The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 270

Ver. 27.-The tabemack of God with men. There can be no question that one great purpose of the appointment, first of the tabernacle, and then of the temple, as the centre of t be national and religious life of Israel, was to familiarize the people with the thought of God's constant presence in the midst of them, as well as to provide means and opporLunities for special intercommunion between the Divine King and his subjects. Tile coming of Christ whose body was the temple of Deity, the comina of the Holy Spirit whose abiding indwelling constitutes the temple, the Church, of God, did away with the neoossity for a local and temporary dwelling-place of God upon earth, but secured the permanent reality of the fellowship of which such a dwelling-place was the symbol and the means. L G-oD's TABERNACLE WITH MEN REMINDS us OF THE UNIVERSAL PRESENCE OF THE lliITY UPON EARTH THROUGHOUT ALL TIME. II. AND OF HIS SPECIAL .um OONGENIAL PRESENCE AMONG AND WITH BIB OWN PEOPLE. Ill. A~'D OF HIS GBACIOUB PURPOSE TO REVEAL UNTO THEM BIS OWN 0HARAOTER AND WILL. IV. A~'D OF HIS CONSTANT WILLINGNESS TO BEOEIVE THEIR WORSHIP AND HOM.AGE. V. AND OF HIS DESIRE TO llAINTAIN OLOBE Al!TD UNBROKEN RELATIONS OF CORDIALITY AND KINDh"ESS WITH HIS PEOPLE. APPLICATION. The privilege of fellowship with God should be reverently cherished, prized, and cultivated. The means and occasions of such fellowship should not be mistaken for the fellowship itself. The truest dignity and sacredness of this earthly life consists in the opportunity it offers of communion with the unseen but ever-present Gud and Saviour. 'l'he strongest attraction of the life to come lies in the prospect of a closer approach to God, a more uninterrupted fellowship with God, and a nearer assimilation to his perfect and gloriolll character.-T. Vers. 1-14.-T/ie vision of dry bones. As an architect, before erecting a mansion, sketches accurately all his plan on paper-a guide to himself and to his co-workers- so, prior to God's resuscitation of Israel, he sketches out hie plan before the mental eye of Ezekiel. By a mighty influence from God, the prophet is borne away in spirit to a great valley in Chaldea, devoted to the burial of Israel's dead. The spot possibly was sadly familiar to the prophet's eye. The loose sand had been swept aside by some violent tornado. The bones of the buried were exposed, and were dry and bleac~ed by the tropical SUD.. It was a pitiable and repulsive spectacle. ~hat such vestiges of human beings could be reclothed in flesh and raised again to life seemed, to human view, impossible; and Ezekiel did wisely to refer the matter back to God. The man of God is commanded to address these silent remnants of human nature, and to announce to them God's high design; and while he epake, lo I a noise, a move_ment, ~one soug~t its fellow-bone. Fleeh silently grew upon these skeletons, and a fau covermg of e~n veiled the rugged flesh. Still, it was a valley of death-a spectacle more revoltmg than before. Again Ezekiel is summoned to prophesy, and this time to prophesy to the winds. Then the breath of life pas~ed into those ghastly forms ; the dead stood erect and strong-an army of living men, a nation. Such was the vision-a vivid picture imprinted on the mind. I. MARK IsRAEL'e DEBPEHATE CONDITION. Whatever may have been the fortunes of some individuals, ae a 11ati<m their fortune~ were deplorable. All that was distinctive ~bout Israel had vanished. 'fithinge, temple ritual, p~esthood, Passover! distinction m meats,-all had disappeared. They were fast becommg- amalgamated, 1n ~angungc>, h,abits, and occupation, with their conquerors. As a body, they were utt~rly d1_sloca~d. 'ILe:ir several orders had vanished. The organism was broken up. Their nat~onal hf., was destroyed. Their condition was deplorable, fitly symbolized by dry and dissevered bones. !>respect of restoration there was none. The faithful few were sinking into de~pair. Vivid picture this of human nature severed from the living God. Compared w!t_h the purity and nobleness that might be, the condition is aptly figured by death. Filial love and trust are dead. Conscience, the sense of right, Is dead. Heavenly cu. xxxvu. 1-28.] THE BOOK OJ!' THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 279