were e. heo.then nation. Much more, then, is revenge sinful in a Christian. We have the clearer New Testament light; we have also the wonderful example of Christ to deter us from revenge. For us to behave as the Edomites is to merit their doom twice over. 4. Vengeance is mean-spir#ed. Apart from all the above-named considerations, when the question i~ appr~ache~ on the lowest ground, vengeance beard a despicable aspect. The Edom1tee waited till the Chaldean power had overthrown Judah; then they rushed in t~ complete the destruction. '£his was behaving like the jackals, who cannot destroy big game, but who are mad to devour the carrion that the lion has left. Revenge knows no honourable laws of war. It has the degraded spirit of the assassin. II. TnE NATURAL PUNISHMENT. There is generally a resemblance between sin and its penalty. 'l'he punishment is just the fruit of the sin, Thus the vengeful conduct of the Edomites brings vengeance on the head of the vindictive people. 1. Revenge does not end a q'll,M'rel,, This is the mistake of it. It is foolish and short-sighted, fur, in return for its own brief, wild delight, it rouses fresh enmity and provokes retaliation. The too stern treatment of the French by the Germans left a rankling spirit of vengeance in the breasts of the defeated people, The vendetta in Corsica keeps up a. feud for generations-each member on one side provoking one in return from the other side. Shylock speaks of the mutual vengeance of race-hatred, "If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Revenge." 2. Revenge provokes the most bitter punishment. This comes from the wronged victim. Judah takes vengeance on Edom. Possibly this happens- indirectly through the Chaldean invasion predicted by Jewish prophets, or Jews may have some direct hand in the work. Vengeance make~ enemies. This form of self-protection is a fatal failure. The true victory over one's enemies is by forgiveness, the heaping coals of fire on his head (Prov. xx.v. 21, 22). Vers. 15-17.-The hating nation. The Philistines are signalized by an ugly pre- eminence in hatred, and they are to be punished with an extremity of Divine vengeance. J. 'l'HE PRE-EMINENT HATRED. Partly through her own mischief-making, but largely on account of unwarra1Jtable jealousy, the favoured land of Israel had been troubled with the enmity of most of her neighbours. But no people had shown snch bitter and long-cherished animosity as the little fishing and farming community on its south- western border. From the days of the judges, the Philistines appear as the heredit:iry enemies of Israel. Possibly the fact that they were hemmed in between the hill country of Judah and the sea, and so were cramped for room and had their access to the east and the west cut off from them, made them jealous of their more prosperous and expaneive neighbours. Be that as it may, hatred characterizes the relations between the two peoples. Close contact does not produce friendship if sympathy or its worldly substitute, mutual interest, be lacking. The most bitter quarrels are those between near neighbours. Family feuds are proverbially rancorous. Means of com- munication will not bring "peace on earth" and "good will towards men." Commerce does not abolish war. Railways have not made friends of France and Germo.ny. Hatred must be conquered by deeper means than worldly advantage. II. Tm: DREADFUL DOOM. 1. It is a Divine vengeance. This must always be fearful; but there are degrees in the execution of it determined by varieties in the character and conduct of men. Here it is described as peculiarly heavy-" great vengeance," "with.furious rebukes." There is nothing that God prizes so highly as unselfish love, the queen of all virtues; and accordingly there is nothing that he so deeply hates as hatred. This is a sin that most surely provokes the wrath of Heaven. 2. It is seen in de.truction. The Philistines had been named" Cherethims "-" extir- pated" from their old land when they came as exiles a.cross tho Levant and settled on its eastern shore. Now they will deserve that name a second time, for they must be extirpated outright. This thing has been accomplished. The Philistines have ceased to exist. A similar doom had been threatened against the other nations, but with Philistia it was most impressive, as coming most directly from the hand of God. 3. It ia experienced after long delay. For generations the Philistines had been the inces- 1111.nt enemies of JuJe.h, a perpetual thorn in her side, sometimes utilized for purpose, 56 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ll:ZEKIEL. [oI!. xxv. 1-17.
of needrul C&Stigation, often slumbering in impotent inactivity, but never truly recon• oiled to the Jews. Their punishment was long delayed, but it was not outlived. It is a fearful thing to suffer from accumulated punishment. Awful must be the doom of the aged sinn_er. Yet it is never too late to return, Even penitent Philistines will be pardoned.