Ezekiel 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Does he not speak parables? I. GOD MAY AT TIMES REVEAL HIS TRUTH IN A MANNER SOMEWHAT OBSCURE. Much of His truth in nature is enigmatic and mystical In Providence the same. What confusion there seems to be in His moral government of mankind. In the Bible the same. I have no notion of telling people that the Bible is an exceedingly easy and simple book. II. THE OBSCURITY IN WHICH TRUTH IS SOMETIMES REVEALED IS OFTEN FELT TO BE PAINFUL BY THE TEACHER. "They say of me, Doth he not speak parables?" Preachers have to take great subjects, but how little they know of them; and they who know most of them are most conscious of their ignorance, and they speak with hesitation. III. SCEPTICALLY DISPOSED MINDS USE THE OBSCURITY OF THE REVELATION AS AN OBJECTION AGAINST THE TRUTH. "It cannot be," says the objector; "if God did condescend to reveal truth, no one can suppose that He would reveal it thus. No one could imagine that He would communicate it in that way: the thing on the face of it bears its own condemnation." "They say of me, Doth he not speak parables?" "They," who? All sceptically disposed men. IV. HOWEVER COMMON THE OBJECTION TO CHRISTIANITY ON ACCOUNT OF ITS OBSCURITY, THE OBJECTION IS BY NO MEANS VALID. 1. Truth coming in this form is adapted to our condition in this state of probation and trial. 2. Truth coming in this form serves many useful purposes. It challenges inquiry and stimulates thought. (1) Preachers should learn that it is for them to preach the truth of God in whatever form it comes to them, regardless of the objections of their hearers. (2) Hearers should be cautious not to impose upon themselves by raising paltry objections to the truth. (3) All should learn that religious truth should be reached, not so much by a reasoning process, as by a moral state of the heart. It is to be understood rather by the heart than the head. Looked at through the eyes of moral sympathy, rather than through the eyes of reason or logic. (Thomas Binney.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?WEB: Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables? |
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