The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 104

Vers.14, 15.-Tlie shame of moral shipwreclc, and its lessons. All the nations round about were to be witnesses of the shipwreck of Israel. 'l'he eyes of the world are upon the Church. No single Christian man can fall without his ruin being observed by many neighbours. The city set on a hill cannot be hid in its prosperity and splendour; much less will it be unnoticed when it is wrapped in flames, and even later when its melancholy ruins tell the world a tale of fallen greatness. The spectacle is striking; the thoughts which it suggests should be instructive. Let us note four things about thi~ moral shipwreck. I. IT 1s CULPABLE. The condition of Israel is to be "a reproach," i.e. blame will be at.tached to it. Nations must stand the chance of war, in which the most just and brave may suffer grievous loss; and yet history rarely, if ever, shows an instance of a people crushed and exterminated without any fault of its own. Moral corrnption 1>recedes total national overthrow. This was certainly the case with Israel, which fell in its wickedness, and was scattered for its sin. Misfortune may visit the Church, or :m individual good man-such as Job-without guilt on the part of the sufferer, because a wholesome discipline or some other high and distant Divine purpose of love is to be wrou,g;ht out through this means. But utter shipwreck of life does not come without moral delinquency. Unhappily, the reproach does not cease with the guilty person; it is laid against the cause of Christ, and it brings dishonour on bis Name. This new "reproach of Christ" is the greatest hindrance to the progress of the gospel, and far more of a stumbling-block than the old shame of the cross. II. IT 1s SHAMEFUL AND DEGRADING. The evil condition of the fallen nation will be "a taunt." Contempt will succeed to the old respect. The Church may expect to meet with opposition from the world, but she is indeed in an evil state when she has earned its contempt. To be despised wrongfully through the pride and superficial judgment of others is a fate which brave men can learn to endure. But to merit contempt is to lie in abject wretchedness. When Christian men fall from their pure profession, they sink into this most shocking ignominy. Even godless people can look <lown upon them, and taunt them with their high preteusions and boasted attainments and prized privileges. Ill. IT Is INSTRUCTIVE. The condition of the people will be" an instruction." As "no man liveth to himself," so also "no man dieth to himself." The ruin of nations is a lesson to the world. History is studded with beacon-warnings. The greatest r,ations ho.ve beeu defeated and destroyed. 'l'he prosperity of the Church in one age has been succeeded by corruption and shame in another. Men called "pillars" of the Church have fallen. People praised as "ornaments" of society have left tarnished reputations. Such sights not only warn us against pride and self-assurance; in searching for the explanation of them we may learn many a lesson as to the causes of success and failure, e.g. that secret sin leads to op<'n shame, that past prosperity will not prevent present failure, that a good name is not an impregnable bulwark, that to forsake God is to court ruin. IV. IT 1s ASTONISHING. Israel's state will be "an astonishment." 1. It surprises the sufferers. They never expected such a fall. Living m a fool's paradise, they spent their days at their ease till the crash came. Careless Christians are surprised at their own shipwreck. 2. It surprises the onlookers. It is contrary to expectation founded on previous observation and confident pretensions. Can the long-successful nation fall, and the people favoured of Heaven be abandoned to ruin? There will be many sur- prises in the future judgment, because ignorance of the o.wful power of moral law and of the just retribution of God destroys men's expectations of the punishment of sin. To some it will come with a shock ff amnwment, unlw they now turn to the redemption of Christ.  THE BOOK OF 'i.1HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cit. v, 1-lt,