The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 166

"Then keep the softening veil in mercy dre.wn, Thou who canst love us, tho' thou rea.d us true; As on the bosom of th' aerial lawn Melts in dim haze each coarse ungentle hue." (Keble.) But the secret sin~ most analogous to those of the text are those which are practise<! wilfully. Could we read the chambers of imagery in human hearts, what pictures of sins tolerated, and even indulged in some, we should see, while the lives present a fair exterior! Secret impurities, veiled dishonesties, concealed jealousies and animosities, and hidden idolatries, would appear before us in appalling shapes and colours, and perhaps in astounding numbers. II. THE MOST HEINOUS SINS ABE SOMETIMES COMMITTED SECRETLY BY THOSE WHO ABE UNDEB THE STRONGEST OBLIGATIONS TO ESCHEW THEM. "And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel," etc. (ver. 11). (On the "seventy men of the ancients," cf. Exod. xxiv. 1, 9; Numb. xi. 16, 24, 25.) 1. The seventy elders may be viewed as representing the whole people, and thus indicating the general corruption. In accordance with this view, the entire nation is represented as having fallen from its high and holy calling into this grovelling superstition. And with comparatively few exceptions the whole house of Israel bad departed from the pure worship of the Lord ,Jehovah. 2. The seventy elders may be viewed as showing the corruption of those who should have been most incorruptible. They were the repre- sentatives and counsellors of the people, and as such they were morally bound by advice and example to have endeavoured to keep the people from idolatrous associa- tions, and to have maintained in its integrity the worship of the true God; yet they fell themselves into abominable idolatries. More than once, persons standing highest in religious position have been amongst the lowest in their real character. Such was the case with the scribes and Pharisees during the time of our Lord's life upon earth (cf. Matt. xxiii. 13-33). Exalted religious position or office is no guarantee of exalted 11piritnal excellence. Ill. 'l'HE PRA0TIOE OF SECRET SINS SPRINGS FBOM PRACTICAL ATHEISM. "For they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth." Here is a twofold denial. 1. Denial of the Divine observation of human life and conduct. " The Lord seeth us not." The attempt at concealment implies the fact that they ignored the all-seeing eye. The practice of sin generally involves the overlooking or ignoring of the presence and observation of God. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Let this become a. conviction, let it be realized as a solemn fact, and sin would become an impossibility, at any rate with most persons. 2. Denial of the Divine interest in human life. "The Lord bath forsaken the earth." Their feeling seems to have been this: "God does not care for us; he is indifferent to what we do, or what becomes of us." "As he does nothing for them, they must help themselves as well as they can." This practical atheism is the prolific parent of secret and other sins. If man realized the deep concern of God for his well-being, in that realization, he would have a. most effectual restraint from sin. IV. THE FACT OF THE EXISTENCE OF SECRET SINS DEMANDS THE EARNEST CONSIDERA- TION OF THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF GoD. "He said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. . . . Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?" Thus the prophet was summoned to consider the secret idolatries which were being practised by the elders of Israel. It is important that the faithful servants of God should consider the existence and practice of secret sins: 1. To qualify them for battling with such sins. The reformer must become acquainted with the full measure and force of the evils which he would abolish, if he would succeed in bis mission. And the physician, if he would overcome disease, must know it iu its inner workings as well as in its outer manifestations. So also is it with him who would wage war against sin. 2. To qualify them /or estimating the righteousness of Goi/;s treatment of sinners. To appreciate how just and truo he is in all his dealings with men, it is necessary to consider the sins of mind nnd hcnrt which nre committed against him, As well as those of the tongue and hands. V. THE MOST CAREFULLY CONCEALED SINS Wil,L ASSUnEDLY DE MADE MAl'iIFEST, !GO THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oa. vm. 1-18.