Ezekiel 33
DOYLY— Abraham was one, &c.] If Abraham, being but one, had this land given to him for an inheritance; how much more may we, his seed, to whom it is deduced, being many, challenge an interest in it? Bp. Hall.
The title of “one” is elsewhere given to Abraham, as being the original and head of the Jewish nation; Isa. li. 2; Mal. ii. 15; Heb. xi. 12. W. Lowth.
— with their mouth they shew much love.] According to the marginal reading the sense is, that they turned the Prophet’s words into jest; but by comparing this with the following verse, we may rather understand the phrase in this sense, that they were delighted with the Prophet’s harmonious voice, or attractive eloquence, but would not make the proper use of what he said for correcting their evil manners. W. Lowth.
— but their heart goeth after their covetousness.] Their worldly desires of whatever sort. Abp. Secker.
Ezekiel 33:10
- — If our transgressions — be upon us, and we pine away &c.] If according to thy prophecies God has determined to reckon with us for our sins, and to bring judgment upon us, to what purpose shall our conversion be? and how shall we live, though we do amend? Bp. Hall. They are the words of persons despairing of God’s mercy, and from thence taking occasion to go on in their sins. See a like instance Jer. ii. 25. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 33:11
- — As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; &c.] We have here one of the most express declarations to be found in the whole Scripture, of the infinite mercy of God. God swears by Himself, that He would not by any means the death of the wicked; that He desires nothing but their conversion and life: and receives them graciously as soon as they return to Him. The consideration of God’s great mercy should fill sinners with confidence, and engage them to repent, and thereby prevent their ruin. Ostervald.
These are most comfortable words: for now we may be sure, that when we will leave our sins and wickedness, and turn unto Him with all our hearts earnestly, then He will turn Himself unto us, and will shew Himself a loving Father. And to the intent we should believe this, He sweareth an oath: we ought to believe God without an oath, yet He sweareth, to make us more sure. Bp. Latimer.
God declares Himself to bear an universal good-will to mankind; that He doth earnestly desire the welfare of all men; and is displeased with the ruin of any man. This He affirms; and, for the confirmation of our faith, and our consolation therein, He swears it: “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” See also Isa. v. 4; Hos. xiii. 9; Isa. lxv. 2; Rom. x. 21; Jer. vii. 31; Prov. i. 24. 29; Isa. lxv. 12; lxvi. 4; i. 16; Jer. vi. 10; Zech. vii. 11, 12. Which passages, and many others of the like importance that occur, do imply the large extent of God’s merciful
intentions, and the competency of the means, which God affords for the salvation of men; that He wants no affection or inclination to save them; that He neglects no means proper for effecting it; that He draws them into the way leading thither by serious and earnest invitation, directs them by needful light and instruction, excites them by powerful arguments and persuasions; and, as St. Ambrose speaketh, that “God hath shewed to all, that, what was in Him, he did will to deliver or save all men.” Whence He may truly and properly be called the Benefactor and Saviour even of those, who by their wilful malice or neglect do not obtain salvation. Dr. Isaac Barrow.
Ezekiel 33:12
12, 13. — The righteousness of the righteous &c.] See chap. xviii. 26, 27, and note.
Ezekiel 33:13
- — if he trust to his own righteousness,] If he rely upon the good works that he hath done, and think the worth of them will overbalance his evil deeds. This seems to be the persuasion of the latter Jews, who lay this down for a certain rule in their Mishna, that all Israel hath a share in the world to come. The Mahometans think the same respecting themselves. Relaud, W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 33:14
- — when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; &c.] In the whole course of Scripture, God’s threatenings, and so his promises too, have ever a condition annexed to them in God’s purpose: which though it be not ever, indeed but seldom, expressed, yet is it ever included, and so to be understood. All God’s promises, how absolutely soever expressed, are made on condition of obedience; and all his threatenings, how absolutely soever expressed, on condition of impenitence. This is plain from the passage before us; where Almighty God clearly teaches us, that we ought so to conceive of all his threatenings, be they never so peremptorily set down, (as what more peremptory than this, “Thou shalt surely die?”) as that He may reserve to Himself a power of revocation, in case the parties threatened repent. Bp. Sanderson.
Ezekiel 33:15
- — give again that he had robbed,] The law was The hypocrisy of the Jews reproved Before CHRIST 587.
in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezekiel 33:25
- — Ye eat with the blood.] Ye are not the sons of faithful Abraham: your works are contrary to his; ye eat the blood together with the flesh, which I have forbidden; ye are guilty both of idolatry and murder; and shall ye challenge to possess the land in the right of Abraham? Bp. Hall.
Ezekiel 33:26
- — ye stand upon your sword.] Ye rely upon the confidence of your own sword. Bp. Hall.
Ezekiel 33:27
- — shall fall by the sword, &c.] The three judgments here mentioned, together with famine, are often threatened as the last and finishing stroke of God’s vengeance upon the Jewish nation; see chap. v. 12. 17; vi. 12; xiv. 21; Jer. xv. 3. W. Lowth.
— in the caves. The caves here mentioned were a sort of strong holds, formed by nature in the rocks, or cut out under the tops of mountains. They were so large that men might secure themselves, their families, and their goods in them; such was the cave of “Adullam,” mentioned 1 Sam. xxii. 1; 2 Sam. xxiii. 13. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 33:30
- — talking against thee] Rather, “of thee:” this is in some editions the marginal and probably the right translation. Abp. Secker.
— by the walls and in the doors] Both in their public places of concourse and in their private meetings. W. Lowth.
Ezekiel 33:31
- — as the people cometh.] As disciples flock to their teachers; so the Chaldee Paraphrase explains it. W. Lowth.
— and they sit] See note on chap. viii. 1. A reproof of the shepherds. God’s judgment against them. Before CHRIST 587. make loves, or jests. of loves. fore thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth † they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Ezekiel 33:32
- And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song] They were struck with his eloquence without regarding his exhortations and admonitions.
It is no unusual thing for people to listen to discourses from the ministers of God only to enjoy the satisfaction, which a well composed discourse naturally affords. Their ears are gratified, their sentiments are enlivened, agreeable emotions of various kinds are excited. So the hearer is pleased, the speaker is commended and followed; but with no thought of practising one word that he hath said. This is the turn of mind so admirably described many ages ago by the Prophet Ezekiel in this passage. But religious instruction could never be appointed to give such empty, insignificant delight as this: nor doth it in the least attain its proper end, unless it influences men to forget the preacher, and think of themselves: unless it raises in them, not a superficial complacency, or an idle admiration, but an awful and a durable solicitude about their eternal welfare. Abp. Secker.
Ezekiel 33:33
- And when this cometh to pass,] This matter, this event, the destruction of Jerusalem. Abp. Newcome.
— (lo, it will come,)] Or rather, “lo, it is come,” chap. vii. 2. 6. 10; the verb being in the present tense. When you see my prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem actually brought to pass, as it appears they are at this time; see ver. 21; then you will be convinced of the truth of my mission, and of your own inexcusable crime in despising my predictions; see chap. xxiv. 27. W. Lowth.
Chap. XXXIV. ver. 1. — came unto me,] It is pro-
GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?