The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 108

Vers. 5-I0.-Abused privilege produces condign pztnishment. This doctrine is repeated and emphasized in myriad forms. It is written, not in sand, but on rock, and written with a pen of steel. If the men of England do not read this lesson, the reason is evident-they are wantonly blind. I. WE HAVE HERE AN INSTANCE OF EMINENT PRIVILEGE, Jerusalem was placed in a most central position, What the heart is to the body, wbat the sun is to the solar system, Palestine was among ancient empires. •Hers was special advantage for getting good and for doing good. She was within easy reach of the civilization of Egypt, the martial power of Babylon, the science and art of Greece, the commercial enterprise of Phrenicia, the law-making might of Rome. On every side there wern patterns to be imitated, follies to be avoided. Of all the intellectual, moral, and com- mercial life of primitive man, the Jews occupied a central place. Intercourse between the distant nations passed, in large measure, through Palestine. Hence she had splendid opportunities for diffusing the light of true religion far and wide. Inquirers after God ought to have found at Jerusalem a solution of all their doubts. IT. PRIVILEGE ENTAILS RESPONSIBILITY. Every man lives under the wise and righteous government of God, and every possession he holds he holds in trust. He is a steward, who holds and uses his Master's goods. In proportion to tbe good he enjoys is the service he is required to render. For every faculty of body and of mind, for every special advantage and gift, he is accountable to his Maker. God has never intended that any donation of his should terminate iu the man himself. We receive in order that we may give. The wealthy man has more service to render than the poor man. The sage has more to account for than the fool. A man is not in the same position morally at the close of the sabbath as at the dawn. He must, in the nature of things, be either better or worse for every advantage he obtains. The tree that does not bear good fruit is something worse than useless. Each man adds some- thing to the piety, or to the impiety, of the age. As God had dowered the Hebrews with special privilege, he rightly expected from them fruitful service. III. RESPONSIBILITY ABUSED CREATES DEADLY SIN. 'l'he sin of the Hebrews was inexcusable. 'l'hey rebelled against the light-the light of nature, the light of con- science, the light of supernatural revelation. 1. There was base neglect. God had made known to them his infallible wisdom; but they preferred their own foolishness. God had deigned to weigh difficult matters for them, and to give them the benefit of bis superior juclgment; but they refused to follow. '!'hey would, at all risks, fling off teatraint, and yield to none but self. 2. There was positive perversion of God's good- ness. '!'hey changed bis judgruents into wickedness. 'l'hey made even religious ordi- nances an occasion of sin. '!'hey transmuted truth into falsehood, the house of prayer into a den of thieves. Better, far better, not to have the sabbath, than to profane its sacreJ hours. Better not to have a messo.ge of kindness than to treat it with scoru. 96 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [en. v. 1-17.