Ver. 14.-"Weeping for Tammuz." If the usue.l interpretation of this passage is correct, then it is clear that there had been introduced from Northern Syria. into Jerusalem e. superstitious practice and cultus, which wae altogether alien from the beliefs and the worship proper to the nation whom the Supreme had fe.v_oured w~th o. clear and glorious revelation of hie blessed character and his holy will. It 1s an illustration of the weakness and proneness to err ch11racteristic of our humanity, that a nation so favoured as Judah should borrow from their neighbours religious rites and observances utterly inconsistent with their own religion, and of a kind fitted to degrade rather than to exalt the moral life. We may observe of this special superstition- !. 'J.'HAT IT SUBSTITUTED FICTION FOR TRUTII, II. THAT IT CONOENTRATED ATTENTION UPON NATURE INSTEAD OF UPON TITE AUTHOR OF NATnRE. Ill. 'l'HAT IT SUBSTITUTED AN IMAGINATIVE AND FANCIFUL FOR A REAL AND LEGITIMATE CAUSE OF EMOTION, 154 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cH. vm.1-18.
IV. THAT IT PROMOTED VICE INSTEAD OF MORAL PURITY, V. 'fHAT IT CONSEQUENTLY DEGRADED THE NATION THAT BUFFERED ITSELF TO BR SEDUCED BY IT. APPLICATION. No nation and no individual is superior to the necessity of watch- fulness against the contaminating influence of neighbours upon a lower moral platform. « Evil communications corrupt good manners." Instead of Lhe good leavening the evil, and so purifying the mass, the contrary may happen, and the defiling influence of error and impurity may spread. In this case there is every likelihood of the fulfilment of the proverb, "The companion of fools shall be destroyed."-T. _ Ver. 16.-Sun-worshippers in Jerusalem. Although the worship of Baal and other similar deities was no doubt a corruption due to the personification of the great orb of day, it does not seem that, in this passage, the prophet intends to denounce that form of idolatry. It appears that actual sun-worship, which we know to have been practised among the Persians, obtained in the time of Ezekiel at Jerusalem, though it is scarcely credible that it took place literally in the circumstances depicted in the context. I. THE SUN-WORSHIP ITSELF. Of this it is enough to say that it is creature- worship, and is therefore dishonouring to the Creator who kindled the sun in the firmament, and who is himself the eternal, uncreated Light. II. THE SUN-WORSHIPPERS. 1. They included the priesthood; for the five and twenty here mentioned were doubtless the heads of the twenty-four courses, with the high priest presiding over them. 2. Their attitude was indicative of profanity and defection; they are depicted as tnrning their backs towards the temple of Jehovah that they might face the sun as he rose in the east. III. THE EFFECTS OF SUN-WORSHIP. 1. This superstition estranged the minds of those who practised it from the God who is Light, and in whom is no darkness at all ; it rendered them indifferent to the Divine Law, and inattentive to the Divine service and worship. 2. It was the means of filling the land with abominations and violence, and this was especially the case when conjoined with the worship of the Phcenician sun-god. 3. It thus became one of the many occasions for the arousing of the anger of God, and led to the retributions and chastenings which speedily came upon the ungrate- ful, unspiritual, and apostate people.-T. Vers. 1-16.-Gradual disclosure of human sin. The prop'!iet notes the exact date of the vision, so that, if any doubt arose, the circumstance could be verified, so long as any one of these elders survived.. These details of day and month may seem to many readers needless and tedious ; yet, in an earlier day, they probably Sli'rved an important purpose, and may be again useful in a future age. Even now they demonstrate with what diligent care the prophet preserved the records of Divine manifestations. The three hundred and ninety days during which Ezekiel was to be a living sign were now fulfilled. I. THE occ.ASION. The occasion arose out of a visit made to Ezekiel by the elders of IsraeL Genuine inquiry on the part of men is always pleasing to God. If men ask after truth from righteous motive, God is prepared to meet them. The response from heaven may not be in the mode men expect, yet some response there will be. On this occasion, too, God was honoured in the person of his messenger. It becomes us to use those channels for information which God has opened. If we are at our Sovereign's footstool, we shall not Lave long to wait. II. Goo's GRACIOUS KANIYEBTATION. It was an act of grace that God should reveal him.self to his prophet, so that through the lJrophet he might reveal himself to the elders. In every age God has chosen the most fitting agencies through which to manifest hlmsel! to men. 1. It was an exact repetition of a former appearance. 'l'his was to intimate that God's designs had in no respect changed. There were the same splendours of majesty-the unchangeable glory-of Jehovah; there was the same appearance of radiant fire in the loins and feet, to indicate that he was about to march through the land in ri"'hteous indignation. "Verily, a fire goeth before him, and it shall be very tempestu~us round about." "For he cometh to judge the earth." 2. A mighty enugy was put forth. There was the form of a hand, by which the prophet DH, vm. 1-18,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 155