Ezekiel 5:17

REFLECTIONS

READER! let us in the perusal of this Chapter, observe the gracious mercy of a Covenant God, who in the midst of judgments, will have his people regard his love. Hence the Prophet shall be commissioned to preach to them, as well by type as sermon, to show the people, that, though rebellious children, they are not forgotten by him. So that though the man of God is to cause the razor to pass upon his head, and the hair is partly to be burnt, and partly divided with the knife, and partly scattered to the wind: to intimate, the separation for a time of the people from their glorious head; yet still in covenant-relations, the Lord will not finally cast away his people whom he foreknew, though he will reprove them for their wickedness.

Reader! we shall find a sweet subject of consolation from the contents of this Chapter, in hearing how Christ comforts his Church under a similar similitude. Thine head upon thee, saith Jesus, is like Carmel; and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! And when we behold Jesus, as the Head of his body the Church; and the hair intimating the innumerable members which grow upon him; Jesus is held by virtue of this union, in the galleries of covenant grace, and the purple vesture of his blood becomes the token of cleansing from all sin. Though by sin and departure from him, the children of God lose sight of their privileges; yet his grace and mercy remains the same: though we believe not, yet he abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself. Precious Redeemer! how blessed is it to see our safety and security in thee. Truly Lord, all thy redeemed may say with one of old, and in reference to every individual of thy family, though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.