Idols in the Heart. — Chapter 14
HERE again the elders of Israel present themselves before the prophet. They sat there with apparent sincerity, but whatever might have been the case previously (chap. 8), now it was nothing but hypocrisy. Well knowing what they were doing, and in utter disregard of God’s solemn warnings of judgment through Ezekiel, they persisted in setting up their idols in their hearts, and putting the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face; and then to come to God’s prophet! At best such conduct was mere idle curiosity, in reality it was sheer hypocrisy. “Should I be inquired of at all by them?” says Jehovah. In vain is it to pursue a path of willful disobedience and then to come and seek guidance from the Lord. “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17). Before God will impart fuller knowledge of His truth, He looks for a ready mind to obey.
But now again comes an appeal not only to the elders, but to the whole house of Israel. For judgment was fast gathering around, and each individual would be held responsible: “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols,” &c. (vers. 6-12). If any would persist in their sin, and still come “to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me,” the Lord would set His face against that man, and make of him a sign and a proverb, and would cut him off from the midst of His people.
It may be well to observe that all this is a question of God’s governmental dealings on this earth; the matter of the soul’s eternal blessing in heaven is not here the point.
Even though a prophet might prophesy smooth things to them, yet their idolatry would bring down upon them a well-deserved, even though long-deferred, punishment: “They shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him” (ver. 10). Yet in all these dealings of God with His people, He kept their ultimate blessing in view (ver. 11). “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29); that is to say, He will without fail carry out His promises. A greater sin than that of idolatry was yet to be committed by the Jewish nation, even the rejection and murder of their Messiah; but yet “all Israel shall be saved” when the Deliverer comes out of Zion.
But judgment had to take its course, for the land had sinned, and that grievously. God’s “four sore” judgments must descend upon Jerusalem, “the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence”; but yet a remnant should be brought forth — a remnant that should consist of individuals, both sons and daughters, who should break off their sins by righteousness, for neither the personal piety nor intercession of such notable examples as Noah, Daniel, or Job would be laid to the account of any. An individual work of repentance in the soul was needed: “And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God” (vers. 12-23). Whatever people may say beforehand, in the end all will bow and acknowledge the righteousness of God’s ways in judgment as well as grace. Today grace reigns through righteousness, by-and-by God will judge in righteousness, and this every tongue will join in confessing.
The Vine Tree. — Chapter 15
In this brief chapter our prophet sounds forth once again, though in different style, the judgments that were about to fall upon Jerusalem. Here the warning takes a parabolic form, even as previously it was in the shape of direct denunciation. In the following chapter we shall see that an allegorical style is used, so anxious was Jehovah if by any means He might reach the slumbering conscience of His people.
The vine was a well-known figure of Israel (Ps. 80; Isa. 5), but through idolatry it had utterly failed in bringing forth fruit for God. “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty,” &c. (Hos. 10:1, 2); so had Hosea lamented before, but every appeal from whatever direction it had come had been in vain. Moses had himself forewarned the people on the eve of their entrance into the land, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is ONE Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,” &c. (Deut. 6:4-16). They were to keep these words in their hearts, they were to teach them to their children, they were to talk of them while resting in their homes, and while walking by the way; and when blessed with all Jehovah’s goodly blessings in the land, then were they warned: “Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you (for the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.” This judgment was now about to fall, for “My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me” (Ps. 81:11).
How touching is Jehovah’s lamentation: “Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, and Israel had walked in My ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned My hand against their adversaries” (Ps. 81:13, 14). But instead of this: “I will set My face against them (i.e., against the inhabitants of Jerusalem); they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them: and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord God” (vers. 7, 8). The fault was Israel’s and not God’s; and as it was then, so is it now: what troubles we bring upon ourselves through willfulness and disobedience! Oh, for a subject heart, a broken will, and a contrite spirit!