Page 107 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XX. 101
when He so dealt with their fathers in the wilderness
of the land of Egypt. And there He caused them to
pass in review, as a shepherd the sheep under the rod,
.and so brings into the bond of the covenant. It is sove­
reign grace, but reigning through righteousness. Hence
the rebels are severed from the Israel of God, and trans­
gressors against Jehovah (for even the Israelites arc
not confounded with sinners of the Gentiles) are na
longer to be with His people. Out of the country of
Iheir sojourn He will cause them to go forth, but into
the land of Israel shall not one enter. How strikingly
in contrast with the destiny of the remnant of Judah,
who are to suffer for their specific sins in the land!
There they refused the Christ of God who came in the
Father’s name; there will they receive the Antichrist
who is to come in his own name. Compare Zechariah
xi. 16,17; xiii. 8, 0; also Daniel xii., 1 for the remnant,
and 2 for the body of the people among the Gentiles, as
I understand each of these verses.
It was useless then for the Israelites as they were to
think their worship acceptable to God. For the sin of
witchcraft is rebellion, and idolatry stubbornness. If
therefore they would not hearken to Jehovah, better be
in the openness of their evil than keeping up a show
utterly offensive to Him: gifts from men in such an
idolatrous state only profane His name. But His pur­
pose shall stand. “ For on my holy mountain, on the
mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Je­
hovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in
the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there
will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your
oblations, with all your holy things.” (Ver. 40.) Who