The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 181

practised in Jerusalem, and by which the Lord Jehovah was provoked were set forth• and now Ezekiel beholds in vision the treatment which God was abou't to deal out t~ the people by reason of their provocations. We observe- I. THAT THE AGE:l\'TS OF Gon's JUDGMENTS ARE EVER READY TO EXE0UTE IIIS COM• MA:!-."DS. "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand,'' etc. (vers. 1, 2). Instead of "Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near," Hengst.en berg translates, "The visitations of the city draw near•" and Schroder, "Near are the visitations of the city." These six must be angels, he~venly watchers over the city; or, perhaps, as Bunsen says, "the punishing and destroying angels,'' who are now to execute the Divine retribution. They are spoken of as men because they appeared in human form, in which form angels appeared unto Abraha0:: (Gen. xviii. 2). That they were angels is evident also from the fact that they formed the retinue of the " man in their midst, clothed in linen," who is "no other than the angel of the Lord, and whom we never see accompanied with any other retinue than that of the lower angels; compare for example Zech. i. 11, etc., and Josh. v. 14 where the angel of the Lord designates himself as prince of the host of the 'Lord" (Hengstenberg). Many have been the conjectures as to the significance of the number of these angels. The true explanation seems to be that, with the angel of the Lord they me.de the sacred number-seven (cf. Zech. iii. 9; Rev. v. 6). They were th~ executioners of the judgments of God upon the guilty inhabitants of the favoured city. And they were to execute it under the direction of " the man clothed in linen." For we have to regard him" not alone as appointed to the work of delivering the pious -not as standing in opposition to the six ministers of righteousness. The protection of the pious is his privilege; but the work of vengeance also stands under his controL The six are to be regarded as absolutely subordinate to him, executing the work of destruction only by his order and under his authority" (ibid.). After the execution of the jucl,,ament in this chapter, he said, "I have done as thou hast commanded me" (ver. 11). And in eh. x. 2, 7, he is expressly represented as the agent of the Most High in the burning of the city. Now, these a.ngelic beings may be said to have been the agents, and the Chaldeans the instruments, in the work of slaughter. Soon as they were required for that work they were promptly at hand. And soon as they received their commands "they went forth, and slew in the city." Many are the agents and instruments which God employs; a.nd when he summons them, they quickly respond to his calL When he commanded, the flood of waters overwhelmed the old world; and the flood of fire consumed the cities of the plain; and the earth yawned and engulfed the rebels against Moses and Aaron. In his judgments upon Egypt, frogs a.nd flies, locusts and hail, were his ready instruments (cf. Ps. lxviii. 43-51; cxlviii. 8). lL 1N THE EXECUTION OF HIS JUDGMENTS GOD DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN THE TWO GREAT DIVISIONS OF MORAL CHABACTEB. "And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's ink-horn by his side; and the Lord said unto him,'' etc. (vers. ~ ) . Thus in this judgment certain persons were to be spared, while the rest were cut off; and provision was made for sparing them. How were they to be divided? Upon what principle was the awful separation to be me.de? 1. The discrimination is in moral character. There are those who represent the great division of men as a ma.tter of Divine choice, altogether irrespective of human character or conduct. They say that men are elect or !1on-~18?t and reprob3:te solely because of ~he det~rmi!1ations of the Divine will. Certamly 1t 1s not so m this case. In the D1vme estimation the essential division of men is not material, social, or intelledual, but moral. Mark the character here indicated of the men who are to be preserved : " The men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst" of the city. (1) Men who deeply grieved because of sin. They "sighe~ ~or all the abominat!onst e~. They did not participate in them, or regard them as tnvial, or treat them w11;h md1fference; but were burdened by them, and mourned over them. Thus have holy men in all ages been afflicted by sin ( cf. 2 Pet. iL 7, 8; Ps. cxix. 53, 136, 158; c~x. 21; Jer. ix. 1; Ezra ix. 3). And thus our blessed Lord was deeply moved by the wickedness and woe of men (cf. Luke xiii. 34; xix. 41-44). (2) Men who gave expression to their grief because of sin. "That cry "--or groan-" for all the abominations," etc. '!'heir sorrow found audible utterance. It was not concealed, but manifest. Their cries and groan11 ou. IX.1-11.J '!'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 175