The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 214

I. A lIEW Knm. He is described as "my servant David." This description is not 'to be accepted literally, but symbolically. 'l'he people could not understand the magnificent purpose of God by any other language. As God stoops to our infantilo stat.e by describing heaven to us in language borrowed from earth, so did he portray the era of Messiah's reign by language borrowed from the most prosperous events in their past career. Despite all his failings, David had been their most illustrious sovereign. His reign had brought them prosperity and honour and great enlargement. They shall have another David-a better David. Iu reality, as well as in name, he shall be the "Beloved," even" the Man aft.er God's own heart." God shall make the appointment, therefore questions touching its wisdom may well be silenced. The King of their King is God, therefore the new Monarch shall be a true Shepherd, viz. one who will care more for the flock than for him.self. The spirit of his reign shall be love. II. A. NEW CHABTEB OF INCOBPORATION. "I will make them a covenant of peace." For centuries past they had tasted the horrors and the misery of war. Civil strife and foreign invasion had made the beauteons land a desolation. War between man and man had be~n incessant, because the whole nation was at war with God. The influence, the virtue, the spirit of the new King were designed to spread until they had permeated the whole nation. Love to God would produce benevolence to each other. Further, it wns an act of incomparable condescension on the part of God to ma.ke such a covenant with men, particularly with such rebellious men. For a covenant is a con- tract which brings obligation on both parties entering into it, and which deprives them -0f a portion of their liberty. So, in amazing kindness to men, and that he may lift them up, God freely brings himself under obligation, and gives to undeserving men a right they did not before possess. This gracious covenant embraced the most precious interests of the true Israel, and was appointed as a root of prosperity and joy. And the conclusion of the covenant was guaranteed. "I," said God, "I will make" it. Hence it included the solution of men's opposition. It deals with men in their internal nature as well as in their outward conduct. Divine love will gradually melt all hostility, and will fertilize human nature with heavenly grace. "They shall be my people." III. A. NEW EBA OF PBOSPEBITY. A. long catalogue of beneficial effects are specified. 1. Civic concord. "I will cause the evil beasts to cease." By evil beasts we may properly nnderstand unprincipled and oppressive men. A gracious influence shall tonch and remodel the characters of men. "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid." Instead of an instinct to injure, there shall be an instinct to benefit each other. 2. Personal, security. "'rhey shall dwell safely even in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods." 'l'he security shall be perfect. The former haunts of robbers shall become the abodes of peace. 'l'he very deserts shall resound with the merry laughter of children and with the songs of honest swains. 3 . .Agricultural fertility. "The tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the land shall yield her increase." Often in the olden time they sowed a bushel and reaped e. :peck; but this resulted from God's displeasure. Now crops shall be prolific. 'l'he barren hills shall smile with the olive and the vine. 'l'he valleys shall be robed with russet corn. 'l'hc table of every cottager shall be laden with plenty. 4. Seasonable communications of good. "I will ea.use the shower to come down in its sea.son." As in most lands rain is essential to fertility, so in Messiah's kingdom the descent of spiritual influence is essential to a fruitful piety. The windows of heaven shall in due -eeason open, and plentifully irrigate the souls of suppliants. Out of the inexhaustible storehouse a gracious supply shall come. 5. Unprecedented blessing shall be given. "I will raise up for them a plantation of renown." This seems to indicate some useful product of a most beneficent kind-" a plantation" remarkable, and that shall bring them high renown. Without question, gifts and graces have been bestowed upon m~n in tLis gospel age unheard of in former years ; and richer donations of grace are yet 1n store. 6. Honour. For Jong and dreary centuries they had borne the reproach of the heathen. They Lad been the tools of rival kings-the laughing-stock of the Gentiles. Now tLis shall be reversed. In proportion to the depth of their dishonour shall be the lieigbt c,f their exaltatic,n. Nc,t false and meretricious honour shall they have, but tL.n.t true honour which is the fruit of righteousness, 7. Intimate friendship with God. c,n. x.xnv. 1-31.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 221