The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 358

tbo voice of conscience and the Di vino call to repentance. Yet there is a pathetic side to this subject. 'l'hose who reject God still feel driven to liim for refoge in trouble. II. Goo WILL GIVE NO ANSWER TO '£HE NEW QUESTIONS OF THOSE WIIO P.EFU8E TO GIVE HEED TO HIS WORD ALREADY RECEIVED. We cannot be surprise,\ that Ezekicl's oracle was silenced. Such insolence as that of the elders of Israel could meet with no more gre.cious reception. I. If we refuse to hear God's Word, we must expect to be left in darlcness. Before we cry for more light, let us use the light we have. We may indeed pray for God's Spirit to help 011r interpretation of the Bible, and having read the written Word we may crave more light still. But first to reject the Divine revelation and then to seek for new light is not the way to receive more truth. 2. God wilt not give light to those who harden themselves in impenitence. The Jews had been charged with sin and called to repentance. 'l'hey had refused to admit the charge and had declined to repent. Thus they had shut the door against further Di vine communications. 'l'he spiritual vision is best purged by the tears of penitence. A hard heart is deaf to God's Word. 3. It is useless to be informed about the future unless we listen to the spiritual teachings of God. Men resorted to oracles to satisfy idle curiosity or to seek mere worldly guidance. God does not speak for such comparatively worthless ends. We most need spiritual instruction for the guidance of our souls into the way of life. Till we have received and obeyed that instruction any other form of revelation must be irrelevant, distracting, and therefore positively injurious. Vers. 5-7.-The elect Israel. The elect Israel is a type of the people of God, the spiritual Israel. Consider the peculiarities of the one as indications of the special marks of the other. I. THE WAY IN WHICH ISRAEL WAS HADE AN ELECT NATION. 1. Chosen by God. This is the root-idea of election. God chooses his people before they choose him- chooses them out of the multitude, and so constitutes them a separate nation. The grounds of the choice rest with him and need not be divulged. But we may be sure there are grounds, and that these are not capricious. History has revealed one great end of the election of Israel. The nation was chosen in order that it might become the channel of blessing to all nations. So the Church is chosen to be God's means of bring- ing the gospel to the whole world. 2. Chosen in a stale of degradation. The Jews were chosen in Egypt. Though promises had been made to the patriarchs centuries earlier, the fulfilment of those promises commenced with God's deliverance from the bondage of Pharaoh. When the people seemed to be most lost they were found by God. When they appeared to be of least value he chose them for himself. The Lord married the castaway child (eh. xvi. 8). Thus God now takes his people in their low estate. 3. Chosen by deeds of might. God proved his choice by bringing his people out of bondage. He "lifted up" his "hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob." With God to will is to do. '£he mighty deells of God in the plagues and the passage of the Red Sea are outdone by his great work in Christ. In Christ God does not only choose us, he lifts up his hand to save. 4. Chosen throuyh the revelation of God. God made known his Name to Israel through Moses (Exod. iii. 15). We must know God to hear his voice. The revelation of Uhrist goes with the clectiuu of God. The chosen are called by means of the gospel. II. Tm: PURPOSES FOR WHICH IsuAEL WAS ELECTED. 1. High privileges. (1) Deliverance. '!'he Jews were chosen to be delivered from Egypt. God chooses hfa people, in the first place, in order to save them from their evil condition. Salvation is the first result of election. (2) 'l'he possession of Canaan. This "land flowing with milk and honey, which is tho glory of all lands," was given to Israel by God, not inherited by right, nor won by the sword apart from God's interference. God gives his people the kingdom of heaven here, and the heavenly Canaan hereafter. It is a glorious pri vilego to be counted among tht1 true people of God ; for the fruits of the p:ospel are i,weetcr and more satisfying to the soul than the best crops of Palestine to the body. 2. Holy living. There was a condition of the Divine elect.ion, or rather, a conditiou ou which the continuation of its privileges depended. 'l'he Jews were to cast away their idols, as God could endure no rivals. 'l'he people had been chosen in their idul(l.try; but they were required to renounce it. Gud chooses his peophi now while they are yc-r, llinner11. But his choicl;) mcu.n~ that they must give up their ~ins, aud if they ~till 860 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIBL. [on. xx. 1-49.