The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 305

I. MARTIAL AGGRESSION IS Goo's SNARB FoB DESTRUCTION. When II, man resists every friendly counsel of God, God allows him to pursue his own way, and removes even the restraints which before impeded his ruin. In a similar way ho deals with kings and with nations. "Ephraim is joined to his idols: let him alone I" Thus G"d dealt with Pharaoh. In the first stages of Moses' intercourse with Pharaoh we read, " And Pharaoh hardened his heart.'' But as the negotiation proceeded, ana' the proud king grew more obstinate, we read, "The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart." It is true that "God tempteth no man," that is, allures no man into sin. Yet, by taking out of the way former barriers or ceasing to remonstrate, God helps on the final catastrophe. There is no advantage in prolonging the crisis. There is ~reat disadvan- tage. . Give a ~ man full scope for his vile P:"ssions, e.nd he soon rushes into the pit of rum. In this way God purposes to deal with Gog: "Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee." Nevertheless, God continues to say, "I will cause thee to come up, . . . and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel." Worldly success is only a covered snare. II. HUMAN WEAPONS ARE POWERLESS AGAINST Goo's KINGDOM. c) I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand." Neither material instruments of assault nor human violence of any kind can injure the kingdom of Christ. That kingdom is spiritual, and has its foundations in the spiritual natures of men, so that ordinary weapons of war are pointless. The Jewish rulers imagined that they had uprooted the cause of Jesus when they nailed him with iron spikes to the tree; but three days later they discovered how powerless they were, and how deathless his kingdom was. If falsehood shall prove itself mightier than truth; if rebellion shall show itself mightier than loyalty; if wrong can develop a greater power than right ;-then, and then alone, will God's kingdom snccnmb. In this great contest weapons must be suitable, or they will break in the warrior's hand and leave him dismayed and defeated. III. WAR MATERIAL CONVERTED INTO RLESBING. " The shields and bucklers, the hows and arrows, the handsroves and the spears," served as household fuel for seven years. The period mentioned is intended to denote a sacred completeness. Not once merely, but often, the weapons of infidelity have been changed into instruments of righteousuess. The devil's artillery bas been turned against himself. Lord Lyttelton and Mr. West undertook to explode Christianity, and sat down to prepare their weapons ; but they came from the armoury with a splendid defence of the Christian faith. Saul of Tarsus set out on bis journey to assail the iafant Church; but on the way he changed sides, and sharpened all his weapons for the defence of the gospeL The death-bed of Volte.ire was enough to drive all bis followers into the ranks of King Jesus. Tom Paine's writings were so coarse and scurrilous that present-day infidels are put to shame by them. The faggots of martyr-fires have kindled e. light which has led many into heaven. IV. GoD'B FOES ARE DOOMED TO A TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION. The prophet's delinea- tion of the overthrow of proud antagonists is graphic and harrowing. The keen sword of death is used with terrific force. The numbers of the dead become a peril to health and to life. A considerable valley is i;et a.part as a necropolis. Seven months, i.e. a whole cycle of time, is required for the sickening work of sepulture. So terrible and complete is the carnage that the whole population of the land employs itself in burying the dead. Not a single soldier among the foe survives to tell to posterity the tale of woe. It is an unsparing slaughter. 'l'hus shall perish all who refuse to serve their Maker and to work righteousness. Obedience is life; rebellion is death~eath without alleviation. V. BASEST DISHONOUR IS ADDED TO DESTRUCTION. With the eye of e. prophet Ezekiel foresees the contempt and dishonour in store for the slain. Their dead bodies shall become a banquet for the brutes. Birds of prey shall feed upun human flesh. Wild beasts from the forest shall quench their thirst in the blood of warrior-kings The doom, though severe, is equitable. These slaves of wickedness-braggarts it crime-had degenerated to a level lower than the beasts of the field, and lower than the beasts shall be their final portion. As men fear dishonour more than they fear death, _so, with thoughtful kindness, God would deter thom from sin by the prospect of cvru1Ug shame. ou. xxxrx. 1-29.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 815