Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Ezekiel 24:15-16The enunciation of laws or principles seems more especially to belong to Ezekiel, as the experience of personal evil and the sympathy with national sorrow belong more to the tender and womanly nature of Jeremiah. Nevertheless, Ezekiel was to be a priest in this sense also, as well as in that higher sense of beholding the glory of God and proclaiming His name. Suffering was not the destination of one prophet; it was the badge of all the tribe. —F. D. Maurice. To love, is to know the sacrifices which eternity exacts from life. —John Oliver Hobbes, The School for Saints, chap. xxv. Ezekiel 24:18 Mr. R. H. Hutton quotes this passage (vv. 15-27) in his essay on the poetry of the Old Testament, to show how 'this sublime characteristic of the Hebrew prophets, that they seem almost to forget their human centre of life in their effort to delineate Divine truth, is strikingly illustrated in the frequent surrender of their private lives and affections, for the purpose of sculpturing, in a living symbol, upon the mind of the nation, the lesson that no mere words could have taught. How far can any human being now, even distantly, comprehend the state of mind in which Ezekiel must have lived when he acted thus under the Divine inspiration? References.—XXIV. 18.—J. H. Jowett, Meditations for Quiet Moments, p. 106. XXIV. 19.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxxviii. No. 2286. Ezekiel 24:23 'Sin will cease,' said Herbert Spencer,' when men shall have discovered that sin is essentially fatal to happiness.' The Significance of Ezekiel Ezekiel 24:24 Is not every man a sign? Each man is significant of much. Each man points to something beyond himself, something either beautiful or base. Every man is a living sermon. It would evangelize our lives did we realize this. How circumspectly would we walk were this always in our recollection! All great and good men are signs. The Bible declares that the Lord Christ was and is a sign. And of Ezekiel Jehovah attests, 'Thus shall Ezekiel be unto you a sign' (R. V.). I believe the idea to be that Ezekiel is a sign in a very special degree. Bishop Wordsworth translates my text: 'Ezekiel is unto you a wonderful portent'. No common sign, but a portent—flaming with supernatural significance. This is a strong claim to be instituted for Ezekiel. Can it be substantiated? I. Ezekiel is a sign of the brave bearing of the ills of life. II. Ezekiel is a sign of individuality. III. Ezekiel is a sign of fidelity in proclaiming a message. IV. Ezekiel is a sign of self-renouncing obedience. V. Ezekiel is a sign of intensity. —Dinsdale T. Young, The Gospel of the Left Hand, p. 167. Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:
Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Nicoll - Expositor's Dictionary of Texts Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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