The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 58

Vel'B, 1-17.-The tribunal of nations. The Hebrews in captivity rni:sM, with probability, eupposo that, since God had employed other armies to chastise Israel, auch nations were without ein, or else their sins had been condoned by God. Nothing of the sort. God is no Respecter of nations. Righteousness everywhere is ·acceptable to him. Unrighteousness anywhere is offensive. And touching the degrees of iniquity, he claims to be Supreme Judge and the wi.,e Punisher. Because he employs men in his service, he does not allow this to be a criterion of their acceptance. Internal character, not external service, is the only passport to heaven. "The just shall live." I. THE SUPREME AUTHORITY AMONG NATIONS. Never yet have the nations of the world combined to elect a common tribunal, before which international disputes may be heard. We may hope for such in the future. Yet a Supreme Authority there is- a King of nations I Undoubtedly, the God of heaven takes note of every national delinquency, deals with every nation in a method consonant with its present develop- ment, and visits it with reward or punishment according to its desert. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." And not individual persons only, but societies and empires, are weighed every day in the balance of Divine justice. A fierce light, not only from human eyes, but from the Divine eye, bends upon every throne. - II. THE INDICTMENT. The indictment brought against the neighbours of Israel was twofold. 1. RanCOTous hatred. The people of Ammon and others were chiefly incensed against Israel because of their peculiar religion. For a long period, Israel bad maintained a great distinction, in that they scorned idol-deities. By virtue of their allegiance to the true God they had gained their triumphs over the degenerate Canaanites. Hence this dislike of Israel was, at its root, a. dislike of Jehovah; and dislike of Jehovah meant dislike of righteousness. 2. Spiteful revenge. The nation~ whom God employed to humble Israel bad gone beyond their commission. They bad fostered the lowest animal passions, and had given way to fiercest revenge. So far as a nation wages war in defence of its rights, it may be approved. Yet if, in the pro- secution of its task, it inflicts needless suffering, or rejoices in mere destruction, that nation, in its turn, has violated the rights of humanity, and will be pw:.ished. Eveu if God has given to a nation the clearest command to invade and to conquer, that com- mand is circled round with the requirements of righteousness. Personal feeling must be repressed. Public advantage alone must be promoted. Otherwise_ that nation so employed becomes a criminal. I1L THE BENTEN0E, 1. It is equitable. Edom had dealt vengeance "against the house of Judah." 'l'herefore the sentence is," I will lay my vengeance upou Edom." The Philistines had" taken vengeance with a desviteful heart." Therefore, said God. "I will execute great vengeance upon them." Retribution is complete. The same word that describes the sin describes also the penalty. Every ein contains in its womb the embryo of chastisement. 2. The sentence includes desolating war. " They that take the sword, perish by the sword." The successful warrior teaches his enemies how to handle spear and shield. His personal strength does not abide for ever, nor yet hie personal influence. His watchful, sleepless foes wait in secret for their opportunity of revenge. Violence naturally begets violence. In return for reckless destruction Oil others, their lands were to be desolated-productiveness to cease, cities to be razed, and their pa.laces to be occupied by the foe I 3. .Annihilation of empire and name. The justice of God is far more e1veeping than anything that we can conceive. "The Ammonites shall not be remembered among the natiolls." "I will ea.use thee to perish out of the countries." Men find a pleasure in posthumous fa.me. They love the anticipation of living again ill their children and ill their chil<l.ren's children. To know in their lifetime that this prospect is cut off is a serious loss of enjoyment. One great source of plea.sure is destroyed. One great inspiration to effort is extinguishc<l.. IV. A GRACIOUS RESPITE. The simple fa.et that Jehovah's prophet fore-announced. these things was an act of kindness. It gave the people an occasion and an urgeut reason for repentance. This is not after the manner of men. In human jurisprudenco there is no place for repentance. But God's agencies are every way superior to man's. All it was with Nineveh in Jonah's day, so might it have been with Moab and E<l.om and Philistia. God's patience and pity are woD.dcrful. Yet, at length, justice strikeit the avenging blow.  60 THE BOOK OF TH:t PROPHmT EZEKIEL. (cu. xxv.1-17.