088. The Intercession Of Ezekiel.

The Intercession Of Ezekiel. This prophet seems to have been raised up by God especially, by his predictions and prayers to animate and encourage the pious remnant of his people. There is something in his vehement energetic style, which strikes us with awe and astonishment; we feel it is no common man who prays, but a servant chosen of God, and bearing a high and sacred commission. The language of many parts of the book of Ezekiel is very figurative. The scope of his predictions was very similar to Jeremiah’s. His writings contain several visions representing the calamities of the Jews, reproofs of their wickedness, God’s anger as well his mercy. In the verses in immediate connection with the prophet’s address to God the Lord is represented as leaving his “mercy-seat” to denounce judgment on the people, to withdraw from his temple at Jerusalem, and give them to the power of their enemies. He then gives an order to “the man clothed with linen”—the second person of the trinity, to set a mark on the forehead of all, that sighed continually, or that protested against sin. This alludes to a custom among eastern nations, whose servants were marked in their foreheads These the Lord tells the executioners of his vengeance not to spare, but slay without mercy all others. The prophet seeing the great destruction about him intercedes for his people. Left alone as it were in the court of the temple; the ten tribes had been entirely destroyed or dispersed, a very small remnant of Judah remained, and the prophet’s heart seems full of fear lest not one should be left. The Intercession of Ezekiel as recorded.—Ezekiel 9:8. The Lord’s Answer.—Ezekiel 9:9-10. The further Intercession of Ezekiel.—Ezekiel 11:13-20.

While the prophet was delivering the message of the Lord to the princes, one of them was cut off at Jerusalem very suddenly by death. The prophet seems to be alarmed.