_Certain of the elders. .. sat before me._
THE ELDERS BEFORE EZEKIEL
1. True religion is emphatically a walking with God, not a mere
occasional coming to Him. The precise manner in which the date is
given may possibly be taken as conveying a reproof to those who,
instead of making it their constan... [ Continue Reading ]
_A land. .. which is the glory of all lands._
THE GLORY OF ALL LANDS
Palestine, as it appears to the modern traveller, is so totally
different from the land as it is described in the Bible, that
anticipations are disappointed on seeing it. One never sees the
brooks, or the fountains, or the milk an... [ Continue Reading ]
_I wrought for My name’s sake._
THE GLORY OF GOD, HIS PRINCIPLE OF ACTION
It is an admitted axiom of all enlightened legislation, that with man
as a moral agent human lawmakers have nothing to do; that they must
overlook many considerations of natural infirmity and educational
bias, to which due w... [ Continue Reading ]
_I gave them My Sabbaths._
THE PRACTICAL DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH
Let two remarks be premised. We enforce not the duties of the Jewish
but of the Christian Sabbath. Everything in the Christian Sabbath is
tender and considerate on the one hand, everything is spiritual and
elevated on the oth... [ Continue Reading ]
_I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby
they should not live._
THE JUDGMENT OF INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE
These words have often formed the ground of infidel cavils, and
therefore require perhaps to be explained; also they open up to us a
very important subject, namely, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_We will be as the heathen._
THE PAGANISM OF THE HEART
I. As an evil to which the godly are liable.
1. The force of early habits. The spirit of self-indulgence and
sensualism was the first spirit that animated us all. Its death
requires time. Hence in unguarded moods it comes up again.
2. The fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I
plead with you face to face._
THE SPIRITUAL WILDERNESS
Many awful threatenings and delightful promises are scattered up and
down in the Word of God. Our text seems to be of a mixed nature: the
threatening and the promise are ble... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will bring you into the bond of the covenant._
THE BOND OF THE COVENANT
This striking utterance was given forth by Ezekiel when Israel,
scattered in every country, had begun to forget their nationality.
They judged it prudent to disguise their distinctive character, and
become like the heathen.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will accept you with your sweet savour._
ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD
I. What is implied in our being accepted with God.
1. It supposes a drawing near to Him on our part. Acceptance on one
part implies application on the other. Our whole life should be a
continual coming unto God by Christ. Duties shou... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein
ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own
sight._
GOD’S METHOD OF MERCY USED OR ABUSED BY MAN
I. The method of mercy was very remarkable in the case of Israel. The
loving kindness of God is infinite. Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
_All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it._
A VISION OF DIVINE JUDGMENT
I. Divine judgment is a terrific fact. God has His ideas about
conduct; has a care about His moral universe. His ideas, when uttered
in what we solemnly call judgments, are appropriately uttered. The
flood, the fire... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables._
MYSTERY AND DOGMA IN RELIGION
There is a tone of remonstrance and expostulation in these words of
the prophet. He is evidently conscious that because of something in
the nature of his message, that message will be unpopular with his
hearers... [ Continue Reading ]