Page 38 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

32 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.

not satisfy their souls nor fill their bowels, because it
was the stumbling block of their iniquity.”
But had not God one place chosen to be His dwelling
place and rest ? Alas! their worst evil manifested
itself against Him there. Their glory was their shame.
“ As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in ma­
jesty: but they made the images of their abominations
and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I
set it far from them. And I will give it into the
hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of
the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. My
face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute
my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and
defile it.” (Ver. 20—22.)
Lastly the prophet is bid to make the chains symbo­
lic of the slavery in store for those not cut off, and this
too that the vilest of Gentiles should take possession of
their houses, destruction coming, and peace sought in
vain, but mishap on mishap, and rumour upon rumour,
and no vision from the prophet, but the law perishing
from the priest and counsel from the elders. The
king mourning, the prince clothed with the perplexity of
grief, and the hands of the people of the land shaking:
such is the picture (ver. 23—27) of appalling trouble,
and fulfilled to the letter, as we know. “ Because of
their way will I do unto them, and according to their
judgments will I judge them; and they shall know that
I am Jehovah.” Such is the conclusion of the solemn
preliminary warning.