The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 232

fertility, being changed into barrenness because of the sins of the people. Other lands have had a similar fate, but by a different process. There are sins by which lands are still laid waste. Indolence, effeminacy, self-indulgence, delight in war, and social oppression, in every age produce impoverishment and desolation in any country where they prevail. IV. DIVINE JUDGMENT BECAUSE OF BIN LEADING SINNERS TO KNOW TIIAT JEHOVAH IS THE ONE LIVING A.ND TBUE GoD. "And ye shall know that I am the Lord" (see our notes on these words in eh. vi. 7, 10; xi. 10).-W. J. Vere. 21-28.-Tlie word of the Lord discredited and vindicated. "And the word o'f the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel? " etc. , I. THE WOBD OF THE LORD DIBCBEDITED. 1. It was discredited in various degrees. (1) By some it was entirely disbelieved. "Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?" The reference in this proverb is to the predictions of the Divine judgments against Jerusalem and its inhabitants, which had been made by Jeremiah long ago. And the proverb is a jeering expression, indicating the opinion that these predictions bad totally failed. These sceptics argued within themselves and amongst themselves, that because the fulfilment of the threatened judgment was delayed, the threatening itself was untrue. "The experience of God's forbearance had destroyed their apprehension of his truthfulness." This sinful misinterpretation of the Divine dealings is not confined to that generation or to that people. We discover the same presumptuous unbelief in Ps. I. 21, " These things hast thou done; and I kept silence," etc.; in Eccles. viii. 11, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily," etc.; and in 2 Pet. iii. 3, 4, " There shall come in the last days scoffers," etc. What an abuse is this of the patience of the Lord God! What a base perversion of his forbearance and grace (cf. Rom. ii. 4-11; 2 Pet. iii. 9) ! (2) By others the word of the Lord was dis- ' credited by indefinitely postponing its fulfilment. "Son of man, behold, the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off." These persons argued that, because the .fulfilment of the threatenings of Jeremiah had been delayed so long, that fulfilment was yet far off. They concluded that the prophetic visions would not be realized in their time, and therefore they need not be troubled by them. 2. It was discredited in open expression. "Behold, the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days," etc. (ver. 27). In the case of those who entirely discredited the word of the Lord by the prophet, the terms in~wbich they expressed their disbelief had become proverbial. "What is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel?" etc. (ver. 22). This sentiment, common among the people, " had been expressed in a pointed sentence, ..• and straigbtway became popular as a watchword, which was taken up on every occasion against the true prophet." Their disbelief of the message of the Lord by his prophet, and their derision of that prophet,\were not veiled, but openly paraded by the people. As Greenhill says, "'!'his wicked speech was become a proverb; it passed through the mouths of all sorts, young, old, great, small, learned, ignorant; it was in the city and country, a proverb in the land of Israel." Disbelief hatl grown daring and defiant. 3. This discredit was plausibly encouraged. False prophets, by means of vain visions and flattering divi- nations, had fostered disbelief of the stern announcements of Jeremiah, the true prophet of Jehovah (ver. 24). These men had prophesied smooth things to the credulous house of Israel-credulous, that is, of such announcements as harmonized with their inclinations. So Ahab believed the smooth-speaking false prophets to his own death, while he hated and imprisoned the faithful Micaiah, the prophet of the Lord Jehovah (1 Kings xxii. ). And the false prophets of J ererniah's age encouraged the presumptuous security of the people until that security was shattered by disaster and ruin. II. THE WORD OF THE LORD VINDICATED BY HIMSELF. 1. By its continued procla- mation. The people of Jerusalem probably thought by their;disbelief!and derision to put to silence tbe word of the Lord by Jeremiah his prophet. But God still speaks by him, and by Ezekiel also. "Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God," etc. (ver. 23). "I am the Lord: I will speak," etc. (ver. 25). "Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God," etc. (ver. 28). In th!S way God speaks again and again to  228 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [orr. xm.1-23,