The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 205

purpos!f.3 which o.re in opposition to his own laws, to his own character. He bas revealed his intention to bring men into judgment for all their conduct, and for every secret thing, good or bad. :From this reckoning with the Judge of all there is no escape. The prospect may well strike the impenitent sinner with dismay. lV. THE DISSUASIVE POWER WHICH THIS DOCTRINE SHOULD EXERCISE OVER THOSE WHO ARE HESITATING WHETHER OR NOT TO YIELD TO TEMPTATION. In order to resist temptation to sin, it is not enough to guard our actions, to order aright our circum- stances and associations. It is in the mind that the real battle must be fought. And upon this battle-field, what auxiliary is so potent and effectual as the remembrance of the Lord's omniscience? He is with us to assist us in the regulation of our thoughts and desires ; for he knows alike the force of temptation, and the sincerity of our endeavour to check and to overcome it. V. 'l'HE WELCOME GIVEN BY GoD'l:I PEOPLE TO THIS DOCTRINE. The same truth is a joy and consolation to the Christian, which the ungodly man finds an occasion of distress and dread. Why is this? It is because God has in Christ made himself known to his heart as his Friend and Father. Thus openness and confidence and holy intimacy prevail between the Christian and his God. The faithful servant of God knows his infirmities and his faults, and he is grateful to be assured that these are known to his Father in heaven, who will deal leniently and compassionately with them, and will assist him in overcoming them. God knows the aspirations and endeavours of his own children, is interested in every effort to attain to a fuller know- ledge of himself, and a more constant and practical subjection to his will. In Ps. cxxxix. the feelings of the good man, conscious of the Divine omniscience, find a full and most poetical and fervent expression, There is nothing which such a man would wish to hide from such a Friend.-T. Ver. 13.-Remonstrance and intercession. It is remarkable that whilst Ezekiel was co=issioned to censure and to denounce the political action of the eril counsellors of Jerusalem, he took no pleasure in the awful practical expression which the righteous Judge saw fit to give to this censure and denunciation. It was the prophet's business to expose the wicked policy of Pelatiah; but this man's death was to Ezekiel a severe shock and sorrow, calling forth from hi,s sympathetic and patriotic heart the words in which he deprecated with all reverence and submission the displeasure of the Lord. I. THE OC0ASION OF REMONSTRANCE AND INTERCESSION. In this passage the occa- sion was twofold. 1. The pressure of present affliction, in the death of one of the leaders and rulers in the metropolis. 2. The apprehension of future calamity and disaster such as the present affliction foreboded. What had happened to one would, in all likelihood, happen to others. Similarly, every well-wisher to his country and his Church is, in times of trial, driven to the throne of grace for merciful forbearance and interposition. II. THE PRESENTATION OF REMONSTRANOE AND INTERCESSION. 1. There is an iden- tification on the part of the suppliant of himself with his people. After all, whatever might be the errors of any class of his countrymen, Ezekiel was a Hebrew, and he could not but suffer in the sufferings of his country; its misfortunes could not but afflict him; its ruin could not but humiliate and distress him. 2. There is an implicit admission of .the justice of the Divine action; the prophet does not complain of what had been wrought by the hand of Divine and judicial authority. No affliction was undeserved. 3. There is supplication that ills apparently impending may be averted. As Abraham pleaded for Sodom, so Ezekiel pleaded for Jerusalem. 'l'here is but a remnant : of that remnant shall a full end be made? As if he added, in the language of the patriarch, " That be far from thee, Lord I" APPLIOATION. 'l'he Christian cannot fail to be reminded, by this passage, of tho intercessory office of Christ. We have an Advocate with the Father, appointed and accepted by that Father's love. Here is our refuge and our hope in the time of calamity nnd under the fear of judgment. Our High Priest is a powerful and success- ful Intercessor. Our sins have deserved that" a full end" should be made of humanity. But through Christ mercy is extended, clemency exercised, and salvation assuretl to 1hose who place themselves under the patronage and protection of the great Mediator nnd Advocate.-T.  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKlEL, [olI. XI, 1-25,