The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 291

brand plucked from tbe burning?" 5. Multiplication of life. He made tbe one into many. "I have caused thee to multiply as tbe bud of the field." He who in the beginning of creation ordained that every plant should produce seed after its own kind, ordained that Israel should be fruitful above the ordinary measure of mankind. "As tbe stars of heaven, so shall thy seed be," was the promise to Abraham. And the promise was fulfilled. "They of the city flourished as the grass of the earth." Growth of population is an accepted sign of national prosperity. 6. A gracious alliance. " I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God and thou becamest mine." Though other nations refused to make alliances with I;rael Jehovah did so of his own accord. He treated them with most favourable considera~ tion. He dealt with them as with free men-men endowed with reason and judgment. He made a compact with them, by which he bound himself to befriend them, on condition th~t they woul~ loyally serve _him. 'l'his was an act of stupendous grace. God dealt with them as if they were his equals. It was a voluntary marriacre. 7. There was also splendid adornment. " I clothed thee also with broidered work" etc. This once-abandoned child was not only rescued, but was raised to dignity and h~nour. Her clothing was costly ; her beauty set off to the greatest advantage. From the lowest grade of human life she was lifted to the very highest. Her person was adorned with richest ornaments, embellished with jewels and gold. Her dowry was magnificent princely. Her condition was made by God a condition of luxury and splendour'. 8. There was conferred on her q_ue,enly honour and renown. "I put a beautiful crown upon thy head." " Thou didst prosper into a kingdom." To this rescued child no earthly good was denied. She had more than heart could desire. Other countries were despoiled to enrich her. She was exalted to a place of high renown. Foreign nations became her servants, and kings her ministers. On the summit of earthly glory she sat enthroned, the wonder and the envy of the world. Which thing is an allegory. From the mire of moral pollution we have been raised: we have been put among God's sons. "And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesns Christ;" "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."-D. Vers. 20-34.-Idolatry is spiritual adultery. Imagery borrowed from nature and human society, to set forth Israel's sin, is at the best feeble and imperfect. If it is possible for God to make some impression on man's guilty conscience, he will do it. What is more abominable among men than adultery? Yet connivance with idolatry is a sin blacker yet. It is adultery, ingratitude, robbery, treason, rolled into one crime! L MABK THE BOOTS OF THIB SIN. 1. The first root mentioned is pride. "Thou didst trust in thy beauty." Love of admiration led her astray. The desire to obtain alliance and friendship with neighbouring nations paved the way. Pride is a bewitching sin. It is often the first rift in the lute that spoils the music of the !Ue. 2 . .Another -root was ingratitude. "Thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth." The Hebrew nation forgot its singular origin. If God had not called Abraham out of Chaldea, there would have been no Hebrew nation. Had God not appeared again and again to defend them, they would have perished. They were singularly indebted to God, and they were singularly ungrateful. This comes of a stony heart. Be shocked at the first appearance of ingratitude, whether towards man or towards God. 8 . .Another root was irresolution,-a. lack of firmness and courage. "How weak is thy heart! " Feeble-minds often go astray. Indolence is incipient sin. The neglect of sound moral culture in youth is a fount of sin, a fount of misery. To be safe, there must be robustness in every virtue, vigour in every good quality. A weak ma.n becomes vain, and is the dupe of the first temptation. II. THE BRANCHES OF THIS BIN. 1 . .A multiplicity of idols. "Thou pouredst out tby fornications on every one that passed by." 'l'he taste of every inhabitant was indulged. They had "lords many and gods many : " " According to thy cities are tby gods, O Israel!" He who refuses to be ruled by one Supreme Father soon becomes the slave of a thousand tyrants. 2. Sacrilege. "Thou hast also taken thy 1air jewels, of my gold and my silver . . . and madest to thyself images of men." This was a vile desecration of Jehovah's property. "What have we that we have not on. xvr. 1-63,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL, 291