The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 307

Ver. 10.-" Shall it prosper,.. I. PROSPERITY IS NATURALLY BOUGHT AFTEn. Fal~e ideas of prosperity may blind us as to its true nature. There is a prosperity which none need covet, a swollen worldly success that leaves the soul starved, barren, an,i sapless. It may be more blessed to suffer from the stimulating shocks of adversity th~n to be surfeited with such a false prosperity. But real prosperity is naturally and ri;.:litly desired. No one ought to be content to make shipwreck of life. We may uot attain to the objects which we set before ourselves, and we may never realize aoy very great success in the eyes of men. But that our lives should break up in ruin is of all things most to be deplored. The question, "Shall it prosper?" is thus to be asked with natural anxiety. We may ask it in regard to (1) the soul; (2) the Church; (3) a specific enterprise. II. PROSPERITY MAY BE EASILY JCISBED. The vine in the parable did not prosper. Zedekiah's diplomacy was a failure. Many men make shipwreck of life. Churches sink into deadness. The inquiry should p:o back to the possible causes of failure. 1 . .d false aim. Zedekiah thought only of his own throne. He did not give evidence of the genuine patriotism which would have preferred the welfare of the nation to his own safety. Selfishness may win worldl.v success. But it is certain to starve the roots of soul-prosperity. 2. .A false trust. Zedekiah trusted to Pharaoh instead of God. If we are lookin~ for prosperity in any region to the neglect of our trust in God, we are courting failure, ior with him are the issues of life. 3. A false character. Zedekiah not only leaned upon a broken reed in trusting to Egypt ; he acted treacherously in so doing. Deceit is fatal to the sonl. Fraud never secures true prosperity, though it may win earthly pelf. ill PROSPERITY l>"'EED NOT BE HISSED. Here, again, we must bear in mind the nature of true prosperity. We cannot all be rich or successful in earthly enterprises, But no soul need be wrecked, for it is within the power of all to attain to a life which shall be reckoned successful in the si~ht of God. We should see to it that we have the secret of this pro,perity. 1. Livi119 for God. This will give us a right. aim. The soul that lives for self, for the world, for any lower aim, is running for the rocks. But no one who truly lives for God can utterly fail. 2. Trusting in God. It is not easy to pursue this high aim; indeed, it is impossible to do so without the aid of Divine grace. The life of faith is the only perfectly prosperous life. 'l'he heroes of faith whose fame is celebrat€d in Heb. xi. were all of them truly successful, though many of them suffered and some died as martyrs. 1V. PROSPERITY rs WORTH INQUIRING ABOUT, Ezekiel's question is pertinent. Every- thing else may look fair, but if this vital question receives a negative reply, all the other points of excellence count for nothing, or even tell against us in mockery of the one fatal flaw. The life may be comfortable; the Church may be sound and orthodox, or popular and attractive; the plan of work may be clever and original. But what is the wie of all thefe pleasant features if they are to end in failure? Vers. 18, 19.-The broken covenant. In turning to Egypt for protection Zedekiah had broken faith with Nebuchar.lnezzar; but he had done worse, for he had broken the covenant between God and the house of David. '· UNFAITHl'ULNE88 TO MAN 18 UNFAITHFULNESS TO Goo. All sin against man is 0lso fiID against God. 'l'he ~econd table of commandments lies upon the· first, and a Lrr·ach of the one involves a breach of the other. David confesses that he had sinned agab6t God, an'.1 God only (Ps. li. 4), though his crime was directly committed agai~ ou. xvu. 1-U.] 'fl-IE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHE'r EZEKIEL. 307