The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 424

Ver. 12.-Afree-wul oiferi'fl!J, There were certain sacrifices and offerings which the pious .Tew was bound to present. To_ omit compliance with certain regulations upon these observances would have been d1sloye.lty. But there were other offerinas which were optional, which were left to tbe feelings e.nd to the circumstances of the war- shipper. They were only brought when there was e.n especially lively sense of the Lord's goodness, e.nd an especial desire to express consecration and devotion. Gifts prompted by gratitude and love are the only gifts which are of value in the sight of him who searcheth and looketh upon the heart. I. FREE-WILL OFFERINGS ARE BECOMING ON THE PART OF MAN. Man's nature is distinguished by the glorious prerogative of liberty. 'l'here is for him no moral excellence or beauty in constraint. 'fhe heart is free, and it is the only gift which in God's sight is precious; all other gifts have value so far only as they are tbe expression of the love and loyalty of the spiritual nature. Whatever is dedicated to God of the worshipper's free-will is a human and a worthy offering, such as a being with man's prerogative of liberty may justly offer. II. FREE-WILL OFFERINGS ARE ACCEPTABLE TO GoD. False religions sometimes extort from devotees, by the motive of terror, gifts and offerings, services and sacrifices, which would otherwise be withheld. They must be fictitious deities that are repre- sented as gratified with such offerings as these. But the character of God is such as assures us of his willingness to receive what is freely and cheerfully presented. Not that he can be enriched by anything that his creatures can present. "Of thine own," they acknowledge-" of thine own have we given thee." But all is precious to him that reveals a loyal, loving, and grateful heart.-T. Ver. 13.-l?ie dai1y offering. There is nothing inconsistent in the combination of special solemnities observed upon certain occasions with the regular daily worship. They are not contradictory of, but complementary to, each other. If there is an adap- tation between annual festivals and one principle of human nature, there is an equal adaptation between another tendency of that nature and the constantly recurring daily sacrifice of prayer and praise. Accordingly, in this same chapter are found directions as to the yearly feasts and instructions concerning the daily sacrifice. How just and reasonable is this latter provision for our religious life is apparent from- I. THE DAILY MERCIES WHICH HAVE TO DE A0KNOWLEDGED. The tokens of God's goodness and bounty, forbearance and grace, do not come to us at long iutervals. They are incessantly bestowed. He daily loadeth us with benefits. He giveth us day by day our daily bread. The mind that is at once observant and sensitive is, at the contemplation of renewed, unceasing favours, ready to exclaim, "Every day will I praise thee, and I will bless thy Name for ever and ever." II. THE DAILY BINS WRICH HAVE TO BE CONFESSED, AND FOB WHIOH FORGIVENESS HAB TO JIE ASKED. The offerings and sacrifices of the temple included not only thank offerings, but sin and trespass offerings. The lsraelitish worshipper appeared before .Tehovah as a penitent supplicating forbearance and pardon. There is no hnman worshipper who has not occasion to come into the presence of the God of holi- ness with shame and confusion of face. Daily transgressions and omissions call for daily acts of humiliation and daily entreaties for mercy. The self-righteous may conceal from themselves this fact, and the hypocritical may seek to conceal_ it from God. But those who know themselves, and are sincere in their devotions, will implore the clemency and the forgiveness promised by the righteous Sovereign to those who seek reconciliation through the mediation of the Divine Redeemer. Ill. THE DAILY GUIDANCE AND BTBENGTH WHICH ABE NEEDED, AND WHICH HA VE TO BE BOUGHT FROM GoD. Devotion is primarily the offering of the heart, its love a~d grateful praise, to God. But it includes also the seeking of blessings which it is his prerogative to bestow. There is no day which does not bring with it duties that can be properly fulfilled only with Divine assistancci, trials which can only be passed. OH. XLVI, 1-24.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 439