Page 67 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XIV. 61

of Israel within and without. For sinners going on in<
their sins to know Jehovah is their doom under Hi&-
mighty hand.

CHAPTER XIV.

The visit of the elders to the prophet becomes the*
occasion of a fresh revelation, though not in the form-
of a vision. As God was not deceived by their
attitude of waiting to hear His word, so must not the-
prophet be moved from the stern and solemn duty
imposed on him.
“ Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto mer
and sat before me. And the word of Jehovah came'
unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up-
their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock
of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired*
of at all by them ? Therefore speak unto them, and
say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Every"
man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in*
his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his ini­
quity before his face and cometh to the prophet; I
Jehovah will answer him that cometh according to tho
multitude of his idols; that I may take the house of
Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged
from me through their idols.*' (Ver. 1—5.) The holy
seed had defiled themselves, and their guides were morer
worthy of censure than any misled by their example.
Whatever their appearance or pretension, they had “ set
up their idols in their heart.1’ It was no question of