Page 240 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

234 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
post, and the wall between me and them, they even
defiled my holy name with their abominations which
they committed, so that I consumed them in mine anger.
Now let them remove their whoredom and the carcases
of their kings far from me; and I will dwell in the midst
of them for ever.” (Yer. 6-9.)
There was a dwelling of God in the midst of Israel of
old, after He had wrought redemption for them and
brought them out of the land of Egypt. At once they
sung His praise when delivered from the house of bond­
age. “ Thou leadest forth thy people whom thou hast
redeemed; thou guidedst it in thy strength unto the hab­
itation of thy holiness . . . . Thou wilt bring them and
plant them on the mountain of thine inheritance, the
place, 0 Jehovah, which thou hast wrought for thy
dwelling, the sanctuary, 0 Lord, thy hands have esta­
blished.” (Exod. xv. 18,17.) But there was more than
anticipation; for He adds (chap. xxix. 45, 46) “ I will
dwell among the children of Israel, and I will be their
God, and they shall know that I am Jehovah their God
that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt that I
may dwell among them.” The temple was the same
thing in substance; only it was suited to the esta­
blished state of Israel in the land, not the tabernacle
which wandered with the Israelites up and down the
wilderness. But in cither case, as this was but an
external redemption, so His dwelling was of an outer
sort and contingent on their fidelity to Him as witnesses
of the one true God and placed under the responsibility
of His law. The result was, as it must always be for
the first man, ruin.
Afterwards in due time came the Lord Jesus, the