The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 224

arithmetic that shall not fail to give a large place to the influence of God on all things. Ver. 13.-Boasting against God. Edom had ignored the presence of God (ver. 10}. Now she bas gone further, and boasted against God. This is a sign either of licatheriish darkness that does not know God, or of wilful rebellion that proudly rises up aaainilt 0 him, or of both. I. THE BOAST OF IGNORANCE. Men who forget· God boast themselves : l; 1111 thought. Man looks very big when God is left out of sight. • The bill· is a grand sight to one who has not seen an Alp. The worship of humanity proceeds on the RSsumption of the non-existence of Divinity. If, indeed, there be no God, man may be the loftiest existence; in that case, he may stand· on the very toJ;>tnost pinnacle of being. 2. In practice. The same condition will be reflected in practical life when a man ignores the influence of God on his affairs. He feels himself the master of· tb'.e- situation. By science and art he can subdue nature. His powers and opportunities have given him a free hand among his fellow-men. Why, then, should he not dream great dreams and imagine himself to be a very monarch of life? The glorying of irreligion in a successful man seems to be perfectly natural, uay, inevitable. ' II. THE BOAST OF OPPOSITION, Edom boasts herself against God. In heathenish, ignorance she supposes herself to be stronger than the God of Israel. • At all events, she sets herself up in opposition to Jehovah. • It is customary for contending powers., when going to war, to keep their courage up by boasting of their own strength and< despising that of their enemy. The same is seen in Ilian's great warfare against G~ 1. In intelligent:e. People act as though they supposed they could outwit God. • Though they do not draw out the thought into a clear argument:_when it would certainly break down in a great fallacy-they tacitly assume that they are clever enough to elude the consequences of their sins. Other people may blunder into rain, but they will steer their craft so deftly that, though it runs down the rapids; it will not go over· the falls. 2. In will. The stubborn rebellion of man's will asserts. itself in opposition tc;> the wise, holy, strong will of God. Men think in their strong-beaded sin that they can force their way against the will of God. Because for the time being they have a free- hand, they imagine that it will always be so. Now, it certainly does appear that man could assert his self-will in wildest opposition to God. The mistake is in judging of the future issue by present appearances, • • . • . '' III. THE FATAL BOA.ST. Boasting against God cannot succeed. If there be a God, he mnst be supreme. He may be too magnanimous to· hurl his rebellious· creature to- sudden destruction. He may even regard the sinful boasting with compassion on account of its helpless folly. But he certainly will not let it ultimately triumph. Boasting is not victory. Boasting does not create strength. It· is only·" with the· mouth "-a mere matter of empty sound. But facts are not changed by words. All the oratory of boasting that was ever practised will not dissolve one of the hard, ·stern realities of life. God is still God, though men ignore his presence and resist his will. Therefore to boast against God is fatal to the boaster. • He is· like one who dashes his head against a wall. He only destroys himself by his vain pretence. Our 11afety lie& in humility, contrition, and submission to our God and Father. • : Ver. 14.-Desolau in the midst of general joyfulness. I. THERB IS TO DB A SEASON OF GENERAL JOYFULNESS. " When the whole earth rejoiceth "-that is a glimpse of a wonderful future. At present the earth mourns and languishes. Tyranny opptesses nations of slaves. Penury holds multitudes in weary drudgery on the verge of starva- tion. War devastates fields and towns and countries. Sorrow sighs from the heart of humanity. But this shall not continue for ever. 1. There will be Joy in a glorious /uture. The Bible is full of hope. Its golden age always lies before us, not behind uli. 2. Thi, joy will be attained through the gospel of ahriat. The angels sang for joy at his birth on earth. Gladness comes to the heart in which he' is revealed afresh. Whea th old earth is subject to the rule of Christ, and the sin that is Its curse is blotted out, a new Divine joy mnst take possession of men. 3. This joy will 'be/or the whole earth. At first, only a remnant is to be saved (Rom. ix. 27). But this remnant does not _represent the whole harvest of Divine salvation. It is but the firatfruits. • The gospel. mr. xx'x"\": 1-15.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL.