The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 373

my judgrnents, which if a man do, he shall live in them." Statt1tes and judgments express tho general ideo. of lo.w. This God gave to them at Sinai, soon after their deliverance from Egypt. And this Law was given for life unto them (cf. Exod. xx. 12; Matt. xix. 17; Rom. vii. 10, 12). "The precepts which God gave his people," ~ays Hengstenberg, "bring life and salvation with them to him who does them. What grace in God, who gives such precepts l what a. summons to true obedience! These precepts also imply before all things that they shall confess their sins and seek for- giveness in the blood of atonement. This is required by the laws concerning the sin olTerings, which in the Mosaic Law form the root of all other offerings; the Passover. which so strictly requires us to strive after the forgiveness of sins, and connects all salvation with it and the great Day of Atonement." (2) His sabbaths. "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they mi2;ht know tbat I am the Lord that sanctify them." The sabbath was instituted by God, and was peculiar to Israel. It was a mutual sign between him and them. By estab- lishing it amongst them the Lord sanctified them, separated them from the nations as a people chosen for himself; and by keeping it they manifested their allegiance to him and honoured him, By its institution he owned them as his people; by its observance they owned him as their God. By so doing they also promoted their best interests. How rich and manifold are God's gifts to us I Laws, ordinances, sabbaths, ;anctuarie~, religious ministries, his sacred Word, his beloved Son, his Holy Spirit! 3. In the forbearance which he eurcised towards them. "Then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. Bt1t I wrought for my Name's sake," etc. (vers. 13, 14, 17). Many and extreme were the provocations of the Israelites in the wilderness. " How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!" More than once it seemed as though be would Lave destrt,yed them utterly, as they certainly deserved, Yet in wrath he remembered mercy. "He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not," etc. (Ps. lxxviii. 38, 39). How frequently and grievously have we sinned against him! \Ve too have tried his patience, have provoked him by our unfaitbfuloess, our rebelliousness, our perversity. Great has been bis long-suffering toward us (cf. Ps. ciii. 8-11; 2 Pet. iii. 9). 4. In the appeals which he addressed to them. God did not stand by (as it were), patiently bearing with them iu their sin, yet making no effort to save them therefrom; but he appealed to them earnestly and repeatedly to keep his commands. "I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers," etc. (vers. 18-20). The reference in these verses is to the regiving of the Law in the plains of Moab, as recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy. That book is one great appeal, in many tones and by many arguments, to the younger generation to be true to the Lord their God. How graciously and powerfully God appeals to us in this Christian age! to our sense of duty and our sense of interest; by authoritative com- mand and gracious persuasion; by strong fears and thrilling hopes ; by bis Di vine Son and by his Holy Spirit. II. THE PERSISTENT WICKEDNESS OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR RELATION TO Goo. Three features of their wickedness are here exhibited. 1. Apostasy of heart. "Their heart went after their idols" (ver. 16); "Their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant" (Ps. lxxviii. 37). 'l'heir sin was not merely on the surface of their lives, but deeply rooted in their moral nature. "Out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders," etc. (Matt. xv. 19); "Keep thy heart with all diligence ; for out of it are the issues of life." 2. Rebellion of life. "The house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness," etc. (ver. 13); "Tuey desvised my judgments," etc. (ver. 16). It is quite unnecessary to specify their rebellions, because they were so numerous. And the profanations of the sabbath must not be restricted to the att.emvt to gather manna on that day (Exod. xvi, 27-30), or to the case of the man who gathered sticks thereon (Numb. xv. 32-36). God required them to sauctify tue sabbath (Deut. v. 12); to "hallow" it (ver. 20); "to consecrate it in every respect to him, and withdraw it wholly from the region of self-interest, of personal siuful inclina- tion • " and as they failed to keep it thus, they profaned it. Failing to sauctify it by reve;ent worship o.od hearty service, they are charged with desecrating it. And it behoves us earnestly to endeavour to preserve the Lord's day for the promotion of tlie best iutercsts of runn and the supremo honour of God. Its seculariz,tti1.1u wo:tld be an  816 'l':aE MOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. xx. 1-49.