The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 263

hopc1ess confusion. Was there ever a scene of more perfect and utter deadness? Yet the prophet is _required ~ preach to these dry bones I St. Peter preaching to the fishes aud St. Francis prenchmg to the birds had at least living audiences, though soulless oues. But here we have a preacher to dry bones. What is most remarkable is that the preaching is effective. A.n awful scene is witnessed-the bones shake and move and fit themselves together, and flesh, sinews, and skin cover them. A.11 this is illus- trative of much preaching to men, and it contains a great encouragement for the 1,reacher. Some audiences are almost like Ezekiel's valley. They are cold dead utterl_y indiff~rent. These people are, indeed, as so many_ dry bones. The p;eache; despairs of domg any good to them. So long as he despairs he will do no good. If Ezekiel had not had obedience, faith, and energy, he would not have taken the trouble to preach to the bones; acd then the great resurrection would not have taken place. It is our duty to preach to all, despairing of no one. We are to sow beside all waters. God can quicken the dead. Note that Ezekit:l's preaching was prophesying, i.e. it was speaking as God's messenger and in bis power. This is the only preaching that will succeed with the indifferent. The preacher to the godless must be a prophet, He must speak God's truth in God's strength. Mere reasoning or persuading is not sufficient. But prophesying does succeed again and again with the most obdurate. It stirs dry bones. II. PROPHESYING TO THE WIND, Ezekiel had a measure of success-a wonderful success it appeared to be. The bones fitted themselves together and were clothed with flesh. Still they were not alive. A.ll the result attained hitherto is that the scattered skeletons have become compa.ct corpses. But this is but a valley of death, Now the first preaching has done its work. It is useless merely to repeat it. A. new thlng must be tried. Ezekiel must prophesy to the wind to breathe on the slain and make them live. When he does this the wind comes, and there stands up "an exceeding great army" of living men. The wind is here regarded as the power of life. It is typical of the Spirit of God (John iii. 8). Life can only come from God's Spirit. The most stirring preaching will not create it. We may preach God's truth in God's strength, and good results may follow, but not the new birth of the Divine life unless the Spirit of God comes and produces it. Preaching does.not regenerate. After pro- phesying to the bones Ezekiel must prophesy to the wind. Preaching must be followed by prayer. The preacher must call down the power of God to his aid if bis work is to issue in living results. We need more prophesying to the wind. If life is to take possession of dead souls, we must pray more for the coming of the quickening Spirit. He does come in response to prayer. If the first kind of prophesying is not barren, aBSuredly the second will not be. When God's Spirit is invoked in the preach• ing of God's Word, exceeding great armies of souls may rise from the death of sin. Y m. 15-22.-The two sticks. Under the image of two sticks that are joined together, Ezekiel is to symbolize the reunion o{ Israel and Judah tb~t i~ to ta~e place in the great restoration. We may see here illustrat~d a gr~at principle, viz. that reunion accompanus restoration. It; was so ~ a fact 10 the h1sto~y of Israel. After the restoration we no longer meet with the rivalry of the t'l'l'.o nat1ous that m~de the previous history one long quarrel. The people return to their land as one nation, for no doubt there were representatives of the ten tribes (Luke ii. 36) as well as people of Judah in the caravans that travelled back from the Captivity. This must have been understood in Christian times. Tbus St. Jamee writes to "the twelve tribes" (Jas. i. I; cf. also 1 Pet. i 1). Christ restores man to him~clf and to God .. In doing so he reunites man to his fellow-men. Let us see how this happy result is brought about, observing some of its causes. I. A. coMMO:N soBRow. Here the foundation of the reunion was laid. Both of the rival nations were driven into captivity. 1. SOf"f'ow should soften animosity. In our proud prosperity we may foolishly imagine that we can afford to quarrel. '!'here then seems to be an immense reserve of resources, and we can be lavish in squandering what should be regarded as the riches of friendship. But in truth we need friends, and we desire to cherish them. 2. TrOWJle subdues pride. 3. Trouble elicits sympathy. 'l'hey who have passed tbrough the deep waters of afiliction arc usually most reody to ~ympatbize with their sorrowing brethren, If we are" partners in distress," we are OH. XXXVIL 1-28.] 'fHE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 271