The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 114

enemy when unrighteousness had bred corruption (ver. 15), and corruption had ended in weakness and downfall. No wealth of favouring circumstance, no multiplication of earthly good, even though a. man should have (as this king is imagined to have) the choicest adrnntages of different generations, will secure lasting good; that is only to be gainc,l by righteousness, by a strong and virtuous character, by steadfast piety. II. THE PERIL OF GREAT EXALTATION. "He that is down need fear no fall;" but he that is exalted may suffer a terlible humiliation-he may be cast out (or down) from the mountain on which he stood (vers. 16, 17); he, the overshadowing cherub, may be ejected from the holy place, from tbe innermost chamber of sacred privilege, and be cast forth among the unholy (ver. 16). Let those who are exalted beware, for there is an abasement possible to them of which the unprivileged have no need to be afraid. And they have no other security than in a humble heart, an obedient spirit, a life of integrity and devotion. HI. THE PENALTY OF PROFANATION. Tyre bad "corrupted its wisdom n (ver. 17); had "profaned its sanctuaries" (ver. 18). Its traffic should have been, as it might have been, carried on in honesty and equity; but it had been depraved, it had become law less and dishonest; its streets, that should have been the highways of peaceful industry and happy fellowship, had became the places of violence and iniquity (vers. 18 and 16). That which was intended for the practice and illustration of virtue and excellence had become the scene and source of wrong and guilt. Therefore the righteous Judge would "profane" it (ver. 16 ; Fairbairn), would "cast it out as profane" (Authorized Version); the fires of retribution would devour it (ver. 18); its sad and shameful end would excite the awe and even the terror of the beholder (ver.19). Profanation meana penalty. If we do wrong to that human spirit of ours which comes to us from God, and in which we may closely resemble him; if we defile that human body in which the Son of God himseli was once clothed, and which should be the very sanctuary or temple of the Divine; if we profane that human life of ours which should be so sacred in our sight and may·be so charged with blessing and crowned with fruitfulness and beauty; -then may we expect the severe condemnation and the serious visitation of the righteous Ruler of mankind. We have then "sinned" (ver. 16); "iniquity is found" in us (ver. 15). .And there will corue the wages of sin, the brand of iniquity-loss, sorrow, shame, death. But to the penitent there is reconciliation and return ; for though "the wages of sin is death," yet" the gift of God is eternal life."-0. Vere. 20-26.-The end of Divine judgment. This severe condemnation of the idolatrous and vicious Zidon, coupled with the very gracious promise to Israel, with which the prophecy concludes, many instruct us- I. WHY AND HOW GoD IS AGAINST us. "I am against thee, 0 Zidon" (ver. 22). And we know that Jehovah was expressing his high displeasure and was warning of serious national disaster (ver. 23) because of the iniquities of the state. The worst forms of religious superstition had long existed-idolatrous rites accompanied by immoral practices ; the city was utterly corrupt; its condition called for Divine rebuke and chastisement. .And the prophet delivers the one while he foretells the other, in the Name of the Lord. God may be " against" us. Not that he ever wishes us evil (eh. x..x.x.iii 11); on the contrary, he always desires the return and restoration of the worst (Luke xv. 7). But God is against us: 1. When our spirit and our life are wrong; when these are irreverent, immoral, unworthy, mischievous. 2. He then is seriously displeased with us, especially when hie special kindness to us demands a very different retum (John iii.19). 3. He (1) rebukes us in his Word-he condemns us in the strong but yet the merciful language which his Son and bis human spokesmen have uttered in hie Name; and he (2) chastens us,-he sends us, a.a individual souls, that which answers to the national distresses here annouuced (ver. 23). He lets sickness and suffering, or defeat and disappointment, or opposition and overthrow, or bereavement and loneliness, come to our home or our heart; we are laid low; some "sword " goes through us, and we are 11.mong the slain. II. RIB AIM IN JUDGMENT. Jehovah would smite Zidon, that that city, darkened in its mind by its long-continued guilt, might be enlightened; that it might understand that its licentiou8 goddess was impotent to help in the hour of peril, o.nd might know that God, "was tb.c Lor<;l" (vers. 22-2¾). God's purpose in permittillg Qr iu se11dilli OB. nvn:t. l-26,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 117