The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 364

np a perpetual abode within his consecrated temple, and that those courts shall hence- forth be pure from every defilement, and shall be holy unto the Lord. I. TUE FA.OT OF THE DIVINE INDWELLING, It appears that this is set forth under two metaphors, both just and impressive, yet, even when taken together, inadequate to set forth the great reality. 1. 'l'he Church is God's dwelling, hie home, where he reveals himself in his compassion and kindness, and where he admits men to his sacred fellowship, upon terms of delightful, though reverent, intercourse and familiarity. 2. The Church is God's throne, whence he rules by the publication of his Divine and righteous laws, and the exercise of his just, irresistible, and yet benign authority. It is as though he were at once the Father of the spiritual family and the King of the spiritual dominion. He is, indeed, all this, and more than this, to the Church he loves and has redeemed. II. THE A0COMPANIMENTB OF THE DIVINE INDWELLING. These, as represented in this passage, are: 1. Deliverance from past idolatries, by which humanity has been defiled, degraded, and disgraced. 2. By implication, reverence for God's holy Name, displaying itself in holiness, in obedience, in praise. It was the expulsion of evil abominations which made the return of the Lord a possibility; it is the prevalence of holy worship and affectionate service which secures the lasting residence and reign of the great and glorious Inhabitant.-T. Ver. 10.-Bhame for sin. Shame is an emotion which is often misdirected. Men are ashamed sometimes of those things of which they ought rather to boast, whilst they boast of those things of which they ought to be ashamed. There is one habit of which men ought always to be ashamed-the habit of sinning against God. It was this which Ezekiel was directed to bring home to the hearts of his fellow-countrymen of the house of Israel. I. THE BIN OP WHICH A JUSTLY SENSITIVE NATURE IS A.SBA.MED. The iniquities with which the prophet was directed to charge the people of Jerusalem, aad for which he was instructed to reproach them, were their idolatrous practices, especially in con- nection with the temple precincts. The pale.ces of the idolatrous monarchs of Judah adjoined the consecrated edifice, and in those palaces heathen rites were celebrated. Not only so, some of the kings of Judah, as Ahaz and Manasseh, actually introduced idolatry into the very courts of the temple. Of such infamous conduct both monarchs and subjects may well have been ashamed. All who put the creature in the place of the Creator, who worship, whether with their lips or in their hearts, others than God, are virtually guilty of idolatry, and have need to humble themselves with shame and confusion of face. ' II. THE IIIANNEB IN WHICH BBA.llB FOB BIN 18 Aw AKENED. 1. The word of God without propounds the sacredness and the exacting character of the Divine Law which has been violated, and summons the offender to contrast his conduct with the command- ment which is holy, just, and good. 2. The voice of conscience within responds to the voice of the Word, testifies to its Divinity and its authority, rebukes the sinner for his rebelliousness, and awakens within the soul fear of the righteous judgment of God. No wonder that this conjtmction should cause bitter humiliation, poignant shame, deep contrition. III. 'l'm~ PROPER EFFECTS OF SIIAME FOB BIN. 1. The offence is loathed e.nd for- e~en; the !dolater abandons his idols, the unjust, impure, and profane relinquish their smful practices. 2. Reverence ensues for the Law and ordinances of God. Corre- sponding to the aversion and humiliation felt in the retrospect of evil courses now abandoned, is the aspiration which takes possession of the penitent, urging him to conformity to the Divine character, and subjection to the Divine will. To be ashamed of sin is to glory in righteousness, to boast one's self in God.-T. Var. 12.-" The law of the house." The connection to which is owing the introduction and treatment in this place of the law of the house, appears, though it is not very plain, to be this-Lawlessness has been described, lawlessness, takiug the form of sinful rebellion age.inst God, and defiauce of just authority, especially in the sacred precincts of the temple, which have been diverted from spiritual worship to idole.trous rites, Lawlessness, by contrast, suggests law, and especially law as applicabl.Q t.o the house of  878 'l'ltE :1300K OF TBEl PROPHET ll:ZmKIEL. [011. :nni.1-21.