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. The blessings bestowed on the peculiar people of God are blessings OF UNSPEAKABLE VALUE. 1. Their origin, and the glory and the grace of their author (James 1:17; Ephesians 1:3). 2. The price paid for their purchase (1 Peter 1:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 8:9). 3. Our indispensable need of them (Revelation 3:17). 4. The peculiar and transcendent happiness which the possession of them ensures (Revelation 3:18; Psalm 4:7; Philippians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 2:9). II. The precious blessings bestowed on the people of God are INCALCULABLY NUMEROUS. 1. Can you calculate the number of showers that fall to refresh, to fructify, and to bless the earth, in the course of the revolving seasons? nay, I will ask further, can you calculate the number of drops of which each shower is composed? Then may you calculate the number of blessings bestowed on the people of God. 2. Can you tell how numerous, or, rather, innumerable, the wants of God's people are? III. The blessings peculiar to God's people are all MOST OPPORTUNELY BESTOWED. "I will cause the shower to come down in his season." To the young, to the middle-aged, and to the old, they come just as their various and peculiar circumstances render necessary. To the poor, to the afflicted, to the tempted, and to the dying, how seasonable are the supplies of all those blessings especially requisite for them! The promise in each individual case is fully and happily realised (Deuteronomy 33:25). IV. The blessings bestowed on God's people are all THE RESULT OF DIVINE AGENCY. 1. Who but the blessed God could have devised that wondrous plan of grace, by which the blessings of the everlasting covenant are secured to His people? (Romans 3:24-26; Romans 11:33.) 2. Who but a Divine person could have paid the price by which these blessings have been purchased? (Romans 8:3, 34; John 1:1, compared with verse 14.) 3. The actual application of these blessings, too, is all of God (Philippians 2:13). Who gives the new heart? (Ezekiel 36:26.) Who gives pardon? (Isaiah 43:25.) Who sanctifies them? (Exodus 31:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.) Who completes the work of their redemption? (Philippians 1:6; Revelation 3:21.)Application — 1. It is no presumption to expect great and manifold blessings from the great and manifold grace of God (Revelation 3:21). 2. What a happy people must the people of God be! (Deuteronomy 33:29.) 3. To God alone we should ascribe the glory and praise of all our blessings (Psalm 115:1). 4. We should be encouraged, from the receipt of common mercies, to expect special blessings from God. 5. The wickedest of men may yet be blessed of God (Isaiah 55:1-3). (A. Thomson, D. D.) 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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