The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 152

Proud men glory in their own resources. But no one can be strong and continue in vigour without receiving supplies from without. 'l'he mind must be fed with fresh knowledge, as the body with fresh food. Moreover, the success that a. man seems to create for himself is largely due to favourable circumstances. If the water did not run by the root or the tree, the tree would not flourish in its magnificent state. Therefore the pride of self-sufficiency is founded on a.n error; and he who ignores his dependence on help from without will one da.y find _tha.t tha.t help is cnt off a.ad he left to wither in despair. Men who will not acknowledge God are yet do.ily recipients of his bounty. While they lift their heads in worldly self-satisfaction, he is still mercHully watering their roots and giving the good things on which they build their pride. 1. This fact should teach humility. 2. It should excite gratitude. 3. It should ea.use fear in negligent self-sufficiency. 4. It should lead to trust in God rather than in superficial worldly advantages. Ver. 7.-The root and the waters. I. THE TREE FLOURISHES THROUGH ITS BOOT. 1. The root swpporls the tree. It is the foundation. Unless the root is deep and strong the tree will fall, blown over by the hurricane or swept away by the flood. Our life needs a root, a foundation. 2. The root brings nourishment to the tree. It sucks in moisture from the earth and draws the rich juices of the soil up into the plant. When the roots are cut the tree must wither ana die. The child's Christmas-tree looks green for the short season of festivities, but according to a common custom, being cut off without a proper root, it cannot live. 'fhere are souls that have no root in themselves (Matt. xiii. 21). They can only endure for a while. We must find supplies of spiritual nourishment if we are to persevere unto everlasting life. 3. The root lies low. 'l'be lordly branches of the cedar wave in the air and toss themselves proudly against the sky, but they could not thus thrive without the lowly root. Souls thrive on their humbler experiences. They grow strong in humility and trust. 4. The root is unseen. It lies in dark underground regions. He is but a shallow being whose every experience lies on the surface, "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" (Ps. xxv. 14). Tbe trco will die if the root be la.id bare to the sun. Spiritual experience should be decently covered, not dragged to the light and made a matter of common talk. Let the leaves and fruit be seen; keep the root in the dark. 5. The root must press down to deep sources of supply. If the water be far from the surface, tho root must go after it. "The well is deep" (John iv. 11); then the water will be all the more cool and refreshing. It is good to press down to the deeper experiences of tho Christian lire. II. 'fm: BOOT NEEDS GOOD SUPPLIBS OF WATER. 1. It needs water. Trees will not grow ou the Sahara Desert. But a little moisture will briag vegetation. Oa the mre occasion of rain falling in the desert a sudden greenness appears on the so.ad; but the minute vegetable growth disappears as quickly as it comes, for the moisture rapidly evaporates in the heated air, Souls need the living waters. They need these waters because, like trees, they are alive. Tbo statue does not droop in tho noondny sun, bccnuse it is of stone, dead stone. Thero are stntuesquo souls that seem to thrive with- out any spirituo.l supplies, but they have no vitality in them. They are too stolid to faint. Fiery souls pine and wither when deprived of living water. 2. It must btJ within reach of water. It is nearly useles8 for the water to fall on tho leaves if tho rO?t is not reacheJ, but when the root is in moisture, though the leaves aro covered with dust and sadly need cleansing showers, the treo will still live. We ca.n bear heat and drought iu tho world if the soul's hidden roots are supplied by Di vino grace. But we do not merely require superficial refreshment; we need such deep soul-supplies ns shall penetrate to tho roots of our being. For this purpose the roots must bo near the water. Cattle can go down to the brooks and drink, but trees must be planted ia moist soil. It is customary in the East to cut channels for water deflected from larger streams, that this may run among the roots or trees. The best trees grow by rivers of water (Ps. i. 3). Souls must be within reach of Divine supplies. It is not sufficient that God is gracious and that Christ can give of the water of life. W o must bo near the water ourselves. There must be personal appropriation. This is only possible by means of that spiritual neighbourhood which is sympathy. The use or "menns of grace "-pro.yers, Christian fellowship, meditation on Scripture, ctc.-helvs to fO\\SO that 11ympathy, and so to bring the roots near to tho great waters,  158 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. xxx1. 1-18,