The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 309

fruitful as the tender plants of the vineyard. Christ is not only great and exalted, and ever growing in the power of his kingdom. He gives out grace. His fruit is for the healing of the nations. He is the Bread of life, and his people feed upon him. Christianity is not merely a big success, like Mohammedanism. It is a blessing to the world 118 beneficent as it is 'l'ictorious. 'l'he great Oriental monarchies were destructive, bringing a blast from the desert over the countries they conquered. The kingdom of heaven is healthful and fertilizing, promoting goodness, enterprise, civilization. We do not simply admire a grea.t Lord iu his solitary grandeur, like some awful, barren, Alpine peak. We are grateful to One who is as a fruitful tree. 3. It is to afford shelter, The birds are to roost in its branches, and take refuge from the storm under its foliage. So was it to be with the mustard tree (Matt. xiii. 31). (1) Christ is a Refuge. (2) His shelter is /or all who need him, a.sunder the cedar" shall dwell all fowl of every wing." Ver. 24.-The great 'reversal. The great tree is to be cast down and withered, while the lowly growth is to be planted on high, and is to flourish. This was true of Zedekiah and Christ, as of Saul the king and David the shepherd. It is recognized in the Nagnijicat (Luke i. 52); for the lowly Mary of Nazareth is honoured, when the great families of Jerusalem a.re slighted. The principle that it illustrates is pointed out by Christ, who tells us not only the general truth that" the first sha.11 be last, and the last first," but also its moral justification. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be a.based, a.nd he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Ma.tt. x.xiii. 12). I. THE FACT OF THE GREAT REVERSAL, 1. The humiliation of .the great. This takes two forms. (1) Lowered rank. The great ceda.r is to be ca.st down. Sha.me follows honour. (2) Exhausted resources. The green tree is dried up. Earthly prospe1ity is followed by misery, the fulness of resources by penury. 2. The exaltation of ihe low. This a.lso ta.kes two forms, corresponding to the humiliation. (1) Higher 'ran!.;. The low tree is exalted, and the twig becomes a. mighty cedar. So the lowly Jesus becomes the great Christ, and the humble servant of God is raised to heavenly glory. (2) Improved condition. The dry tree flourishes. The once depressed good cause lifts up its head and becomes prosperous. This was seen in the growth a.nd success of early Christianity after the shame of the cross, and the consequent depression of the earthly state of Christ's disciples. Jesus Christ predicted a similar great reversal in the future judgment of the world. IL THE CAUSE OF THE GREAT REVERSAL. 1. It is attriouted to God. He it is who makes great, a.nd he also makes low. The most lofty ra.nk is not a.hove the reach of his terrible hand of justice; the lowest estate is not beneath his condescension. The great sweep of providence embraces all men. 2. It is conditioned by human character. God is not capricious. He does not grudge prosperity to bis children. There is no Nemesis threatening huma.n success apa.rt from tha.t of justice against wrong-doing. Innocent 11rosperity is not regarded with disfavour by God. The selfish envy with which the unfortunate are tempted to pursue their more happy brethren can find no justification in ihe ways of God. On the other hand, present misfortune is not in itself a. ground for future favour, thongh it may be a. plea for simple pity and needful mercy. The high are not cast down just because they are high, nor a.re the low exalted solely because they are low. Christ bas given us the secret of the grea.t reversal in the pa.ssa.ge already quoted, viz. humiliation is to be the punishment of self-seeking, and exaltation is to be the reward of self-sacrifice. That is the great lesson which St. Pa.ul draws from the cross of Christ (Phil. ii 4-11). llL THE RECOG:r,.-rrxoN OF THE GREAT nEVEB.SAL. "All the trees of the field shall know," etc. God's providential judgment is public; so will the great judgment be. 1. Tbe shame of the fall of the great cannot be hidden. High reputations havE: been trampled in the mire. 2. The fame of the exaltation of the low will not be kept secret. 3. These facts contain warning lessons for the proud a.nd self-seeking, a.nd encourage- 'Trv;;,t for the bumble and unselfish. They are meant to be noted. 4. '!'hey glorify God, who thus shows himself just and good, and mighty against the strong.  bB, XVII. 1-24.J 'r1IE BOOK or THE PUOPHET ~ZEKIET,, ,309