The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 245

he saved f~o~ the sin wh!ch was the occASion oC their calamities. They shall experi• ence a spmtual renovat10n-they shall be cleansed, renewed, and sanctified. The .change shall be within the spiritual nature, nnd it shall manifest itself in the outer life, -wh!ch sh~ll l~ _made a life of purity ~nd of ?bedience. The figurative language in -which this D1vme work of renewal 1s described deserves careful attention; each several figure i;eems to present the t.ransformation in a new liaht • ta.ken together they exhibit the most marvellous work of God in its true beauty ~ntl' completeness. ' I. GoD WILL GIVE FOB FOULNESS, PURITY. The defiling and offensive nature of t:in is symbolized in Scripture by uncleanness of body. Of the sins with which Israel is especially charged, that of idolatry is perhaps the most prominent and the most debasing, bringing in its train a host of moral abominations. From idolatry and all its contaminations the consecrated people must needs be delivered, as a condition -0f all other blessing. With what simplicity and exquisite beauty is the gracious pur• pose of the Divine Purifier here expressed I " I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse yon." The moral purity of the Divine nature is imparted to the nature of man. The Holy Spirit produces the holy character, which expresses itself in the holy life. Much of the religious observance practised among the Hebrews was intended to convey the idea and to cultivate the practice of holiness. In the New Testament the greatest stress is laid upon this disposition and habit : "Be ye holy; for your Father iri heaven is holy." II. GoD WlLL GIVB l'OB HARDNESS OF HEART, A TENDERNESS AND SUSOEFl'IBILITT. By hardness or obduracy we understand insensibility to Divine appeals, to rebukes and to promises-a character repelling all higher and holier motive. The stony heart is to lie taken away, and replaced by a heart of flesh, i.e. a heart sensitive to Divine good• ness and responsive to Divine appeals. The Israelites seem to have been peculiarly hard and stubborn in character. The word addressed to them, if it was to produce any impression, must needs have been "as a fire, and ae a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces." 'lbis was so throughout long periods of the national history. When God dealt with them in his mercy, he rendered their obdurate nature susceptible to gracious influences. Under the Christian dispensation, the softer features of the human character are brought out into prominence. The Spirit of Christ ie a Spirit of meekness and gentleness. The heart of flesh which he imparts ie susceptible to all that is good and winning, purifying and consolatory. III. GoD WILL GIVE FOB OLDNESS, NEWNESS OF CHARACTER. "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you." It is remarkable that we should find in Ezekiel's prophecies so striking an anticipation of the promises and privi• leges of Christianity. Living, as we do, under the new covenant, we are especially able to appreciate this gracious assurance. Old things pass away, all things become new, to him who is" in Christ Jesus," who is "a new creation." The oldness of the . letter, the oldness of disobedience, are left behind; and spiritual newness opens up, in all its beauty and hopefulness, before us. "Newness of life" is the plainest mark of a Christianity more than nominal and formal. IV. Gon WILL GIVE FOB ALIENATION, ACCEPTANCE. Those who had been afar off were to be brought nigh ; those who had been estranged by sin were to be restored to fellowship; those who had been in rebellion were to be reconciled. The exiled should be broui:i;ht home, and the cold oppression and scorn of the foreign conqueror ~hould be exchanged for the acceptable services of the temple, and the smile of God upon his people and their inheritance. A marvellous emblem of the restoration of God's people to himself through Jesus Christ. For our Saviour has "made peace," so that those who accept hie mediation, from having been alienated and at enmity, are reconciled, and enjoy the fellowship, the smile, the approval, of their God. V. GoD WILL GIVE FOB ERROR, OBEDIENCE, SUBMISSION, AND CONFORMITY TO BIS WILL. "I will cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." To feel the force of this promise, we must remember how grievously the Israelites bad erred, 11.nd how far they had strayed from the path of true and acceptable service. A renovation worthy of the name must include a thorough sub• miss.ion to the will which had been defied, a. thorough and cordial performance of the service which had been neglected. As it was with the Israelites, so must it ever be en. XXXVI. 1-38.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 253