The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 251

is known, he will be admired, trusted, loved, served. If the soil of the heart be broken up and pulverized, the knowledge of God, like living seed, will grow and flourish and beRr a rich harvest of fruit. "They that know thy Name will puf-iheir trust in thee." This heart-knowledge of God brings eternal life. Misunderstanding of God brings fear, bondage, misery, hell. The glory of God and the good of men are twin-purposes -two sides of the same coin. God's will is man's salvation. As we know God experimentally, we aspire to be like God, we yeam to do his will, heaven is begun within.-D. Vers. 32--38.-Prosperity suspended on human prayer. In the previous verses God has disclosed a new scheme of spiritual t.actics. He will lay siege to man's heart with the artillery of love. He will touch and melt his will. He will gently, yet powerfully dispose him to obedience. Yet God will not reduce man to a machine. He will not coerce his will. Men shall not become passive instruments under God's hand. There shall be place for hume.n thought, human choice, human effort. "I will yet be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them." . I. Goo's GIFTS ABE BESTOWED IN A. DEFINITE ORDEB. "Order is heaven's first law." In nature and in human nature, God works from the centre outwards. JerW1a- lem was such a centre. The home is a centre. Man's soul is a centre-a centre for himself, his family, his fortunes, his contemporary society. 1. Soul-cle.ansing is the root- blessi11g. This embraces cleansing from the love of sin, the power of sin, the stain and curse of sin. The animal part of our nature is kept in subjection to the spiritual. The old fountain of evil is cleansed. The real man no longer lives in the cellar e.nd scullery of his natnro; be prefers now to live and move in the capacious rooms above-in the great halls of reason and conscience. 2. A better social life. They "shall dwell in the cities." It is easier to live a godly life in a garden than in a city, but that sequestered life would be narrow and poor and weak. In the city temptations and hindrances abound; and he who surmounts them is raised into a higher plane of life. Men of.pure and lofty tastes constitute a society that is fruitful in goodness. They shall be cemented in strong and vital ties for mutual security and mutual help. 3. .Ll.griculturalfertility. The Jews were devoted to the pursuits of husbandry; hence fertility in the. field was their greatest earthly prosperity. This fertility would be the more highly prized because of its contrast with recent desolation. That which had been like a desert. was to be prolific and beauteous as the virgin soil of Eden. The last vestige of the curse was to vanish. With the smallest measure of labour shall come the largest measure of increase, 4. Growing population. An unmistakable mark of national prosperity is increase of men. The stalwart and athletic youth would not be slain on the battle- plain, nc,r decimated by pestilence, nor destroyed by ruinous vice. Just e.s the streets of Jerusalem were crowded with flocks in the time of the Passover, brought thither for the Paschal feast, so should the towns and villages teem with hale and sinewy men. "I will increase them with men like a flock." 6. Renown among the neighbouring nations. " The heathen shall know" that Jehovah is the real Source of prosperity. 'Ibey had learnt to think of him as an austere Ruler, or as indifferent respecting his people's weal. Truer thoughts of God and of God's goodness shall displace the old ideas. They shall understand God's high designs, and shall admire and praise. To serve such a God will be counted true honour. IL Goo's GIFTS A.BE PLEDGED BY AN INFALLIBLE PBOHISE. '.l'he advantages of making this prosperity a matter of promise was manifold. I. It would sustain their hope. In their exiled state, they were in danger of yielding to sullen despair. Adversity had demoralized them. They had well-nigh lost.heart. 2. le would 1!11COUr- age wise effort. The bright prospect of a golden age would stimulate them to exer- tion. They conld the better bear the ills of banishment when they knew these were orily for a time. 'l'hey would more bravely face the toils of another journey home- ward when they knew what splendid prosperity was guaranteed. 3. II would more clearly unfold God's moral intention tn their adversity. That defeat and its conse- quent hardships were no mere caprices on God's part. Nor haq he wholly abandoned them. The judgment, though severe, was disciplinary. It was moral medicine, de~tined to produce better health. Hence a window was opened through which they gamed au insight into God's heart. 4. The promise gave them a grasp upon God, OH, xxxv1. 1-88.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 259