The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 366

Vers. 1-9.-Sunshine after storm. The prophet of Jehovah has inspected all the plans of the second temple. In clearest vision he has seen all its parts arranged. Tho sacred edifice has grown to perfection before his eye. Court within court bas successively appeared. And now the great question arises, " Will the God of heaven again stoop to dwell there?" In vain will be all this preparation and toil unless Jehovah shall fill the house again with his presence. In vain will be all ceremony and all sacrifice unless the God of Abraham responds to human appeals. The prophet's suspense is only for a moment. As soon as the separation between the "sanctuary and the profane place" is accomplished, the God who had retired because of the desecrations of his palace again approaches. He resumes his wonted place. Again, as in the days of Solomon, bis glory fills the cent.ral shrine. No change has occurred in his dispositions and intentions. He is'.ready to keep to the full bis part of the A.brahamic covenant. As be fulfilled his word in departing, so will he in returning. I. Goo's UNCHANGEABLENESS IN HIS SELF-MANIFESTATIONS. "The visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar." As the splendour of light had been the best imagery that could illustrate his presence in the past, so is it still. All that God had been to Israel in the ages gone, he was prepared to be aJa!:ain. The past con- descensions of God were a pattern acctlrding to which he will act in the future. It was an accommodation to human weakness that the sun should image forth the essential nature of Jehovah, and, inasmuch as it worthily serves that purpose, it shall be a.permanent dress in which Jehovah shall appear. But all metaphors are inadequate, all conceptions of him are inadequate. The light of his presence transcends far the brightness of the material sun. He is the Light of all light. II. ~D IS UNCHANGEABLE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF HIS RULE. " The vision which I saw was according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city." A11bough God had withdrawn his favour from Israel, although he had chastised his people sore, he had not altered a. single rule of action nor abandoned any principle of covenant. He Wl\S the same God who bad pledged himself to Abraham's seetl, the same God who had delivered them frorn the hands of their foes, the same God who ha,! given them over to the Chaldeans, who now was preparing for them restoration and honour. God h,1d acted throughout upon a. line of clear consistency. 'l'he conduct and the loyalty of the people bad changed; therefore they had felt the rod of his anl!er. The 1ame fatherly heart which had rewarded obedience also punished rebellion. The mau who turns his back upon the sun makes a shadow for himself, yet the sun has in no wise changed. The warm beams that penetrate and bless the ploughed furrows of tho field only harden and injure the trodden surface of the soil. Gou remains, in the essential principles of his government, the same, although sometimes men b:1sk in his friendship, and sometimes writhe beneath his rod. III. Goo IS UNCHANGEABLE IN HIS CHOICE OF ABODE. "I will dwell in the mhlst of the children of Israel for ever." So long as they are children of Israel-men of faith and prayer-so long will God dwell among them. It is n permanent and unchangeable law that God finds delight among the sons of men, and wherever his presence is desired his presenee will be found. If provision is made for him in the heart, in the home, or in social gatherings, he will speedily descend. If separation from sin has been made ; if altars are reared and sacrifices are brought; if, in humility and reverence, he is BOught, certainly he will come and dwell in their midst. In such circumstances, God may always be expected to come. IV. Goo IS UNCHANGEABLE IN ms MODE OF COMMUNICATING WITH MEN. "I heard him speaking unto me." It has ever been God's wont to communicate to the race by the agency of a man. He speaks to one, that the one may convey the message to the many. He enlightens one, that the one may enlighten others. God honours the human family by making one a mediator between himself and the rest. The man selected to 880 THE BOOK OF TiIE l'ROPilE'l1 lliZEKlEL. [oa. :tLm.1-!!7,