Page 241 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XL1II. 2S&'
Son of man, the true temple of God, and this in His
case alone without blood, for He only was without
sin, the Holy One of God. Alas ! He was refused, and
all the hopes of Israel and man after the flesh were
buried in His grave. But the grace of God wrought
redemption by Him crucified; and a new dwelling for
God was formed in those who confessed His name,
whether Jews or Gentiles, builded together for a habi­
tation of God by the Spirit. It is the church and it
goes on still, whatever be the ruined state of this
holy temple.
That however of which Ezekiel speaks is none of these
things, but the dwelling which Jehovah will make for
Himself “ in the land of the children of Israel for ever.”
Of this we hear much and often in the later Psalms,
especially Psalm cxxxii. As yet it is wholly unaccom­
plished. Why should it be thought an incredible thing
that God should thus dwell in the midst of Israel here be­
low ? Doubtless He is now forming a body for heaven bv
virtue of redemption in Christ. But its worth will be
unexhausted for the earth ; and grace will work afresh
in power for Israel and the nations, as now for the
church, that all the universe may know the virtues of:
Christ’s blood, and behold the glory of God to the bless­
ing of the once sick and weary creation delivered from
its long and otherwise hopeless thraldom. Moral evil and
religious pravity shall vanish away. All will be to the
praise of the only worthy One. The people who had so
long wrought mischief in the earth will be ashamed of
their defilements and rebellion against Jehovah, and be
in that day the witness of His mercy yet more tham
they have been of His consuming anger.