The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 191

unknown. Such an act ag a public declaration of war was never considered a public duty. The more secretly and suddenly a hostile army could make its attack, the more to its credit. Hence a border population was kept in continual suspense. It had to bear the brunt of a thousand alarms and a thousand perils. Such invasions were vften the act of God. Even idolatrous and wicked men are sometimes God's instru- ments-God's hand. As often as the invaders marched on territory to vindicate a right or to punish an offence, they marched at God's command. If the motive for war was mere desire for plunder, or greed of land, or sheer military ambition, God was not in it. For God cannot sanction any form of iniquity, whether it be public or private. But war is often the scourge which God uses to vindicate his clai:ns or to punish men; and though in outward appearance the invasion may seem only a piece of human ma! ice, it is, in truth, an act of God's retribution. As God has his methods for chastising individual men, so has he his methods for chastising nations. His forms of penalty are myriadfold. lL A SENTINEL APPOINTED. In such a time of peril as that of invasion the people knit themselves together for mutual defence. It was wise economy to choose one who should be drafted off from other occupation to fill the watchman's post. One was selected for the office specially suitable. All were not equally apt for this work. Such a man was chosen as had long resided on the border territory, one who knew the distant signs and prognostications of war, one who knew the contour of the country, and could occupy the best points of observation. An ex:pert with eagle eye and cool nerve was selected. This was practical wisdom. By such a precaution war was some- times averted. If the foe lost the advantage of secrecy, his plans were foiled. Or a resisting force could be gathered. Or possibly the removal of their cattle, or their own tlight for a time, would avert the catastrophe. The season or other natural circum- stance would come to their aid, and the deadly clash of arms be avoided. lmmenae gain might be attained by well posting a sentintll. Ill. IT WAS A POST INVOLVING TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. The interests and fortunes and lives of the entire nation were placed in the keeping of one man. He was responsible to ten thousand persons of every rank and station. The safety of the empire hung on him. It was a distinctive honour to be selected for the post, a proof that he possessed remarkable qualities of soul; and this responsible occupation did the man good-it tended to develop all that was gracious and excellent in him. Responsible service is an ennobling and a joyous thing. It nourishes large and generous sympathy. IV. FAITHFULNESS DEMANDED. 'l'he characteristic quality of a watchman is faith- fulness. He might be deficient in many bodily and mental qualities, and yet be a good sentinel; but fidelity to duty-fidelity to the momentous trust-there must be, or he had better not be a watchman. Better, far better, appoint no watchman than bave a man who is unfaithrul. The blood of ten thousand innocent men justice might require at his un£aithfu1 hands. Equally true is this of God's watchman, the prophet. The first and most central requisite is faithfulness. He may be deficient in bodily stature and strength, he may be deficient in learning and culture, he may be deficient in high birth and in social standing, but he must be gifted with trustworthiness. 'l'his ie an essential. If he be unfaithful, he is of all men most unsuitable. If he accepts the office, and neglects its high duties, his guilt is immeasurable. Better for his own sake, bett~r f~r ot~ers' sake, that he had never been God's messenger to men, than to lack fideltty_ in his tremendous trust. An unfaithful preacher must be held up to the world's execration. V. PossIBLE FAILURE. Yet even faithfulness will not ensnre success. The people may not credit his warnings. Tbey may deride his anxieties. Thoy may persuado themselves that the peril is not so near as he avers. It is a matter that can wait. They may put down to official propriety, or to sensitive regard for his own credit, what ought to have been put down to wise solicitude and to approaching disaster. In a thousand cases men persist in deceiving themselves as to the nearness of the peril. Ten thousand men have fallen over the precipice of ruin through self-infatuation, and ten thousand more will follow. They will not learn practical wis,\om from the folly and the ruin of others. And it becomes every one of us to lay the lesson upon our own hearts: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Oh for a 11rophet's vision to interpret the signs of the times !-D.  198 THE BOOK OF THE PROPBE1' EZEKIEL. (cH, xxxur. 1-33~