The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 298

HOMILETICS. Ver. 8.-God'apurpose accomplisMd. The prophet does not dream dreams of idle fancy, build castles in the air, or terrify men with nightmares of unreal judgment& The Word of God comes true. The predicted day arrives, the promised action is per- formed-" It is come, and it is done.' L IN CREATION. God spake, and it was done. He said, "Let there be light; and light was.'' The creative word was with power. Men plan great things, but they a.re quite incompetent to carry the best of them out. The greater the artist is the more he must feel that his execution falls lamentably short of his design. It is not so with God. When be carries out his idea in his work it can be said of each stage of creation, "And God saw that it was good." He is mighty to perform all his will. II. IN REDEMPTION. This new creation was a harder work than the first creation. No human agent could accomplish it, and God's own arm brought salvation. But though it involved the sacrifice of his Son, he carried out his great design of redeeming the lost world. 'fhe dying Jesus exclaimed, "It is finished I" The application of this redemption is not yet complete. The promise concerning this is, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied" (Isa. !iii. 11). But St. Peter looked forward to the grand restitution of all things, when all shall be brought in subjection to Christ (Acts iii. 21). We know that he who has begun a good work in us is able to finish it (Phil. i. 6). III. IN JUDGHENT. If God accomplishes his designs in creation and redemption, is cannot be supposed that he will fail to carry them out in regard to judgment. Delay is no proof of failure, for the long-promised Messiah was slow to appear, yet in due time Christ was born. The mercy of God is no sign of the failure of judgment, for God was as merciful when he threatened wrath as he will be when the time comes for executing the threat. The day of judgment, that dreadful "day of the Lord," as the prophets called it, came to the nations and to Israel with fearful calamities. Assuredly it will come, and its work will be done also among all sinners. IV. IN PBOVIDENOE. God made great promises to Abraham, and the patriarch did not live to reap their accomplishment. Yet God we.s true to his word. All the might of Egypt could not frustrate God's gracious designs. He has great purposes for his people now. Satan may oppose the execution of them; sin, unbelief, and worldliness may rise up against them. Yet God will not desert his own inheritance, Indeed, he does now accomplish his gracious providential designs in spite of all opposition. V. IN OBEDIENOE. There is one region in which the purpose of God is more slow to realize itself. That is the region of human will. There man is free to resist its demands for obedience. God's kingdom has not yet fully come, his will is not yet done on earth as it is in heaven. But we pray for this glorious consummation. It is our duty to labour to help it on. If God's design is accomplished in every other respect, it is monstrous for man's stubborn will to hold out against it. The spirit of the life of Christ-" Lo, I come to do thy will, 0 God "-is the spirit which should animate his people. Ver. 21.-God's glory among the heathen. I. Gon IS OONOERNED FOB ms GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN. It may be a li~ht thing to us that his Name is unknown or dishonoured among the heathen ; but 1t is no light matter in the sight of God. He does not confine his gaze to the little spot of light where he is recognized and loved. He is the Creator of the universe, and he is concerned with what happens everywhere throughout his dominion. Uousider why he desires his glory to be spread among the heathen. 1. For ita own sake. God cares for his glory and desires to he glorified. Buch a conception applied to o. man would suggest selfishness. This is not the case with God, because bis glory resides in his goodness. The spread of his glory is the vindication of righteousness. The eternal claims of holiness demand assertion. To suppress them is to give the victory to sin; to spread the glory of God is to assert them. 2. For the sa'/u of the heathen. Ignorance of God's glory is their loss. To know God is life eternal. It is for the supreme good of men that they should understand their heavenly Father. "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace" (Job x:xii. 21).  THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL, [ou. xxxrx. 1-29.