Page 71 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAXTER XV. 65
thus saith the Lord Jehovah, How much more when
I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the
sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the
pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet,
behold, therein- shall be left a remnant that shall
be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold,
they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their
way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted con­
cerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem,
even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And
they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and
their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done
without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord
Jehovah.” (Yer. 21—23.)
Thus, whatever the love the prophet bore the people,
whatever the sorrow with which he contemplated blow
after blow that fell on them, he is brought at length
heartily to acquiesce in the dealings of Jehovah, how­
ever sorely He judged; who never causes a needless
tear, and causes mercy to rejoice over judgment.

CHAPTER XV.

T h e n e x t m e ssa g e fro m J e h o v a h a ssu m e s a s o rt o f
p a ra b o lic fo rm , th e a p p lic a tio n o f w h ic h is re n d e re d
c e rta in b y th e c lo s in g v e rses o f th is b rie f c h a p te r.
“ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree,
or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest ?
Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work ? or will
men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
p