Page 115 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XXII. 109>
degree and relation. Who can wonder that the name
of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles when the
Jews violated Godward as well as manward each com­
mand of the law which stood in their way ? This is-
detailed in sufficiently humiliating terms in verses
7—12, closing with what is alike the cause and the
consequence of all their other wickedness : Jews even,
had forgotten Jehovah.
“ Therefore, behold, I have smitten mine hand at thy
dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood
which hath been in the midst of thee. Can thine heart
endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that
I shall deal with thee? I Jehovah have spoken it, and
will do it. And I will scatter thee among the heathen,,
and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume'
thy filthiness out of thee. And thou shalt take thine-
inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and
thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.' (Yer. 13—16.)
Such is the expression of divine displeasure. Stout of
heart and hand as they might seem, where would it all
be in the day of Jehovah’s dealing, whose word would
as surely stand as the Jews would be scattered among
the countries, that there if not in Jerusalem they might,
come to an end of their impurity, conscious of and con­
fessing to others their inward pollution and knowing
Jehovah as never before ?
In the next section of the chapter is a denunciation,,
if possible, more tremendous. If the chapter before was
the prophecy of the sword, this is no less of the furnace.
“ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son
of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross : alb
they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst