The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 396

Jiving God! How strikingly did it show that the greatest potentates on earth, and cvon the spiritual wickednesK in high places, have their bounds appointed to them by tho hand of God, and that, however majestically they may seem to conduct themselves, still they cannot overstep the prescribed limits, and must be kept in all their operations subservient to the higher purposes of Heaven I" "'fhe lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." "There's o. divinity doth shape onr ends, Rough-hew them how we will." (Sbakespeare.) II. 'flIE DIVINELY COMMISSIONED ANNOUNCEMF:NT OF THE APPROACill~G JUDGMENT TREATED WITII CONTEMPT BY THE FAVOURED PEOPLE. "And it shall be unto them as a vain divination in their sight, which have sworn oaths unto them: but he bringeth iniquity to remembrance that they may be taken." The meaning of part of this verse is difficult to determine. Many a.ad various are the interpretations of the "oaths" here mentioned. Two of these, each of which seems to us probably correct, we adduce. 1. '!'hat they refer to the awful declarations of the coming judgments which the prophet had made to them, which he generally introduced by the solemn formula, "As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah" (eh. v. 11; xiv. 16, 18, 20; xvi. 48; xvii. 16, 19; xx. 3, 33). Notwithstanding the solemnity of these assertions, they looked upon the prophet's announcement of impending judgment "as a vain divination." 2. '!'hat they refer to the oaths of fealty which the Jews had sworn to Nebuchadnezzar (eh. xvii. 18, 19; 2 Chron. xxxvi. 13), and which they had so shamefully broken. Because they were his sworn vassals, they thought that he would not attack them. But he would call their iniquity to remembrance, and bring home to them their perjury by the stern punishment thereof. Whatever interpretation of the clause in question be adopted, it is clear that the Jews made light of the announcement of judgrnent by the prophet. While the Chaldeans accepted the directions of their divinations, and acted upon them, the favoured Jews treated the word of Divine inspiration "as a vain divination." And these same Jews eagerly accepted as true the messages of false prophets which assured them of peace and safety. They had so trifled with the truth of God that they had almost destroyed their moral capacity for recognizing it when it w~ proclaimed unto them. III. THE Th7LICTION OF THE APPROACHING JUDGMENT VINDICATED BY THE M.ANI- FESTATION OF THJ<; SINS OF THOSE UPON WHOM IT WAS COMING. "Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered," etc. (vers. 24-26). 1. Persistence in sin leads to the discovery of their sins. "Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in tba.t your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear." Their unbelief of the word of the Lord by Ezekiel, and their treachery towards Nebuchadnezzar, which led to their dread punishment, brought to light their other sins, showing the wickedness of their entire conduct. When thieves are "taken in some wicked acts," says Greenhill, "their former villanies come to light. As one sin begets another, so one sin discovers another." 2. Persistence in sin leads to the punishment of their sins. "Because that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, 0 deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel," etc. (vers. 25, 26). The people were to" be taken with the hand." God would deliver them into the hand of the Chaldeans, who would inflict upon them the dreadful judgments already predicted by the prophet- sword, famine, pestilence, captivity. 'l'he glory of the priesthood would be taken away; for the Lord God would "remove the diadem," or "mitre." The king would be carried into a miserable captivity, after cndnring the most terrible sufferings (2 Kings xxv. 4-7), and the kingdom would be destroyed ; for God would " take off the crown." Their roost valued institutions would be overthrown. The then existing state of things would be destroyed. "This shall be no more the same: exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high." All would be brought to one melancholy condition of misery. National ruin was to be the penalty of national sin. Persistence in sin must ever lead to its just punishment. •3. The manifestation of sin vindicates the punish- ment thereof. It brings to light the justice of such punishment. That the Jews bro1wht npon themselves the terrible sufferings which they endured at the hand of the Obaldeans was made unmistakably clear. And it was also shown that the terrible fate 4.00 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. :x.n. 1-32.