Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders. Sermons
I. THERE ARE IN A NATION MEN SPECIALLY QUALIFIED AND COMMISSIONED TO BE THE GUIDES OF THE PEOPLE, AND TO INSPIRE THEM TO A LIFE OF VIRTUE AND RELIGION. Among the Jews, the priests performed the sacrifices, and in this represented the nation before God; whilst the seers and prophets spake to the people of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, and in this represented God to the nations. Others, too, there were who lived and taught among their fellow countrymen as witnesses of God. In every community there are raised up by Divine Providence just and fearless servants of God, who testify to the law which a nation ought to obey, and who summon their fellow countrymen to obedience. There was doubtless what was special in the case of the religious leaders of the Jews, but the principle is the same wherever there exist soldiers of righteousness whose endeavour it is to lead the people in the holy war. II. IN THE TIME OF A NATION'S TROUBLE IT IS NATURAL THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE RECOURSE TO THEIR RELIGIOUS AND MORAL TEACHERS AND LEADERS. It is with nations as with individuals; in time of prosperity and of that distraction which is produced by absorption in things of earth and sense, the soul's interests are often neglected, and God himself is often forgotten. But let affliction befall either a man or a people, let earthly success come to an end, let earthly props be removed, let earthly visions be shattered, - then it is seen that consolation and succour are sought in directions long forsaken and despised. The counsellor, whose warnings were formerly ridiculed, is now besought to guide and to help. The neglected oracle is sought unto. Unwonted petitions are presented for help. "Is there," is the cry, "is there a word from the Lord?" III. IN SUCH SEASONS, AND IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, IT MAY BE FOUND THAT APPLICATION FOR COUNSEL AND FOR SUCCOUR IS MADE TOO LATE. The prophet may be dead; he may be slain, the innocent with the guilty; he may share the fate of those whom he warned in vain. Or his voice may be judicially silenced; no word may be given him whereby to relieve anxiety or to encourage hope. And recourse may be had even to the proper quarter when it is too late to be of any service. IV. YET IT EVER REMAINS TRUE THAT AN APPEAL IS OPEN TO HIM WHO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL LIGHT AND CONSOLATION. God has not forgotten to be gracious. Certain opportunities which have been neglected may never recur; certain ministers of wisdom and sympathy, whose ministrations have been despised, may no more be available. But the Lord's ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, nor his hand shortened that it cannot save. - T.
Mischief shall come upon mischief. 1. When a people is under Divine displeasure there is a succession of evils for them, mischief after mischief; they may not expect a few, but many.2. God proceeds by degrees and steps to severity of judgments. God pours not out all His wrath at once. First, some drops of a vial, then some little streams, after that the strength. 3. Wicked men in great straits will sue to them for help whom before they hated. They could seek for a vision from the prophet now they were in extremities, and they run from prophet to prophet to get some counsel and comfort. 4. They that will not hear God's servants when they are at ease, shall not have help from them in time of their distress. 5. It is a dreadful evil when God takes away the signs of His presence. 6. Truths are not confined to any sort of men, not to prophets, priests, or ministers, in these or any days; the prophets should be without vision, the law should perish from the priests, and counsel from the elders. 7. God gives vision, law, counsel, and takes them away at His pleasure; He creates light and darkness. They shall seek vision of the prophets, and there shall be none. 8. Those who will not do what they know, shall not know what to do. (W. Greenhill, M. A.). People EzekielPlaces JerusalemTopics Added, Ancients, Calamity, Counsel, Destruction, Disaster, Elders, Follows, Instruction, Law, Lost, Mischief, Perish, Perishes, Priest, Priests, Prophet, Report, Rumor, Rumour, Seek, Shamed, Sought, Story, Teaching, Try, Vision, WisdomOutline 1. The final desolation of Israel16. The mournful repentance from that escape 20. The enemies defile the sanctuary because of the Israelites' abominations 23. Under the type of a chain is shown the miserable captivity of all orders of men Dictionary of Bible Themes Ezekiel 7:26 1466 vision Library Motives to Holy MourningLet me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16). There are several divine motives to holy mourning: 1 Tears cannot be put to a better use. If you weep for outward losses, you lose your tears. It is like a shower … Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Healing a Demoniac in a Synagogue. The Hebrew Sages and their Proverbs "And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee," Blessed are they that Mourn "Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. " There is a Blessedness in Reversion Ezekiel Links Ezekiel 7:26 NIVEzekiel 7:26 NLT Ezekiel 7:26 ESV Ezekiel 7:26 NASB Ezekiel 7:26 KJV Ezekiel 7:26 Bible Apps Ezekiel 7:26 Parallel Ezekiel 7:26 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 7:26 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 7:26 French Bible Ezekiel 7:26 German Bible Ezekiel 7:26 Commentaries Bible Hub |
    |