The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 261

not acquiesce in their notion's ruin. Hopeful that some message more fa.voura.ble might come from God, they sought (it may be on the sabbath day) the prophet's pre- sence. We must not place these elders in the same category with those in Jerusalem who preferred the flattering speeches of the false prophets. Nevertheless, they were not right at heart. The taint of idolatry was upon these also. Good and evil may be mingled in men's hearts in difrerent degrees. I. OtJTwARD TROUBLE OFTEN DRIVES MEN TO GoD. It is not al ways so. It some ' times chafes and exasperates men. In their pain they sometimes curse God and blaspheme him yet the ~ore. Perhaps affliction, in itself, has no softening, subduing influence. But tbe Spirit of God frequently uses affliction as his instrument, his pruning-knife, in order to make the soul fruitful. This much is certain, that many ha,e found a season of affliction a season of salvation. Certain it is that "whom the Lord loveth he correcteth;" and not a few of the redeemed adopt David's language as their own, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word." IL YET THE RETURN IS SOMETIMES OUTWARD, NOT COMPLETE. In human nature there is a strong bias to be satisfied with what is merely outward in religion. To utter words of prayer, we imagine, must be successful. To come into God's house, no matter what may be our motives or intentions, we think, must please God. Do we not confer a favour on him? Has he not engaged to do us good 'l Yet how often is the heart away when the bocly is present? How often do we bring our idols with us into that sacred place? How often do we worship mammon, or pleasure, or fashion, under pre- tence of worshipping God? How often do our words far exceed our desires? Hypocrisy and idolatry are as common in sanctuaries now as in the days of ancient Israel. Fre- quently the heart is preoccupied with its own wishes and plans and ambitions, while we are using the words, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" We want our own ends, while we profess to yield unto God. III. GoD~EPLIES, NOT TO OUR WORDS, BUT TO OUR TEMPER OF MIND. "I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to tbe multitude of his idols." Men often think that they lAy a trap for God, but God takes them in their own sno.re. We try to use God for the attainment of some worldly end, and we think sometimes that we succeed, but we are always outwitted. Men's words are often veils to hide the facts, and we may deceive others ; we cannot deceive God. To give to such men blessing would be to do them harm. For such the only real blessing is self-humiliation, inward contri- tion. True faith in God is the only measure of success, and faith is loyal, candid, self-submissive. Four sympathetic men brought a paralytic to Jesus; but Jesus first read the yearning desire of the sufferer's heart, and said, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." For God is a Spirit, and deals with the human spirit. Therefore in prayer we should always imitate David," I lift up my soul unto thee." IV. GoD's AIM IS LOFTIER THAN THE A.IM OF THE SUPPLIANT. The aim of the suppliant is usually temporary relief-deliverance from some present evil. But God sees that present trouble is the best blessing-the rough husk that contains nourishing meat. Our object is enjoyment; God's object is soul-profit. He yea.ms to see repent- ance-the first cry of the new life. "Thus saith the Lord God; Repent." God's aim is remote, -but right noble. His design is that "the house of Israel may go no more a.stray." His purpose is that "they may be my people, and I may be their God." If we will not allow God's purpose to prevail, he will not allow our low and. vain purposes to succeed. If we set ourselves in hostility against God, only ruin can result. If God sends us to Nineveh, and we sail away to 'l'arsbish, we may expect to meet an overwhelminu storm. God's will must become our will; then only shall we have rest. V. GoD Tn'iiNs UNSUCCESSFUL SUPPLIANTS INTO BEACONS. "I will set my face against that man and will make him a sign and a proverb." As battle-fields, saturated with human gire, yield larger crops of grain, so out of all evil God will bring ultimate good. Cain's published sin served as a restraint upon others. Lot's wife became a standing witness for God and for righteousness. In the long run, everything contributes to the good of mankind. The wrath of man shall bring praise to God. Man's crime at Calvary has become the fount of greatest blessing. Even human sin shall serve as a dark back"round, the better to set forth the brilliant hues of Divine mercy. Yet how slow men ~e to note the various warnings which God sets up I Self-examination is e. rare virtue. OH, xiv. 1-23.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 259