The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 71

of these. (1) Retfrementfrom society. The mournful crowd of Jews was by the river- ba.uk, and Ezekiel was to detach himself from them and retreat to the solitude of the plain. It is not good for man to live in a crowd. Depth of soul is to be cultivated in retirement. God does not often reveal himself in the din of the world. A too public life is both shallow and callous. (2) Bi·eadth of view. The plain is broad and spacious. There is ample range for the eye to rove over its vast expanse, The soul may here lose its cramped feelings. 'l'he suffocation of the crowd is escaped, When God's glory appears it bas room for a large display, Heavenly painting requires a broad canvas. (3) Openness to heaven, T\ere is no roof over the plain. You can look thence right up to the sky. The lark can rise from his nest on the plain and soar as high as his unwearied wings will bear him. ,ve want freedom from earthly limitations. 'l'he smoke of the city hangs over the haunts of men. We must go forth from all human entanglements to seek free intercourse with God. 2. The events. Once on the plain this man of visions, the Prophet Ezekiel, saw new wonders, and there the glory of God appeared to him. Other men had been on the plain before; wild tribes of the desert have ranged over it since, and perhaps herded their cattle or pitched their tents on the very site of the great revelation. Yet to them the heavens have been as brass. Fitting scenes may prepare us for heavenly visions, but they cannot create them. When the glory is revealed no higher privilege could be vouchsafed. It is worth any journey-if need be, across Siberian plains-to have such a privilege. No longer do we look for this in outward show. But there may be a Divine glory upon the plain to the naturalist who examines the meanest weed that grows there, as an angel of Di,ine revelation, an embodiment of heavenly wisdom and beauty, IL IN THE HOUSE. The sight of the glory on the plain smites the prophet to the ground with awe and reverence. But he is not to lie there dismayed. Heavenly words follow the heavenly vision, and these words have a practical import. God does not reveal himself only to dazzle beholders with a splendid pageant. A vision of glory is not enough without a message of truth. Revelation makes known the mind of God. So the voice speaks, and speaks with a practical aim, bidding the amazed prophet arise and go to his house. 1. The scene. (1) The greatest privacy. On the plain Ezekiel was in retirement. In the house he is in seclusion. Christ bade his disciples go into their closet, and shut the door, to pray to their Father in secret (Matt. vi. 6). (2) Separation from the external world. On the plain a man has space; at home he is shut in by four walls. On the plain he is open to the voices of nature; alone in the house be is left to subjective experiences. (3) Cessation of work. The prophet must leave his ministry for a season, and wait in patience. 2. The use of this scene. Retire- ment and seclusion give a time of rest, which all busy workers need. They afford opportunities for meditation and prayer. Here the soul can take stock, can review its forces, can seek fresh supplies. Note: Ezekiel sees the vision on the plain before he goes to retire to the solitude of his house. To be profitable, meditation must be based on revelation. Ver. 25.-A prophet stricken dumb. This is something abnormal, 11.Imost monstrous. A prophet is a speaker by calling. His mission is to use his voice. Something is strangely amiss if he is to be driven to silence. '!'he occurrence, the causes, and the rnnsequences of such a phenomenon must be of exceptional importance. I. THE FACT. The prophet's tongue is to cleave to the roof of his mouth. If he would speak, he shall not be able to do so. Then, as before the time of Samuel, the word of the Lord must be "rare " (1 Sam. iii. 1). Divine messages cease. 1. No light. The sun is eclipsed. At noon it is night. Truth sinks into obscurity. Heaven c~ases to have a meaning. Man is left to earth alone. 2. No guiding hand. Left in the dark, people may plnnge into quagmires of error or fall int~ pits of destruction; there is no warning to JJ:eep them safe. 3. No commanding voice. Now the people feel free to choose their own course. 4. No consolation nor message of grace. The prophets were not all CassandraF, nor was every message a prediction of judgment, These men were the consolers of the sorrowful. They bore Messianic messages of hop~. Now their words are hushed. If the black thunder-cloud is dispelled, so also is the r'.lirol,ow that spanned it. ll THE CAUSE, 1, By the power of God. It is God who paralyzes the tongue of on. m.1-27.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 57