The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 121

they shall know that I am the Lord God." In the relief afforded to them and the deliverances wrought for them they would recognize the presence and power and 11upremacy of Jehovah. Thus "the Lord of hosts is exalted in judgment, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness" (Isa. v. 16).-W. J, Vere. 25, 26.-God glorified in his dealings with his people under chastisement. "Thus saith the Lord God ; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered," etc. In bringing to a close the prophecies against the heathen nations which bordered upon the Holy Land, Ezekiel briefly outlines the glorious restoration of the people of God in contrast to the judgments which destroyed those nations. He also declares that he will be sanctified in his people in the sight of the nations. His dealings with his people who were in captivity would be of such a character as to promote his honour in the eyes of the nations who were cognizant of those dealings. 'l'hus the subject is preseuted to us of God glorified in his treatment of his people under chastisement. l. JN HIS CABE FOB THEM WHILE THEY ABE UNDER CHASTISEMENT BECAUSE 011' THEm BINS. Our text is itself an evidence of this care. They needed some strong encouragement to counteract "the despondency which was now, after the opening of the siege of Jerusalem, the most dangerous foe" which they had to contend against. God recognized their need, and the inspiring promises of the text were a contribution towards its supply. Moreover, his purpose to gather them again and restore them to their own land necessitated the exercise of care over them during their exile. We have reason to believe that when his people are under chastisement they are the objects of his special care. This is taught ;in bis holy Word, especially in Mai. iii. 3, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." In purifying silver from its dross "the refiner not only places his crucible on a hot fire, but heaps fire around and above it. Under this process it at first throws out a dark and offensive smoke, which, as the heat and its effects inczease, becomes less offensive, until it altogether ceases, and the silver becomes beautifully white. 'l'he poiut of requisite purity and perfection is when tM refiner sees his own like~a, reflected in the silver. How admirably does this illustra.te the gracious process by which, through means of affliction, our heavenly Father carries on the work of purification in the hearts of his children I " The refiner of silver keeps his eye steadily on the furnace, lest the silver should be injured by the intense heat, nnrl that he may see when the process is complete; so the greo.t Refiner watches over his children when they are passing through the cleansing fires of Divine chastisement. Here, then, is encouragement to the people of God in seasons of trial. God himself is graciously observing you. His eye is constantly and tenderly upon you. In this fact there is also vindication of the Di vine honour in relation to the afflictions of his people. II. JN RIB REMOVAL OF THE OHABTIBEMENT WHEN IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED ITS PURPOSE, "Thus saitb tho Lord; When I shall have gathered the house of Isra.el from the peoples among whom they are scattered," etc. (ver. 25). When the object for which the covenant people were sent into captivity was achieved, he brought them together and reinstated them in the land which he gave to his servant Jacob. "In that furnace of affliction tho national tendency to idolatry was burnt out of the national heart, never to reappear;" and then they were delivered out of the furnace. In their restoration to their own land the nations would see that the Lord had not cast them off or forsaken them. " For the Lord will not cast off for ever. For though he cause grief," etc. (Lam. iii. 31-33). Moreover, in that restoration there was a manifestation of the faithfulness, power, and goodness of the Lord to his people. Faithfulness in his remaining true to them and to his engagements to them, notwithstanding thoir former long-continued unfaithfulness to him. "If we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself." Power in his controlling the hearts and actions of men for the accomplish- ment of his purposes in relation to his people. And goodness in dealing with them so graciously, notwithstanding their ill desert. Thus would the Lord God "be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations." And still he speedily removes the chastisenents of his people when they have effected the purposo for which they were inflicted. "Praise him still the eame for ever, Slow to ellicle, and swm to bless."  12-i THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oR. xxrx.1-21.