MHC Ezekiel 7

Summary

In this chapter the approaching ruin of the land of Israel is most particularly foretold in affecting expressions often repeated, that if possible they might be awakened by repentance to prevent it. The prophet must tell them, I. That it will be a final ruin, a complete utter destruction, which would make an end of them, a miserable end, Ezekiel 7:1–6. II. That it is an approaching ruin, just at the door, Ezekiel 7:7–10. III. That it is an unavoidable ruin, because they had by sin brought it upon themselves, Ezekiel 7:10–15. IV. That their strength and wealth should be no fence against it, Ezekiel 7:16–19. V. That the temple, which they trusted in, should itself be ruined, Ezekiel 7:20–22. VI. That it should be a universal ruin, the sin that brought it having been universal, Ezekiel 7:23–27.

Notes & quotes ( excerpts of note to consider)

Though the ruin of sinners comes slowly, it comes surely.

Oh that we could all see that end of time and days very near, and the end of our own time and days much nearer, that we may secure a happy lot at the end of the days!

Oh that the wickedness of the wicked might come to an end, before it bring them to. an end!

The sorest of temporal judgments have their allays, but the torments of the damned are an evil, an only evil.

Though threatened judgments may be long deferred, yet they shall not be dropped; the time for executing them will come. Though God’s patience may put them off, nothing but man’s sincere repentance and reformation will put them by.

Observe, God is Lord of his anger; it does not break out but when he pleases, nor fasten upon any but as he directs it and gives it commission.

Those shall have judgment without mercy who made light of mercy when it was offered them.

God never sends his anger but in wisdom and justice; and therefore it follows, “I will judge thee according to thy ways, Ezekiel 7:3

Note, In the heaviest judgments God inflicts upon sinners he does but. recompense their own ways upon them; they are beaten with their own rod. And, when God comes to reckon with a sinful people, he will bring every provocation to account

What buds in sin will blossom in some judgment or other.

Whatever are the fruits of God’s judgments, it is certain that our sin is the root of them.

Iliacos intra muros peccator et extra — Trojans and Greeks offend alike

And the times shall be so bad that men shall rather congratulate than lament the death of their friends, as reckoning those happy that are taken away from seeing these desolations and sharing in them, Jeremiah 16:4,5.

it. shall not return re infecta — without having accomplished any thing

None ever hardened his heart against God and prospered.Those that strengthen themselves in their wickedness will be found not only to weaken, but to ruin, themselves, Psalms 52:7

Note, If God be against us, none can be for us to do us any service.

Because the fashion of this world passes away, let those that buy be as though they possessed not,because they know not how soon they may be dispossessed, 1 Corinthians 7:29–31.

God will be glorified in all: “You shall know that I am the Lord (Ezekiel 7:4), that I am the Lord that smiteth, Ezekiel 7:9.

Note, Sooner or later sin will have sorrow of one kind or other; and those that will not repent of their iniquity may justly be left to pine away in it; those that will not mourn for it as it is an offence to God shall be made to mourn for it as it is a shame and ruin to themselves, to mourn at the last, when the flesh and the body are consumed, and to say, How have I hated instruction! Proverbs 5:11,12.

Note, It is folly for the strong man to glory in his strength, for God can soon weaken it.

they shall have nothing to hold up their spirits with; their aspects shall show what are their prospects

Note, Those that will not be kept from sin by fear and shame shall by fear and shame be punished for it; such is the confusion that sin will end in.

Note, There are many whose wealth is their snare and ruin. The gaining of the world is the losing of their souls; it makes them proud, secure, covetous, oppressive, voluptuous; and that which, it well used, might have been the servant of their piety, being abused, becomes the stumbling-block of their iniquity.

Note, Riches profit not in the day of wrath, Proverbs 11:4. They neither set them so high that God’s judgments cannot reach them nor make them so strong that they cannot conquer them.

Money is no defence against the arrests of death, nor any alleviation to the miseries of the damned.

Note, We could better be without mines of gold than fields of corn; the products of the earth, which may easily be gathered from the surface of it, are much greater blessings to mankind than its treasures, which are with so much difficulty and hazard dug out of its bowels

Note, The wealth of this world has not that in it which will answer the desires of the soul, or be any satisfaction to it in a day of distress.

Note, The world passes away, and the lusts thereof, 1 John 2:17. The time may come when worldly men will be as weary of their wealth as now they are wedded to it, when those will fare best that have least.

Note, God’s ordinances, and the privileges of a profession of religion, will justly be taken away from those that despise and profane them.

Note, Those are unworthy to be honoured with the form of godliness who will not be governed by the power of godliness.

Note, Those that break the bands of God’s law asunder, and cast away those cords from them, will find themselves bound and held by the chains of his judgments, which they cannot break nor cast from them.

Note, Bloody crimes will be punished with bloody judgments.

Note, Of the heathen some are worse than others, and God sometimes picks out the worst to be a scourge to his own people, because he intends them for the fire when the work is done.

Note, Sinners that are marked for ruin shall be prosecuted to it; for God will overcome when he judges.

They would not hear what God had to say to them by ways of conviction, and therefore he has nothing to say to them by way of encouragement.

What can men contrive or do for themselves when God has departed from them and appears against them?