The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 68

firmness are essential in the work of e. leader of men. The Christian minister who is afraid of his congregation has forfeited all right to be their teacher. 3. It is demanded by loyalty to God. The prophet is God's messenger, The Christian minister is Christ's servant. 'l'o his own Master he stands or falls. Obsequiousness before men means a betrayal of the duty owed to Goel. III. How THE FOREHEAD MAY BECOME OF ADAMANT. Many of the truest servants of God are naturally so sensitive and timorous that they well need some such assurance as that given to Ezekiel. Now, God had made his prophet's forehead as adamant. It is a Divine work. But there'are human ideas through which be works. 1. God is to be feared more than man. We must remember that" the fear of man . . . bringeth a. snare." While shrinking from man's petty anger we risk the awful thunders of the wrath of God. 2. Trust is to be put in the protection of God. He will not desert his own agents at the post of peril. When men do their worst, Almighty aid is at band. If death is to be encountered, there is the martyr's crown beyond. 3. There must be a deep conviction of the truth of our message. A wavering mind will not support a countenance of adamant. We must first be sure ourselves. Then we can dare to face the world. Truth is the adamant that hardens the forehead against unbelief, misrepre- sentation, opposition. It has been well said, "Those men are strongest who stake most on e. deep and worthy conviction." 4. An honest kindness of intention will create the firmness of adamant. Selfishness wavers; l sympathy is strong. The murderer's hand tremble&; the surgeon's hand is steady, though his patient shrieks under the knife. When we earnestly desire to benefit people, we can afford to have them mis- understand us, and perhaps even smile when they cry out against our unkindness. Mixed motives weaken the front we present to the world. A pure, unselfish devotion will be brave, strong, firm as adamant. Ver.14.-The start in life, Ezekiel here describes the commencement of his active ministry. Hitherto he has been under preparation, receiving communications from heaven in vision and word. Now the time has come for him to start on his errand and begin his work among the captives of Babylon. I. THE PROPHET IS CARRIED AWAY BY THE SPIRIT OF Goo. Although we need not suppose that Ezekiel was carried up bodily into the.clouds, blown over the fields, and dropped down in the midst of a crowd of his countrymen, we are not to suppose that his visit to them was any the less one of Divine impulses. Like Philip the evangelist, when he was taken from the Ethiopian convert and sent to Azotus (Acts viii. 39, 40), Ezekiel felt e. mighty power of God driving him to his work. Inspiration does not only illumine; it impels. The Spirit of God drove Christ into the wilderness (Mark i. 12). Such au action does not involve forcible constraint age.inst the will. God only works on men in this way through their wills. The will of the man is so completely sub- servient to the willJof God that it no longer acts separately; it voluntarily obeys as though it were but a Divine instrument. '!'he highest work for God is always done in this way. Without the mighty spiritual impulse such tasks as God sets his servants could never be accomplished; but with it the hardest service ends in success. II. THE PROPHET GOES IN GRIEF AND ANGER. 1. In grief. The prophet is in bitterness. 'l'he cause of his sorrow is that he is to speak of bad subjects, and to face unwilling hearers. Nothing can be more painful to a sympathetic soul. If a J?reacher could delight in denunciation e.nd take a pleasure in describing the horrors of luture punishment, he would be little better than a demon at heart. A true preacher of repentance must be a voice of sorrow. Moreover, it must be painful to a sensitive man to find himself compelled to create unpopularity for himself by fidelity to his mes- sage. His face may be as adamant; but his heart will bleed. 2. In anger. Ezekiel went "in heat." There is a righteous wrath. Christ could be "moved with indigna- tion" against cruelty and hypocrisy. The man who is incapable of this anger lacks power of conscience. Love must lie at the heart of the servant of Goel, but anger at sin and at the wrong of it to God and man may show itself in his voice and mauner. III. 'l'HE PROPHET FEELS THE MIOHTY HAND OF GoD UPON HIM. God does not only send his servant; he accompanies him. The Spirit carried Ezekiel forth; the hand of God was strong upon him. all the way. This h1rnd of God is folt in various  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. m.1-27.