Page 37 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER VII. 31
thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst
of thee; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah that
6miteth.” (Yer. 1—9.)
Next we see that not only do “ the four corners of
the land ” come under the distinct and decisive dealing
of Jehovah, but in this case the results are complete
and overwhelming. There is no recovery possible as
far as man can see or say. “ Behold the day, behold,
it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath
blossomed, pride hath budded. Violence is risen up
into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain,
nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither
Bhall there be wailing for them.” (Ver. 10, 11.) The
ordinary ways and feelings of men disappear. (Ver. 12.)
Wrath is on all the multitude. The special hopes of
an Israelite are broken, for the jubilee too vanishes,
and with it all prospect of recovery. (Ver. 13.) How
could idols help him? The sound of the trumpet
which calls on man, which to a Jew should be the as­
surance of God’s hearing and appearing on their behalf
as usual, is wholly unavailing; for Jehovah’s wrath is
upon all the multitude. (Ver. 14.) They are thus
seen shut up within concentric circles of devouring ruin.
(Ver. 15—18.) God’s prophet announces, terrible to
think, stroke upon stroke, from God against His people,
enfeebled before by the sense of guilt. In the day of
their calamity they are forced to feel that their gods
are vanity, nothing but “ silver and gold,” and “ they
shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall
be as uncleanness.” “ Their silver and gold” (adds the
prophet most impressively) “ shall not be able to deliver
them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah; they shall