The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 371

myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lorcl your God." The day when God chose Israel and made himself known unto them as their God was the time when he interposed on their behalf by his servant Moses. He chose them; they did not choose him. They did not seek to serve or worship him; but he sent Moses to demand their emancipation in order that they might worship and serve him. And he thus chose them neither for the,r great- ness nor their goodness, but because of his own love for them and his fidelity to his promises made unto their fathers (cf. Deut. vii. 7, 8). He chose them to receive special revelations of religious and redemptive truth, to be "a people for his own possession," his visible Church in the world, and his witnesses amongst men, testifying to his unity and supremacy, and observing and maintaining his worship (cf. Dcut. x. 15; xiv. 2). And still God of his grace calls men to himself. He begins with •1s, and not we with him. "God commendeth his own love toward us," etc. (Rom. v. 8); "Herein is love, not that we loved God," etc. (1 John iv. 10). If we have sought God, it was because he first songht us. "By the grace of God I am what I am." And the Lord made himself known to them as their God, both by declarations and by mighty deeds wrought on their behalf (Exod. iii 14; vi. 1-8). He chose them to be his people; he gave himself to them to be their God. "I am the Lord your God." " 'Your God.' This is a great word, and hath great mercy in it; an engaging word, tying God and all his attributes to them: your God to counsel you, your God to protect you, your God to deliver you, your God to comfort you, your God to plead for you, your God to teach you, your God to set up my Name and worship among you, your God to bless you with the dews of heaven and fulness of the earth, your God to bear your prayers and make you happy" (Greenhill). And he asserts this relationship in the most solemn manner. "I lifted up mine hand unto them," i.e. I sware unto them. II. THE GRACIOUS PURPOSE OF Goo m RELATION TO ms PEOPLE. (Ver. 6.) This purpose has two branches. 1. To <leliver them from a miserable condition. " In th.a.t day I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt." He broke the power of their cruel oppressors, and by a mighty hand he set them free from their burdens;and led them out of the land of their captivity. And when men believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and respond to his call, he delivers them from the bondage of sin. He came into our world to "proclaim liberty to the captives," to save men from the power and pollution and punishment of sin. 2. To establish them in a desirable condition. "Into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands." (1) This land was selected for them by 6-od. He summoned Abram to go forth unto the land that he would show him (Gen. xii. 1; and cf. Exod. iii. 8, 17). "He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved." (2) This land was excellently situated and richly fertile. (We have noticed these points in treating of eh. xix. 10.) In its natural fortification~, its remarkable fertility, and its religious privileges, it was glorious as compared with other lands. And this land God gave unto them. And our Saviour Jesus Christ not only delivers from sin those who believe on him, bnt he introduces them into a condition of spiritual privilege and progress. "Ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear," etc. (Rom. viii. 15-17) ; "Beloved, now are we children of God," etc. (1 John iii. 2). III. THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PEOPLE TO Goo. "And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." This obligation arises out of the relationship stated in ver. 5. Because they are his people and he is their God, they must be true to him as their God, having no connection with idols. The great basis of their obliga- tion to him is contained in the words," I am Jehovah your God" (cf. Exod. xx. 1, :l). In this prohibition of idolatry there are two points which call for brief notice. 1. Sin entering by the eyes. "The abominations of his eyes "-an expression which denotes idols. The eyes look upon the idols, become familiar with them, and come to beholLl them with respect and reverence. The eyes are both inlets and outlets to the heart. They convey to the heart the impression of the idol, and if the heart come to reverence the idol, they express that reverence in their gaze. 'l'ho eyes are often an avenue through which temptation to sin enters the soul. 2. Sin defiling the heart. "Delile not yuurselves with the idols of Egypt." Siu pollutes our moral life at its very  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cH. xx. 1-!!.9.