I. WAs C'1MMANDRD BY THE LORD. "Then the Spirit entered into me, and set mo 'Upon my freL, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house" (cf. eh. ii. 2). One would have been inclined to conclude that, when ho was revived by the Spirit, the prophet would havo been ordered to enter upon o.ctive service. But he was commanded to seclude himself within his house. 'l'his seclusion was probably intended as: 1. A season of meditation /01· the prophet, Such seasons are requisite for those whose work for God is public and arduous; o.nd in his provi- dence God so orders their lives that such sea.~ons are attainable by them; e.g. Moses in the desert of Midian (Exod. iii. 1); St. Paul in Arabia (Gal. i. 17); Martin Luther in the monastery of Erfurt, and in the castle of Wartburg. 2. As a silent admonition to the people. God would instruct them by symbol, tbe.t from a. rebellious people the prophetic presence and voice may be withdrawn. If men will not heed the reproofs of bis servants, the reprover shall be silent towards them (ver. 26). JI. WAS OCCASIONED BY THE OBSTINA0Y OF THE PEOPLE IN WIOKEDNESB. "But thou, 0 son of ma.n, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thon she.It not go out among them." 'l'his verse is a difficult one, and we cannot assert dogma.tica.lly what it means; but it seems to us that it should be taken metaphorically, a.nd that it symbolizes the truth that the persistent sins of the people nccasioned the seclusion and silence of the prophet. Dr. Fairbairn thus paraphrases the verse under consideration: "Their obstinate and wayward disposition sba,11 be felt upon thy spirit like restraining fetters, repressing the energies of thy soul in its spiritual labours, so that thou shalt need to look for thy encouragement elsewhere than in fellowship with them. The imposition of bands must be understood spiritually, of the damping effect to be produced upon his soul by the conduct of the people. It is a marked specimen of the strong idealism of our prophet, which clothes everything it handles with the distinctness of flesh and blood." The persistent rebelliousness of the people occasioned the temporary suspension of the active work of the prophet. 'l'he unbelief of our Lord's own countrymen was as bands upon him, restraining the exer- cise of his benevolent power. "And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief." Obstinacy in wickedness deprives man of the most precious spiritual possessions. III. WAs TO BE RIGIDLY ENFORCED, "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou sha.lt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they a.re a rebellious house." This is to be taken metaphorical!Y, "Because the people would silence the prophet, God, to punish them, will close 1ils mouth." During the time of the suspension of his prophetic activity he would be as silent to them as a dumb man. When the Lord determines to deprive a people of any blessing which they have despised or persistently disregarded, his determination will certainly be enforced. IV. W .Ai', To BE O:t,,'LY TEMPORARY. "But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God," etc. The with- ,lrawa.l of the messenger of the Lord was not to be permanent. The prophet would speak again when God willed him to do so. When his seclusion a.nd silence had pro- duced their effect, he must go forth a.od proclaim the word of the Lord. The following observations are suggested by this verse: 1. The prophet is empowered/or his work by the Lord. "When I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth." Ezekiel received his messaae from the Lord, and was emboldened by him to deliver it. 2. The prophet is authorized in his work by the Lord. "Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God." Both the silence and the speech bf Ezekiel were expressly ordered by God. In both he was under the control of his Divine Master, remaining silent when so directed by him, and proclaiming his word when commanded and enabled by him to do so. "This represents forcibly the authoritative character a.nd Divine origin of the utter- ances of the Hebrew prophets." 3. The prophet's great concern in his work should be to be faithful to the Lord. "Thus sa.ith the Lord God; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house." Ezekiel was not responsible for the success of his work with the people. But fidelity in executing the commissions which he received from his great Master was required of him. For this he was responsible. And still" it is required in stewards that a man be found fmthful" (1 Cor. iv. 2). 011. xv. 1-17.J TliE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 71
CoNOLUBION. Our subject addresses to us solemn admonition as to our treatment of the Word of the Lord. If we persistently despise or disregard that Word, he may with- draw it from us, or place us beyond the sphere of the ministry thereof. Neglectecl privileges may justly and reasonably be taken away from those who have neglected them (cf. Amos viii. 4-12).-W. J.