Ezekiel 34:25-26 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land… I. THE DESCRIPTION GIVEN OF GOD'S CHURCH. "My hill." 1. The term denotes — (1) Elevation. World is sunk, fallen, degraded. The Church is raised out of it, exalted, etc. (2) Firmness and stability. Not an erection upon sand, endangered by every storm, etc., but upon the towering hill that has withstood the blasts of centuries. (3) Visibility. It is a hill to be visible to all in every direction, its top pointing towards the skies. (4) Healthfulness and purity. The mountain air pure, balmy, bracing the system, etc. Here souls are matured for the healthy regions of the celestial paradise. 2. But this is described as God's hill. (1) The Lord founded it. (2) The place of His Divine residence. (3) The scene of His glories (Psalm 27:4). (4) The object of His especial love. II. THE PROMISES MADE TO IT. "I will cause the shower to come down," etc. 1. The promise is general. Protection, provision, comfort, and prosperity, all included. 2. The promise includes abundance. "Showers of blessings." Bounty of God infinite (2 Kings 4:1; Malachi 3:10). 3. The blessings are to be seasonable. "Shower in his season." Not before necessary, not when it is too late; but at the crisis of need, etc. (Psalm 107.) 4. The blessings are to promote a happy influence on all around. The Church is to spread the savour of grace through the whole earth.Application — 1. Do we dwell in the Lord's holy hill? (See Psalm 15.) 2. Congratulate the children of Zion. Let them be joyful, etc. 3. Invite sinners all around to come and join themselves to the people of the Lord, etc. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. |
    |