The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 53

weaknesses, their temptations and struggles. Some, like Elijah and John the Baptist Jed a life secluded and 11scetic---only now and 11g11in coming forth from their retirement and mingling with their countrymen for some Bpeci11l purpose. Bn t others lived amongst those whom they had known in childhood and youth, and made themselves acquainted with their tempor11l condition and their spiritual wants. It seems to have been so with Ezekiel. And as participation in common sorrows and sufferings often draws men closer together, it is reasonable to believe that comrades in exile were upon terms of closest fellowship and correspondence. The prophet knew well, in virtue of a common nature and a common lot, the people amongst whom he dwelt, and to whom he was called to minister. Ill. THE PROPHET'S TRUE HUMANITY RENDERED HIS MINISTRY SYMPATHETIC, AUTHORITATIVE, AND EFFECTIVE. Men may see much of one another, may be brought frequently into contact with one another, and yet may have little mutual knowledge, and even feel little interest in one another's experience~. But this was not the case with Ezekiel, who did not harden his heart against even the disobedient, rebellious, and unresponsive, but, on the contrary, cultivated, as a man, a spirit of true brotherhood with his fellow-men. He was deeply pained when it was his duty to threaten or to denounce; he was sincerely glad when it was given him to speak words of kindness and encouragement. There was, in consequence of this human sympathy, an especial authoritativeness in hie prophetic ministrations. What he said and did went home, in many cases, to the hearts of those whom he addressed; because they interpreted his words and deeds in the light of his spirit and character. IV. 'l'HE PROPHET WAS TIDJB A TYPE OF CHRIST HIMSELF, WHO WAS WONT TO DESIGNATE HIMSELF THE SoN OF MAN. Perfect Man as well as perfect God, the Lord Christ entered into the position of those whom he came to save. Like Ezekiel, the Lord Jesus came to a captive people ; like Ezekiel, he addressed to them words of reproach, words of warning, words of consolation, words of hope. He did more than this : he bore their sins, and carried their sorrows. And thus he brought deliverance to the bondmen, opened the prison-doors, and bade the oppressed go free.-T. Ver. 3.-RebellioU8 nations. This must have been a. hard message for Ezekiel to deliver to his fellow-countrymen. It was the heathen, the Gentiles, who were usually designated "nations;" and in applying this designation to Israel, he seemed to degrade the chosen people from their peculiar position of honour, and to rank them with the idolatrous nations whom they were accustomed to despise. And it has been surmised that, in employing the plural, the prophet intended to intimate that the Hebrews no longer constituted one people, one state, but were divided among themselves, dissolved as it were into disconnected and opposing sections and factions. It may be jus.t and profitable to regard Israel as representative of the human race, in respect to this lamentable charge of rebellion, which may certainly be brought against mankind at large. J. REBELLION IMPLIES ON THE PART OF THOSE WHO ARE GUILTY OF IT THE POSSESSION OF A VOLUNTARY NATURE. If there is no liberty, there can be no rebellion. Rebellion implies intelligent apprehension, e.nd it implies deliberate purpose. The rebel knows what is the authority which he defies, and he defies that authority, not only intelligently, but of purpose. Brutes do not rebel ; but men and angels me.y do, and he.ve done Hence the serious responsibility attaching to rebellion against God on the pa.rt of wilful though misguided men. II. REBELLION IMPLIES A JUST AUTHORITY AGAINST WWCH, CONTRARY TO BIGHT, THE REBEL BETS HIMSELF. '!'here can be no rebellion where there is no government, no reb~l where there is no governor. Neither can there be rebellion, properly speaking, age.mat e. usurper, who has no cle.im upon the loyalty and allegiance of those whom he may _unjustly denominate his subjects. The moral government of the world is a fact, and its administration is characterized by equity. As the universal Legislator and Judge, God demands the subjection and obedieuce of mankind; all are his lawful subjects. There is no rebel against Divine authority who can bring against the rule and sway of the great Governor of the universe the charge of injustice and tyranny. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? " III. REBELLION AGAINST Gon INVOLVES GREAT aUILT AND MISERY. This awful fact  88 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [OH. D, 1-10,