The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 316

influence into every department and province of human life. It is symmetrical in its proportions, graceful in outline, replete with beauty-" a goodly cedar." IV. ITs FRUITFULNESS. It shall" bear fruit." It is said of the tree of life, seen in the Apoco.Iyptic vision, that it bore twelve manner of" fruits, and yielded her fruit each month.' Of this goodly tree it may with truth be said that it yields an infinite variety of fruits. It would be difficult to enumerate them. Knowledge, wisdom, pardon, hope, joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, tempera.nee, forbearance, strength, love, conquest over sin, victory over death,-these are a few of the fruits gathered from this generous tree. As years roll on, the productiveness of this tree, instead of diminishing, increases. There is no human want that cannot here find a suitable supply. V. ITS WORLD-WIDE USEFULNESS. "Under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing." This description is parallel to the language of our Lord himself, when he likened his kingdom to a grain of mustard seed, which, having sprung into a tree, all the fowls of the heavens lodge in the branches thereof. Under the sceptre of King Jesus every useful thing is sheltered-childhood is protected, womanhood is honoured, good legislation spreads, commerce prospers, art and science grow, every beneficent institu- tion is nurtured. Beneath the regis of this gracious Monarch human life is enhanced in value, lands are ,recovered from desolation, Music learns to tune her lyre, international concord a.bounds. The world of man is gradually revolutionized and beautified. VI. THE CERTAINTY OF THE EVENT. "I the Lord have spoken and have done it.'' God's word is equivalent to a deed; his promise is equal to a performance. With him a volition is omnipotent; therefore he speaks of things that are not as though they were, At the Creation a single word was sufficient. "He spake, and it was done;" "By the breath of the Lord were the heavens made." So in the redemption of the world a word was enough. Heaven and earth may pass away, but his word-never! When the Son of God walked our earth, a word from him sufficed for every occasion. Ifhe spake, the tempest slept, the fig tree withered, disease vanished, the grave gave up its dead, vice was conquered. He smiles, and men live. He frowns, and the earth quakes. If only God has spoken, we may wait with confidence and calmness for the performance. VII. THE EVENT SHALL BRU!G UNIVERSAL HONOUR TO JEHOVAH. "All the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord" have done it. In other words, all kings and statesmen shall learn that I Jehovah am supreme-am King over all mankind. "By me kings rule;" "He putteth down one, and setteth up another." And has not this prophecy been fulfilled? Has not faith in idols ceased among most of the civilized nations? Has not our God obtained for himself great renown? There is a more intelligent belief in God to-day than ever there has been in the past; and this ndmira- tion of God grows and strengthens. The number of real atheists is small; they are the units. Men of intelligence and culture confess that there is, behind all the machinery of the visible world, an Unseen Power-the hand of the wonder-working God I Waves of scepticism may now and again pass over the surface of human thought; but these are soon spent; and when they are past, there is seen the solid rock of intelligent beliefand reverent faith. His Name shall eventually shine resplendent as the noonday sun.-D. Vers. 1-21.-.A parabolic setting forth of the relations of Judah to Babylon and Egypt. " And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable," etc. Let us notice- I. THE PARABLE AND ITS INTERPRETATION. It would be unwise to attempt to fix a definite meauing to every minute feature of the parable; and its chief features are interpreted for us by Ezekiel. The great eagle is intended to represent the Kiag of Babylon, and, bein: royal bird, it is fitly chosen for that purpose. Its "great wings and loner pinions" • dicate the wide extent of Nebuchadnezzar's dominions. And the fulness ~fits feath sand their divers colours denote the great number of his subjects and their various races and tongues. Lebanon sets forth Jerusalem, and is perhaps chosen for that purpose because it is the proper home of the cedar. The top, or lofty crown, of the cedar (ver. 4) represents the princes of the royal house (ver. 12); the topmost of tho young twigs, J ehoiachin, the youthful ~nd rightful King of Judah; and the "land of traffic" into which they wero earned by Nebuchadnezzar wu  THE IlOOK OP THE PROPHET EZEI{IBJL. [err. %.vn. 1-2•1.