressions elegant, his similitudes
|
|
apt, his voice melodious, and his delivery graceful; so that they could
|
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sit with as much pleasure to hear him preach as (if I may speak in the
|
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language of our times) to see a play or an opera, or to hear a concert
|
|
of music. Ezekiel was to them as one <I>that had a pleasant voice</I>
|
|
and could sing well, <I>or play well on an instrument.</I> Note, Men
|
|
may have their fancies pleased by the word, and yet not have their
|
|
consciences touched nor their hearts changed, the itching ear gratified
|
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and yet not the corrupt nature sanctified.</P>
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<P>
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2. The hypocrisy of these professions and pretensions; it is all a
|
|
sham, it is all a jest.
|
|
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(1.) They have no cordial affection for the word of God. While they
|
|
<I>show much love</I> it is only <I>with the mouth,</I> from the teeth
|
|
outward, but <I>their heart goes after their covetousness;</I> they are
|
|
as much set upon the world as ever, as much in love and league with it
|
|
as ever. Hearing the word is only their diversion and recreation, a
|
|
pretty amusement now and then for an hour or two. But still their main
|
|
business is with their farm and merchandise; the bent and bias of their
|
|
souls are towards them, and their <I>inward thoughts</I> are employed
|
|
in projects about them. Note, Covetousness is the ruining sin of
|
|
multitudes that make a great profession of religion; it is the love of
|
|
the world that secretly eats the love of God out of their hearts.
|
|
<I>The cares of</I> this world and the deceitfulness of riches are the
|
|
<I>thorns</I> that <I>choke the seed,</I> and choke the soul too. And
|
|
those neither please God nor profit themselves who, when they are
|
|
hearing the word of God, are musing upon their worldly affairs. God has
|
|
his eye on the hearts that do so.
|
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(2.) They yield no subjection to it. They <I>hear thy words,</I> but
|
|
it is only a hearing that they <I>give thee,</I> for they <I>will not
|
|
do them,</I>
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
And again
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>),
|
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|
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they <I>do them not.</I> They will not be persuaded by all the prophet
|
|
can say, either by authority or argument, to cross themselves in any
|
|
instance, to part with any one beloved sin, or apply themselves to any
|
|
one duty that is against the grain to flesh and blood. Note, There are
|
|
many who take pleasure in hearing the word, but make no conscience of
|
|
doing it; and so they build upon the sand, and deceive themselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
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3. Let us see what will be in the end hereof: <I>Shall their
|
|
unbelief</I> and carelessness <I>make the word of God of no effect?</I>
|
|
By no means.
|
|
|
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(1.) God will confirm the prophet's word, though they contemn it, and
|
|
make light of it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
What he says will come to pass, and not one jot or one tittle shall
|
|
fall to the ground. Note, The curses of the law, though they may be
|
|
bantered by profane wits, cannot be baffled.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They themselves shall rue their folly when it is too late. When it
|
|
comes to pass <I>they shall know,</I> shall know to their cost, know to
|
|
their confusion, that <I>a prophet has been among them,</I> though they
|
|
made no more of him than as one that <I>had a pleasant voice.</I> Note,
|
|
Those who will not consider that a prophet is among them, and who
|
|
improve not the day of their visitation while it is continued, will be
|
|
made to remember that a prophet has been among them when the things
|
|
that belong to their peace are <I>hidden from their eyes.</I> The day
|
|
is coming when vain and worldly men will have other thoughts of things
|
|
than now they have, and will feel a weight in that which they made
|
|
light of. They shall know that <I>a prophet has been among them</I>
|
|
when they see the event exactly answer the prediction, and the prophet
|
|
himself shall be a witness against them that they had fair warning
|
|
given them, but would not take it. When Ezekiel is gone, whom now they
|
|
speak against, and <I>there is no more any prophet,</I> nor any <I>to
|
|
show them how long,</I> then they will remember that once they had a
|
|
prophet, but knew not how to use him well. Note, Those who will not
|
|
know the worth of mercies by the improvement of them will justly be
|
|
made to know the worth of them by the want of them, as those who should
|
|
desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, which now they
|
|
slighted, and might not see it.</P>
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