The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 75

influence, to control, to impel, to restrain, to inspire. Now, the J.rophet is the man to whom the Lord, who is the eternal 'l'ruth and Wisdom and uthority, stands in such a relation. As is strikingly described in the text, God pours into the cars and the heart of the prophet the words which are the expression of his infinite mind and will, and thus fits him to stand as his own representative before his fellow-men, There was no doubt a special immediateness in this relation between God and the ancient prophets such as F.zekiel; yet the remarkable language of this passage may justly be taken as describing the intercourse which exists between the Father of spirits and those whom he has made partakers of his nature and of his truth and life and love. I. 'In ABUNDANCE OF DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS. Tbere is grandeur in the language here attributed to the Eternal: "All my words that I shall speak unto thee." How can we gather up into one apprehension all the communications, the words, addressed by God to man? 1. .All nature may fairly be regarded as the speech of him who, being at once the Father of spirits and the Author of the universe, makes use of the works of his hands as the medium by which to communicate with the beings whom he has endowed with capacities for knowing himself and for sharing in his character, 2. Mac's moral nature is in an especial manner the organ ey which the Creator reveals his most venerable and admirable attributes; unless man bad a heart to feel, he would remain for ever a stranger to the glorious character of bis God. 3. The text refers undoubtedly to a special revel,a,tion accorded to selected individuals for definite pur- poses. And although there are those who would admit the manifestations of God previously described, and yet would question the reality of a supernatural revelation, there are good reasons for believing that we are indebted to such special provision for not a little of our most precious knowledge of our God. JI. THE OBSTACLES TO HUMAN RECEPTIVENESS. These are not so much intellectual as moraL It is the worldly nature, engrossed with the pursuits of earth and the pleasures of sense, that repels Divine communications. The atmosphere is too dense and foggy for the rays of Divine righteousness and purity to pierce. It is sin which makes the ear deaf and the heart impenetrable so that the words of wisdom and of love die away unheeded and uuheard. Ill. THE PENETRATION AND OCCUPATION OF HUMAN NATUBE BY THE IMPARTING OF D:rvn;E COMMUNICATIONS. The purpose of the Eternal was that the whole being of the "son of man" should be taken up and occupied by the words to be uttered. And surely this is the intention of God regarding, not Ezekiel alone, but every child of man. There is no obstacle upon the Divine side. On the contrary, the purpose of infinite benevolence is that our humanity may be receptive of Divine blessing. 1. Divine truth is intended to fill the intelligence. In God's light it is for us to see li"bt. Truth re"arding God and man, and regarding God's relation to man, is commu- n~ated in wond:rful and abundant measure to the trnth-seekicg soul, and especially by him who is "the Truth." 2. Divine love is intended to fill the heart. 3. Divine authority is intended to control the will-the active nature of man. 4. And Divine service is intended to fill man's life, so that the words of God may produce their perfect fruit in the actions and the habits of man.-T. Vere. 12, 13.-Celestial voices. As a true prophet, Ezekiel was specially susceptible to spiritual influences. Again and again be speaks of the Spirit as taking possession of Lim, placing him in new circumstances, enlarging his experiences, qualifying him ior special ministries. Divesting ourselves of the notion that such interpositions are to be interpreted as mechanical and local, we must seek to enter into their spiritual significance. The interest of this passage largely lies in its bearing upon the prophet's own personal history and ministerial service. L CELESTIAL VOICES CAME TO ONE WHO HAD JUST PASSED THROUGH VERY DIS- HEARTENING EXPERIENCES. 1. Ezekiel had been reminded of the unbelief and rebel- liousness of bis countrymen, to whom it was his vocation to minister. Their character had been described to him in language of the truth of which ho was too well aware. To preach to the hardened and unsympathetic is no pleasant task. Yet it is a task to which every minurter of religion is often called. His is frequently the voice of one crying in the wilderness. And again and sgain has he been cast down and distressed OH, nr. 1-27.] 'fHE BOOK OF TI-rn PROPHET EZEKIEL. 61