The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 227

neglect them. . By indulgence in vicious likings thry wilfully. blind the inner eyo and ma.kc deaf the mner ear. "None are so blind as those who will not see." "If the oye be evil, the whole body is full of darkness." If the sole channel of truth be choked the man is the victim of falsehood. This is a grief to God, and ho adopts a thousand methods to illumine the dark understanding. Re sometimes blinds the eye of sense that the eye of the mind may open. He finds his way into the heart of men throu(Th 0 some other avenue hitherto untried; for he who made man will find some method 0 f access to his soul. II. A NOVEL ~·ORM OF PROPHECY-A DRAMA m .ACTUAL LIFF:. Instruction as a rule, is addressed to the ear; but for the deaf and for infants it is often addressed 'to the eye. So, in olden times, God often gave to men an object-lesson. We havo the narratil'e of such an event in the fourth chapter, where Ezekiel was required to lie on one side of his body during three hundred and ninety days. When Zedckiah the prophet was summoned to the court of Ahab, to give counsel respecting the projected war, Zedekiah entered the king's presence furniabed with horns of iron. The appear- ance of these was to add impressiveness to the prophet's words. So when Paul was journeying for the last time to Jerusalem, Agabus, a prophet, came to him at Cresarea and, taking Paul's girdle, bound bis own bands and feet, then added, "So shall th~ Jc,vs bind the man that owneth this girdle." This appeal to the eye by living action strengthens conviction in the minds of spectators of the truth and importance or the message. By every possible method God accommodated himself to the necessities of the people for whom he still designed kindness. IIL MEDIATORIAL SERVICE BY MAN FOB MEN. The labour of a true prophet is no sinecure. It is the hardest of toil. He must have no care for himself in his solicitude for others. To be a true prophet he must he like-minded with God. The self-forgetful, self-sacrificing love of God must flow in his veins. He must be completely devoted to the good of those to whom he is sent. No labour must be accounted arduous, no pain severe, in order to success in his undertaking. Now Ezekiel is required. to array himself in an emigrant's attire; provide himself with the usual baggage for foreign travel; take his staff in his hand; carry his equipment on bis shoulder; leave his home in the sight of men, :vet with face veiled; and dig a hole through the city wall, to secure exit from the city. To do all this in the town of 'l'el-Abib would excite public attention, surprise, and wonder. The people would consider the prophet mad. Yet this was the very end God had in view, viz. to arrest attention and to produce reflection. This stran~e action would indicate the strength of Ezekiel's faith, and strong faith awakens faith in others. He was willing, like Paul, "to become all things, so that by any means he might save some." IV. lNQUIBY LEADS TO CLEARER REVELATION OF TRUTH. The knowled:ze which a man gets in response to inquiry is more appreciated and more pondered than that which is given unasked. A great triumph is gained over the sluggishness of our nature when a spirit of inquiry is stirred within. If a man desires knowledge, it is an ome11 for good; it is the dawn of blessing. Clearer and fuller information can come through the gateway of the ear than through the gateway of the eye. The people to whom Ezekiel addressed himself were those of the Captivity at Tel-Abib. 'I'hey wel'e foster- ing a false hope (aided by vain counsels sent from brethren io Jerusalem) that their captivity would be very brief, and that new political combinations would result in speedy restoration to Palestine. Thus their minds would be disturbed; their simple trust was diverted from God, and they were losing the spiritual benefit which the exilG was intended to bring. Inquiry after the truth would lead the way to mental tran- quillit_v and submission. The clear fulfilment of prophecy would strengthen faith in God. V. FoLLY OF .ALL EFFORT 1·0 EVADE GoD. In the fourteenth verse we read, "I will scatter toward ever}' wind all that are about to help him, and all his bands." Thi~ announcement would embrace the Egyptian host which came to help Zedekiah, as well as hiG own people. To resist Jehovah is to resist the granite rock. A single word from God ou,,ht to suffice io order to obtain our readiest obedience. Patriotism is an excel- lent vi~ue in its place, but very often it is only a poor admixture of vanity and selfish ambition, Pious trust and pious obedience are far superior. 'l'o be wise wo must always be on the side of God. God's will is supreme, aud, in the end, is irre• Bistible. Oneness with that will is life and peace. on. xu. 1-28.] 'l'IIE IlOOK OF 'rIIE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 223