The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 11

I. ADULTERATED METAL. The see<l of Israel had sadly degenerated. They bad been, compared with other people, as silver and gold. Now they were, in God's esteem, nnly as dross, and "bis judgmont ie according to truth." What virgin gold is in a human kingdom, true righteousness is in the kingdom of God. Loyalty and love 1u0 the coins current in God's empire. A good man is worth more than argosieg of gold and rubies. Wisdom, righteousness, and love,-these are the only durable riches. 'l'hey exalt and enrich men for time and for eternity. Selfishness, disobedience, and rebellion are the dross and rust which eat out the very life of the soul. &al riches become part and parcel of the man. II. THE FURNA0E-FIBE. What the material flame of the furnace is to metal~, God'a anger is to human character. It tests the qualities of mind and heart. As metals have no power to resist being cast into the furnace, neither has any man power to exempt himself from Divine chastisement. It comes:upon all in some form or other. ln some, humility, submission, resignation, appear. These are precious metals-the golJ. and silver of moral excellence. In others, fretfulness, remorse, defiance, are the effect. 'l'hese are base dross,destitute of any worth. A myriad of men know nothing about their characters until trial, in some sort, comes upon them. If milder forms of chastisement will not melt the hardened metal, the anger of Jehovah will wax.hot. There shall be, sooner or later, self-revelation-the sooner the better. III. SEPARATION. The furnace is not merely a test of metal and alloy; it further separates the one from the other. Among men this separation, resulting from Go<l's visitations, is twofold. 1. This separation is seen as one between man and man. The precious and the yile become more distinguishable one from the other. 2. The separn- tion is internal. In those who turn the affliction to good account there follows self- inspection, self-denial, pruning. The idol is dethroned. The vice is abandoned. The evil is withstood and fougl1t. Refinement goes on within. The darkness and the light separate. The man comes out of the process as gold that is purified. IV. DESTRUCTION. The residuum of alloy is cast out as base and worthless. Go,l will not tolerate falsehood, hypocrisy, or any iniquity in his kingdom. "Every liar shall have his portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone." The liar is not only the man who speaks with intention to deceive; he is the man who has preferre<l to deceive himself rather than face the truth. Unquestionably, sep:iration, accomplished in the furnace, is with a view to refinement, but also with a view of destruction to the worthless dross. Every man has his face either toward purity or towe.rd perdition. The processes of God's furnace are going on among us every day. Are we getting better or worse ?-D. Vers. 23-31.-Highest rank among men not sought. The development of human civilization demands an organized system. Men require to be classified according to their ability and fitness to contribute to the welfare of the whole. For the public benefit there must he ruler and subject, master and servant, teacher and taught, commander and army. Each, according to his office, has duties and obligations, the neglect of which brings instant loss e.nd distant ruin, I. OFFICIAL RANK IIAS DEFINITE RESPONSIBILITIES. we cannot hold any office nor possess any wealth without incurring corresponding obligation. There is force in the French proverb, "Noblesse oblige 1" Although the sovereign may be above written law, it is only for expediency'b sake, and certainly he is under law, equally binding, though not expressed in words. Every person holding office of whatever sort or kind has undertaken a definite responsibility to protect or promote certain interests of the people. He may be responsible for socie.l order, or for immunity against invaders, or for advancement of learning, or for development of wealth, or for the maintenance of religion. But some responsibility springs out of his office. II. HIGH RANK DOES NOT SECURE HI0R CHARACTER. Character may e.nd does qualify for office; but ofl1cial position does not generate moral character. High rank has specie.I temptations and special perils. Rank is only e. change of situation ; office is simply a change of occupation. 'l'hey involve changes only outside the man; they do not touch or purify his real self. A maa may be an apostle, and yet bo harbouring a !lemon in his heart. A man may be a prophet, yet need himself to he tau~ht. III. RANK HAS A CROWD OF IMITATORS AMONG INFERIOR ORDERS. l:}ecause the  Tlm BOOK OF' TllE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cJt, lllI, 1-31.