Ezekiel 34:25-26 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land… I. AN INTERESTING PLACE. The most interesting in the whole universe, and connected with the most pleasing, delightful, affecting associations. Consider wherein the Church resembles Mount Zion. 1. In point of elevation and grandeur. Believers are raised up together with Christ, and made to sit together with Him in heavenly places. They follow out sublime designs far above this world; and they are animated by lofty aspirations. 2. A mountain is an object of visibility and attraction. So is the Church; it stands not in a valley, but on a hill, visible, and calculated to excite attention. It is also an object of attraction. It occupies a conspicuous place, and millions have been attracted by it and drawn. It points upward to the skies. 3. A mountain is a place of strength and stability. So is the Church. It is not founded upon the sand. Century after century has passed away; empires have arisen and fallen in close succession; but this Hill of Zion remains in all its strength and glory. II. AN ENCOURAGING PROMISE. 1. Its nature. "A blessing." In this everything is included. It is not nominal, but real, solid, and substantial. The blessing God gives is suitable, sweet, sufficient, free, and lasting. It includes protection from evil, enjoyment of good, peace, prosperity. 2. Its abundance. "Showers of blessings." This is like the Great Master. Ask as a sinner, He gives like God; — not a scanty portion, not drops, but showers (Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalm 72:6; Malachi 3:10; Romans 10:12). Think of the infinitude of God, and of the infinity of His love — and think of His power! — He is able to do exceedingly abundantly. 3. Its seasonableness. "And I will cause the shower to come down in his season." We do not know the time when deliverance will come; — often out in our judgment of things, and imagine that all things are against us. Providence is like a piece of machinery, the wheels of which are to our view perplexing, and which we cannot understand. 4. Its extent. "I will make them," etc. Oh! to be made a blessing! What an honour! — to be a blessing to the Church, to the cause of God, and to the generation in which we live. (E. Temple.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. |
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