mh_parser/vol_split/26 - Ezekiel/Chapter 35.xml

<div2 id="Ez.xxxvi" n="xxxvi" next="Ez.xxxvii" prev="Ez.xxxv" progress="63.34%" title="Chapter XXXV">
<h2 id="Ez.xxxvi-p0.1">E Z E K I E L.</h2>
<h3 id="Ez.xxxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ez.xxxvi-p1" shownumber="no">It was promised, in the foregoing chapter, that
when the time to favour Zion, yea, the set time, should come,
especially the time for sending the Messiah and setting up his
kingdom in the world, God would cause the enemies of his church to
cease and the blessings and comforts of the church to abound. This
chapter enlarges upon the former promise, concerning the
destruction of the enemies of the church; the next chapter upon the
latter promise, the replenishing of the church with blessings.
Mount Seir (that is, Edom) is the enemy prophesied against in this
chapter, but fitly put here, as in the prophecy of Obadiah, for all
the enemies of the church; for, as those all walked in the way of
Cain that hated Abel, so those all walked in the way of Esau who
hated Jacob, but over whom Jacob, by virtue of a particular
blessing, was to have dominion. Now here we have, I. The sin
charged upon the Edomites, and that was their spite and malice to
Israel, <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.5 Bible:Ezek.35.10-Ezek.35.13" parsed="|Ezek|35|5|0|0;|Ezek|35|10|35|13" passage="Eze 35:5,10-13">ver. 5,
10-13</scripRef>. II. The ruin threatened, that should come upon
them for this sin. God will be against them (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.3" parsed="|Ezek|35|3|0|0" passage="Eze 35:3">ver. 3</scripRef>) and then their country shall be laid
waste (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.4" parsed="|Ezek|35|4|0|0" passage="Eze 35:4">ver. 4</scripRef>),
depopulated, and made quite desolate (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.6-Ezek.35.9" parsed="|Ezek|35|6|35|9" passage="Eze 35:6-9">ver. 6-9</scripRef>), and left so when other nations
that had been wasted should recover themselves, <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.14-Ezek.35.15" parsed="|Ezek|35|14|35|15" passage="Eze 35:14,15">ver. 14, 15</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35" parsed="|Ezek|35|0|0|0" passage="Eze 35" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.1-Ezek.35.9" parsed="|Ezek|35|1|35|9" passage="Eze 35:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.8">
<h4 id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.9">The Fall of Edom. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p1.10">b. c.</span> 587.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2" shownumber="no">1 Moreover the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2.1">Lord</span> came unto me, saying,   2 Son of man,
set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,   3
And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2.2">God</span>; Behold, O mount Seir, I <i>am</i> against
thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will
make thee most desolate.   4 I will lay thy cities waste, and
thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I <i>am</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2.3">Lord</span>.   5 Because thou hast had
a perpetual hatred, and hast shed <i>the blood of</i> the children
of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity,
in the time <i>that their</i> iniquity <i>had</i> an end:   6
Therefore, <i>as</i> I live, saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2.4">God</span>, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood
shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall
pursue thee.   7 Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate,
and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
  8 And I will fill his mountains with his slain <i>men:</i>
in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they
fall that are slain with the sword.   9 I will make thee
perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye
shall know that I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p2.5">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xxxvi-p3" shownumber="no">Mount Seir was mentioned as partner with
Moab in one of the threatenings we had before (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.25.8" parsed="|Ezek|25|8|0|0" passage="Eze 25:8"><i>ch.</i> xxv. 8</scripRef>); but here it is convicted
and condemned by itself, and has woes of its own. The prophet must
boldly <i>set his face against Edom,</i> and <i>prophesy</i>
particularly <i>against it;</i> for the God of Israel has said,
<i>O Mount Seir! I am against thee.</i> Note, Those that have God
against them have the word of God against them, and the face of his
ministers, nor dare they prophesy any good to them, but evil. The
prophet must tell the Edomites that God has a controversy with
them, and let them know,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xxxvi-p4" shownumber="no">I. What is the cause and ground of that
controversy, <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.5" parsed="|Ezek|35|5|0|0" passage="Eze 35:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>.
God espouses his people's cause, and will plead it, takes what is
done against them as done against himself, and will reckon for it;
and it is upon their account that God now contends with the
Edomites. 1. Because of the enmity they had against the people of
God, that was rooted in the heart. "Thou hast had a <i>perpetual
hatred</i> to them, to the very name of an Israelite." The Edomites
kept up an <i>hereditary</i> malice against Israel, the same that
Esau bore to Jacob, because he got the birth-right and the
blessing. Esau had been reconciled to Jacob, had embraced and
kissed him (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.33.1-Gen.33.20" parsed="|Gen|33|1|33|20" passage="Ge 33:1-20">Gen.
xxxiii.</scripRef>), and we do not find that ever he quarrelled
with him again. But the posterity of Esau would never be reconciled
to the seed of Jacob, but hated them with a perpetual hatred. Note,
Children will be more apt to imitate the vices than the virtues of
their parents, and to tread in the steps of their sin than in the
steps of their repentance. Parents should therefore be careful not
to set their children any bad example, for though, through the
grace of God, they may return, and prevent the mischief of what
they have done amiss to themselves, they may not be able to obviate
the bad influence of it upon their children. It is strange how
deeply rooted national antipathies sometimes are, and how long they
last; but it is not to be wondered at that profane Edomites hate
pious Israelites, since the old <i>enmity</i> that was put between
the <i>seed of the woman</i> and the seed of the serpent (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.15" parsed="|Gen|3|15|0|0" passage="Ge 3:15">Gen. iii. 15</scripRef>) will continue to the
end. <i>Marvel not if the world hate you.</i> 2. Because of the
injuries they had done to the people of God. They <i>shed their
blood by the force of the sword, in the time of their calamity;</i>
they did not attack them as fair and open enemies, but laid wait
for them, to <i>cut off</i> those of them that had escaped
(<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Obad.1.14" parsed="|Obad|1|14|0|0" passage="Ob 1:14">Obad. 14</scripRef>), or they drove
them back upon the sword of the pursuers, by which they fell. It
was cowardly, as well as barbarous, to take advantage of their
distress; and for neighbours, with whom they had lived peaceably,
to <i>smite them secretly</i> when strangers openly invaded them.
It was in the time <i>that their iniquity had an end,</i> when the
measure of it was full and destruction came. Note, Even those that
suffer justly, and for their sins, are yet to be pitied and not
trampled upon. If the father corrects one child, he expects the
rest should tremble at it, not triumph in it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xxxvi-p5" shownumber="no">II. What should be the effect and issue of
that controversy. If God stretch out his hand against the country
of Edom, he will <i>make it most desolate,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.3" parsed="|Ezek|35|3|0|0" passage="Eze 35:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. <i>Desolation and
desolation.</i> 1. The inhabitants shall be slain with the sword
(<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.6" parsed="|Ezek|35|6|0|0" passage="Eze 35:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>I will
prepare thee unto blood.</i> Edom shall be gradually weakened, and
so be the more easily conquered, and the enemy shall gather
strength the more effectually to subdue it. Thus preparation is in
the making a great while before for this destruction. <i>Thou hast
not hated blood;</i> it implies, "Thou hast delighted in it and
thirsted after it." Those that do not keep up a rooted hatred of
sin, when a temptation to it is very strong, will be in danger of
yielding to it. Some read it, "<i>Unless thou hatest blood</i>"
(that is, "unless thou dost repent, and put off this bloody
disposition) <i>blood shall pursue thee.</i>" And then it is an
intimation that the judgment may yet be prevented by a thorough
reformation. <i>If he turn not, he will whet his sword,</i>
<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.7.12" parsed="|Ps|7|12|0|0" passage="Ps 7:12">Ps. vii. 12</scripRef>. But, if he
turn, he will lay it by. <i>Blood shall pursue thee,</i> the
<i>guilt</i> of the blood which thou hast shed or the
<i>judgment</i> of blood; thy blood-thirsty enemies shall pursue
thee, which way soever thou seekest to make thy escape. A great and
general slaughter shall be made of the Idumeans, such as had been
foretold (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.6" parsed="|Isa|34|6|0|0" passage="Isa 34:6">Isa. xxxiv. 6</scripRef>):
The <i>mountains and hills, the valleys and rivers,</i> shall be
<i>filled with the slain,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.8" parsed="|Ezek|35|8|0|0" passage="Eze 35:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. The pursuers shall overtake
those that flee and shall give no quarter, but put them all to the
sword. Note, When God comes to make inquisition for blood those
that have shed the blood of his Israel shall have blood given them
to drink, for they are worthy. <i>Satia te sanguine quem
sitisti—Glut thyself with blood, after which thou hast
thirsted.</i> 2. The country shall be laid waste. The cities shall
be destroyed (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.4" parsed="|Ezek|35|4|0|0" passage="Eze 35:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>),
the <i>country made most desolate</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.7" parsed="|Ezek|35|7|0|0" passage="Eze 35:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>); for God will <i>cut off</i>
from both him that <i>passes out</i> and <i>him that returns;</i>
and when the inhabitants are cut off that should keep the cities in
repair they will decay and go into ruins, and when those are cut
off that should till the land that will soon be over-run with
briers and thorns and become a wilderness. Note, Those that help
forward the desolations of Israel may expect to be themselves made
desolate. And that which completes the judgment is that Edom shall
be made <i>perpetual desolations</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.9" parsed="|Ezek|35|9|0|0" passage="Eze 35:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>) and the cities shall never
return to their former state, nor the inhabitants of them come back
from their captivity and dispersion. Note, Those that have a
perpetual enmity to God and his people, as the carnal mind has, can
expect no other than to be made a perpetual desolation. Implacable
malice will justly be punished with irreparable ruin.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.10-Ezek.35.15" parsed="|Ezek|35|10|35|15" passage="Eze 35:10-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.10">
<h4 id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.11">The Fall of Edom. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p5.12">b. c.</span> 587.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6" shownumber="no">10 Because thou hast said, These two nations and
these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6.1">Lord</span> was there:   11
Therefore, <i>as</i> I live, saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6.2">God</span>, I will even do according to thine anger,
and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred
against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have
judged thee.   12 And thou shalt know that I <i>am</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6.3">Lord</span>, <i>and that</i> I have heard
all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of
Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to
consume.   13 Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me,
and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard
<i>them.</i>   14 Thus saith the Lord <span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6.4">God</span>; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make
thee desolate.   15 As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance
of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto
thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea,
<i>even</i> all of it: and they shall know that I <i>am</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Ez.xxxvi-p6.5">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xxxvi-p7" shownumber="no">Here is, I. A further account of the sin of
the Edomites, and their bad conduct towards the people of God. We
find the church complaining of them for setting on the Babylonians,
and irritating them against Jerusalem, saying, <i>Rase it, rase
it,</i> down with it, down with it (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.137.7" parsed="|Ps|137|7|0|0" passage="Ps 137:7">Ps. cxxxvii. 7</scripRef>), inflaming a rage that needed
no spur; here it is further charged upon them that they triumphed
in Jerusalem's ruin and in the desolations of the country. Many
<i>blasphemies</i> they spoke against the <i>mountains of
Israel,</i> saying, with pride and pleasure, <i>They are laid
desolate,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.12" parsed="|Ezek|35|12|0|0" passage="Eze 35:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. Note, The troubles of God's church, as they give
proofs of the constancy and fidelity of its friends, so they
discover and draw out the corruptions of its enemies, in whom there
then appears more brutish malice than one would have thought of.
Now their triumphing in Jerusalem's ruin is here said to proceed,
1. From a sinful passion against the people of Israel; from
<i>anger</i> and <i>envy,</i> and <i>hatred against them</i>
(<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.11" parsed="|Ezek|35|11|0|0" passage="Eze 35:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), that
<i>perpetual hatred</i> spoken of <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.5" parsed="|Ezek|35|5|0|0" passage="Eze 35:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Though they were not a match for
them, and therefore could not do them a mischief themselves, yet
they were glad when the Chaldeans did them a mischief. 2. From a
sinful appetite to the land of Israel. They pleased themselves with
hopes that when the people of Israel were destroyed they should be
let into the possession of their country, which they had so often
grudged and envied them. They thought they could make out something
of a title to it, <i>ob defectum sanguinis—for want of other
heirs.</i> If Jacob's issue fail, they think that they are next in
the entail, and that the remainder will be to his brother's issue:
"<i>These two nations of Judah and Israel shall be mine.</i> Now is
the time for me to put in for them." At least they hope to come in
as first occupants, being near neighbours: <i>We will possess
it</i> when it is deserted. <i>Ceditur occupanti—Let us get
possession and that will be title enough.</i> Note, Those have the
spirit of Edomites who desire the death of others because they hope
to get by it, or are pleased with their failing because they expect
to come into their business. When we see the vanity of the world in
the disappointments, losses, and crosses, that others meet with in
it, instead of showing ourselves, upon such an occasion, greedy of
it, we should rather be made thereby to sit more loose to it, and
both take our affections off it and lower our expectations from it.
But in this case of the Edomites' coveting the land of Israel, and
gaping for it, there was a particular affront to God, when they
said, "<i>These lands are given us to devour,</i> and we shall have
our bellies full of their riches." God says, <i>You have boasted
against me and have multiplied your words against me;</i> for they
expected possession upon a vacancy, because Israel was driven out,
<i>whereas the Lord was</i> still <i>there,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.10" parsed="|Ezek|35|10|0|0" passage="Eze 35:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. His temple indeed was burnt,
and the other tokens of his presence were gone; but his promise to
give that land to the seed of Jacob for an inheritance was not made
void, but remained in full force and virtue; and by that promise he
did in effect still keep possession for Israel, till they should in
due time be restored to it. That was Immanuel's land (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.8.8" parsed="|Isa|8|8|0|0" passage="Isa 8:8">Isa. viii. 8</scripRef>); in that land he was to
be born, and therefore that people shall continue in it of whom he
is to be born, till he has passed his time in it, and then let who
will take it. <i>The Lord is there,</i> the Lord Jesus is to be
there; and therefore Israel's discontinuance of possession is no
defeasance of their right, but it shall be kept for them, and they
shall have, hold, and enjoy it by virtue of the divine grant, till
the promise of this Canaan shall by the Messiah be changed into the
promise of a far better. Note, It is a piece of presumption highly
offensive to God for Edomites to lay claim to those privileges and
comforts that are peculiar to God's chosen Israel and are reserved
for them. It is <i>blasphemy against the mountains of Israel,</i>
the holy mountains, to say, because they are for the present made a
prey of and <i>trodden under foot of the Gentiles</i> (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.11.2" parsed="|Rev|11|2|0|0" passage="Re 11:2">Rev. xi. 2</scripRef>), even the <i>holy city</i>
itself, that therefore the <i>Lord has forsaken them,</i> their
<i>God has forgotten them.</i> The apostle will by no means admit
such a thought as this, that <i>God hath cast away his people,</i>
<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.1" parsed="|Rom|11|1|0|0" passage="Ro 11:1">Rom. xi. 1</scripRef>. No; though they
are cast down for a time, they are not cast off for ever. Those
<i>reproach the Lord</i> who say they are.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ez.xxxvi-p8" shownumber="no">II. The notice God took of the barbarous
insolence of the Edomites, and the doom passed upon them for it:
<i>I have heard all thy blasphemies,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.12" parsed="|Ezek|35|12|0|0" passage="Eze 35:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. And again (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.13" parsed="|Ezek|35|13|0|0" passage="Eze 35:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), <i>You have multiplied your
words against me,</i> and <i>I have heard them,</i> I have observed
them, I have kept an account of them. Note, In the multitude of
words, not one escapes God's cognizance; let men speak ever so
much, ever so fast, though they multiply words, which they
themselves regard not, but forget immediately, yet none of them are
lost in the crowd, not the most idle words; but God hears them, and
will be able to charge the sinner with them. All the haughty and
hard speeches, particularly, which are spoken against the Israel of
God, the words which are <i>magnified</i> (as it is in the margin,
<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.13" parsed="|Ezek|35|13|0|0" passage="Eze 35:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>) as well as
the words which are multiplied, God takes notice of. For, as the
most trifling words are not below his cognizance, so the most
daring are not above his rebuke. <i>I have heard all thy
blasphemies.</i> This is a good reason why we should bear reproach
as if we heard it not, because <i>God will hear,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.38.13 Bible:Ps.38.15" parsed="|Ps|38|13|0|0;|Ps|38|15|0|0" passage="Ps 38:13,15">Ps. xxxviii. 13, 15</scripRef>. God has heard
the Edomites' blasphemy; let them therefore hear their doom,
<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.14-Ezek.35.15" parsed="|Ezek|35|14|35|15" passage="Eze 35:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14, 15</scripRef>. It
was a national sin (the blasphemies charged upon them were the
sense and language of all the Edomites), and therefore shall be
punished with a national desolation. And, 1. It shall be a
distinguishing punishment. As God has peculiar favours for
Israelites, so he has peculiar plagues for Edomites: so that
"<i>When the whole earth rejoices I will make thee desolate;</i>
when other nations have their desolations repaired, to their joy,
thine shall be <i>perpetual,</i>" <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.9" parsed="|Ezek|35|9|0|0" passage="Eze 35:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. 2. The punishment shall answer
to the sin: "<i>As thou didst rejoice in the desolation of the
house of Israel,</i> God will give thee enough of desolation; since
thou art so fond of it, <i>thou shalt be desolate; I will make thee
so.</i>" Note, Those who, instead of weeping with the mourners,
make a jest of their grievances, may justly be made to weep like
the mourners, and themselves to feel the weight, to feel the smart,
of those grievances which they set so light by. Some read <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.14" parsed="|Ezek|35|14|0|0" passage="Eze 35:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef> so as to complete the
resemblance between the sin and the punishment: <i>The whole earth
shall rejoice when I make thee desolate, as thou didst rejoice when
Israel</i> was made desolate. Those that are glad at the death and
fall of others may expect that others will be glad of their death,
of their fall. 3. In the destruction of the enemies of the church
God designs his own glory, and we may be sure that he will not come
short of his design. (1.) That which he intends is to manifest
himself, as a just and jealous God, firm to his covenant and
faithful to his people and their injured cause (<scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.11" parsed="|Ezek|35|11|0|0" passage="Eze 35:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>I will make myself known
among them when I have judged thee.</i> The Lord is and will be
known by the judgments which he executes. (2.) His intention shall
be fully answered; not only his own people shall be made to know it
to their comfort, but even the Edomites themselves, and all the
other enemies of his name and people, <i>shall know that he is the
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ez.xxxvi-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.35.4 Bible:Ezek.35.9 Bible:Ezek.35.15" parsed="|Ezek|35|4|0|0;|Ezek|35|9|0|0;|Ezek|35|15|0|0" passage="Eze 35:4,9,15"><i>v.</i> 4, 9,
15</scripRef>. As the works of creation and common providence
demonstrate that there is a God, so the care taken of Israel shows
that Jehovah, the God of Israel, is that God alone, the true and
living God.</p>
</div></div2>