Vers.15-59.-Inexcusable infidelity. Universal consent accounts that woman vile who, married to a kind and honourable husband, in order to gratify her own unchastened desires, commits adultery with her neighbours and acquaintances, and expends her husband's substance in rewarding her numerous and profligate admirers. 'l'he guilt of Jerusalem must indeed have been great if it could only be adequately set forth under the similitude of guilt so flagrant and abominable as that described in this most appalling chapter. Passing away from the figure to the reality, we have to trace the unfaithfulness of Jerusalem to him who had saved her from death, distinguished her by favour, and exalted her to honour. I. JERUSALEM'S DISLOYALTY ORIOmATED Ill' HER ASSUMING AS HER OWN WHAT WAS REALLY THE GIFT AND GRACE OF GoD. What a lesson is there in the striking expression, "Thou dirlst trust in thine own beauty" !-thine own, as if for that beauty thou hadst to thank thyself; as if it were aught else than the gift of Divine bounty and the token of Divine favour! We are far less likely to abuse onr position and our possessions if we do but remember that they are not ours, save by God's kindness, and that we are not our own. II. DISLOYALTY ORIOill'ATED Ill' FORGETFULNESS OF DIVINE GRACE AND COMPASSIO:!'f. Very touching is that expression in ver. 22, "Thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth." Here is the radical error. It is pride and self-confidence that leads men astray. They who are forgetful of God are in danger of being unfaithful to him. Jerusalem said, "I sit a queen!" And saying so, she fell. It is a too common experience. '!'he Christian may learn to cultivate the spirit of complete dependence upon God; for the consciousness that he owes all to God will help to bind him to loyal allegiance and constant service. Ill. DISLOYALTY WAS MANIFESTED Ill' THE ADOPTION OF THE IDOLATRY OF SUIIBOUND- lNG NATIONS. In Jerusalem and the neighbourhood the deities of the several peoples to the east, north, and south of Palestine had their deluded votaries; and not only so, idolatry was openly practised. With spiritual wantonness the citizens of the great and glorious city admitted and embraced every form of idolatry, and that even within sight, if not within the precincts, of the very temple of Jehovah. IV. DISLOYALTY LED TO CONFORllllTT TO ALL THE VILE PRACTICES WHICH ARE CONNEOTED WITH IDOLATRY. Cruel and lustful rites, it is well known, were associated with heathen worship. In vers. 20 and 21 reference is made to the practice, connected with the worship of Moloch, of co.usini sons and daughters to pass through the fire. This was but one of the abominable and reprehensible practices encouraged by heathen priests. When these practices are compared with the observances of the Law of Moses, who can avoid the conclnsion that, whereas the former were the invention of sinful men, the latter bear marks of appointment by a pure and merciful God? Once let men abandon the true religion, and "go after false gods," and none can tell into what excesses of iniquity they may be led. V. DISLOYALTY WAS OARRJED TO AN EXTENT EXTRAVAGANT AND MONSTROUS. Jerusalem is compared with Samaria e.nd with Sodom, and is represented as "corrupted more than they in e.11 her ways!" Indeed, had not the abominations wrought in Jerusalem been fla"rant, the languacre of this chapter would not have been justified. The abuse of tho bc~t is ever the wor~t. The greater the height from which the faU, 288 rHE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cu. xv1. 1-63,
the severer is the hurt received. The Lord was nggrieved by the lengths to which the disobedient proceeded, the riot of iniquity into which they ran .. VI. FonDEARAKCE WITH DISLOYALTY GAVE PLACE TO DIVINE DISPLEASURE INDIGNA• TIOK, AKD WRATH. The conduct of Jerusalem is not unobserved and is not u~consured Mercy has been defied, and just authority has been set at naught. It is not possibl~ that infidelity so flagrant can be overlooked. Severe and righteous is the resolution of the almighty King, "I will judge thee;" "I will even deal with thee as thou hast done." Not only has Jerusalem to reckon with justice that cannot be perverted and with wisdom that cannot be eluded; it has to reckon ,vith power that cannot be resisted. When God arises to judgment and calls the nations before him, a righteous sentence is pronounced, to which all must submit, and which none can question. VIL THOSE WHO TEMPTED JERUSALEM TO DISLOYALTY WERE MADE INSTRUMENTS I1!i ,TEnusALE!ll's PUlIISRMEJ\"T, 'l'he lovers are called in to minister punishment to the adulteress; the surrounding nations, especially the Assyrians and Cbaldeans and the Eg~·ptians, were made instrumental in chastising the people that had permitted tbem- sekes to be deluded and seduced by their vile idolatries. Jerusalem's sin was great in proportion to her privileges, and her affliction was as her sin. And there was an awful appropriateness in the employment of the heathen people to chastise those who should have witnessed against their follies instead of being partakers of their sins.-T.