CHAP. XIV.
The elders, who inquired of God, while their hearts were set on idols, are sharply reproved, and waroed, 1-5. A call to repentance; with threatenings of temporal and spiritual judg
11-13.) Instead of standing in the gap to turn away bis indignation from the people, by their prayers, holy examples, and zealous endeavors to promote true godliness; they widen the breach, by their wicked lives and erroneous doctrines, their soothing and flattering delusions, which cause men to think themselves deserving of eternal life, even when "the wrath of God abideth on them." Numbers follow the "pernicious ways" of such false teachers, "by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of;" and many are seduced to expect the accomplishment of their unscriptural assertions.
But the Lord is against them, and has not sent them: they hey shall not be "written among the righteous," nor share the heavenly inheritance: "because, even because, they seduce" the professed worshippers of God, pers of God, and promise men peace and salvation, without conversion, faith, or holiness. But indeed there are numerous ways, by which one heresiarch "builds up a wall, and others daub it with untempered mortar." Some teach men to expect safety from a comparative decency of moral character;
ments on many, in order to the reformation of Israel, 6-11. No righteousness of a few individuals would avert the judgments of famine, noisome beasts, sword, or pestilence, from a guilty land; much less these four sore judgments from Jerusalem, 12-21. A promise that a remnant should be preserved, for the instruction and comfort of the captives, 22, 23.
who repent and believe the gospel; yet he assures us, that "he who believeth not, shall be damned;" and "without holiness no man shall see the Lord."
V. 17-23.
What manifold ways has Satan of deceiving souls! yet because men are so much more disposed to believe soothing lies, than humbling and awakening truths; none of his schemes or instruments, from the wretched fortune-teller to the learned heresiarch, are utterly unsuccessful. The various descriptions of deceivers, who revile or despise each other, agree in promising happiness to those whom the word of God condemns; ns; and in discouraging and grieving those whom it comforts. The masses, indulgences, and protections of the church of Rome, and their anathemas and excommunications of those as heretics, whom they cannot hunt into their net; ( Note , Rev. 13:13-17.) the pretended candor of numbers to men of almost every opinion, except those who steadily profess an attachment to the doctrines of scrip
some on account of formal or superstitious ob-ture; and the delusion of such as connect sal
servances; some because they belong to an orthodox part of the church, and have got general notions of certain important doctrines; some because of their impressions and enthusiastic reveries; and others even by a direct perversion of the gospel, and encouraging men to "sin on that grace may abound." Each of these descriptions can find specious reasonings, || or a few detached texts of scripture, plausibly
vation with any kind of faith, and revile those as Pharisees, who judge of the tree by the fruits: all these, and many others, produce the same effects, in grieving and perplexing upright Christians, and in "strengthening the hands of sinners, that they should not return from their wicked ways."-But confident and mercenary impostors are too numerous to be particularly exposed.
Some men's boasts and health, life, and salvation were at their disposal; in order that they might enrich themselves by turning the gift of God into ready money: and the chief difference between modern and ancient pretenders seems to be, that the former expect a more valuable recompense, than "handfuls of barley and pieces of bread:" and the signs or means, which some of them employ, are at least as ridiculous, as those used by these ancient prophetesses; and like them aptly shew, how they dupe and hoodwink their votaries, and "hunt souls into their net." Thus, for a time they may, and sometimes do, entangle even the people of God; but "he will deliver them out of their hands." They pollute the name of God, by using it to sanction their mercenary impositions, and by covering them over with a profession of religion: but he will vindicate his own glory, and make their folly and wickedness evident to all men: and though numbers are deluded and amused to their ruin; yet it will at last appear, that none were thus fatally duped, except such as hated the truth "and had pleasure in unrighteousness. ( Note , 2 Thes . 2:8-12.) It, however, behoves miny, as those who have thus seduced their and in every thing to seek the teaching of the fellow sinners to trust in a lie, to their utter Holy Spirit, and to stand aloof from whatever destruction: it shall then be inquired of them, "Where is your wall? and where is the daub-trine and pretension by its agreement with the
misinterpreted, to countenance their delusions: pretensions would almost persuade one, that
(Note, 2 Pet . 3:14-16.) and men of learning and ingenuity frequently employ themselves in daubing these tottering walls "with untempered mortar," to prevent their weakness from being discovered. But they are all alike distant from Christ the true Foundation: they build not on him by a penitent "faith, which worketh by love," and produces obedience; ( Notes , 1 Cor . 3:10–15.
Gal. 5:1-6.) they either leave out his merits and atonement, or the work of his new-creating Spirit, or the substantial fruits of righteousness; and in different ways endeavor to varnish, paint, and repair the old building, instead of erecting a new one on a new foundation, for "an habitation of God through the Spirit." How fair soever the wall, thus run up and daubed, may appear to the carnal eye, it will seldom stand the storm of temptation or persecution; and it will afford no shelter in the approaching tempest of death and judgment: then the justice and vengeance of God will rend it in pieces, and destroy it to the ground; and "great will be the fall of it," and the ruin of all who have got under it for shelter. (Notes, Is. 8:16-20.) Nor will any of the human species be so loaded with igno-Christians to keep close to the word of God,
ing, wherewith ye daubed it?" while those whom they have deluded will execrate them, more than ever they admired and commended them. Let us therefore beware of those false prophets, ( Note , Matt . 7:13-20.) who indiscriminately speak peace, and encourage people of every sentiment and character to expect salvation; and let us remember, that though Christ preaches peace to those, near or far off,
appears suspicious. We should try every doc
scripture, and its tendency to promote vital godliness: we should reject all, which tends to discourage the humble believer, or to encourage the presumption of wicked men: we should shun all superstitious observances, and vain inquiries into futurity; and so trust the promises of God, as to obey his commandments, committing ourselves and all our concerns to the keeping of his grace and providence
THEN came a certain of the elders of || Israel unto me, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, d these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?
6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and m turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, Pand setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, a and cometh to a prophet to in
4 Therefore & speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GoD; Every man of the house of Israel that set-quire of him concerning me; I the LORD
teth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; h I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols:
5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all * estranged from me through their idols.
a 8:1. 20:1. 2 Kings 6:32. Acts 4:5,8.
b 33:31. Is. 29:13. Luke 10:39, Acts 22:3.
c 1 Kings 14:4,5. Am. 3:7. d 4,7. 6:9. 11:21. 20:16. 36:25. Jer. 17:1,2,9. Eph. 5:5.
e 3:20. 7:19. 44:12, Jer. 44:1618. Zeph. 1:3. 1 Pet. 2:8. Rev. 2:14.
f 20:3. 1 Sam. 28:6. 2 Kings 3:13. Ps. 66:18. Prov. 15:8,29. 21:27.
28:9. Is. 1:15. Jer. 7:8-11.11: 11. Zech. 7:13. Luke 20:8.
g 2:7, 3:4,17-21.
h 7. 1 Kings 21:20-25.2 Kings 1:16. Is. 3:11. 66:4.
i 9,10. Hos. 10:2, Zech. 7:1114. 2 Thes. 2:9-11.
k Deut. 32:15,16. Is. 1:4. marg. Jer. 2:5,11-13,31,32, Zech. 11:8. Rom. 1:21-23,28,30. 8: 7. Eph. 4:18. Col. 1:21. Heb. 3:12.
NOTES.
CHAP. XIV. V. 1-5. It is uncertain, whether these "elders of Israel" were the leading persons among the captives; or, as some conjecture, certain elders from Jerusalem, who had come to Babylon about business, and who took that opportunity of seeing and hearing the prophet. They came, however, and sat before him to hear his word, and to make inquiries concerning the affairs of the nation. (Marg. Ref . a, b.- Notes , 20:1-3. 33:30–33. 36:37.) Probably, they appeared very grave and devout, and gave great attention to his discourse; and perhaps he was ready to shew them respect and favor.
But the Lord saw through their disguises, and revealed their true character. Notwithstanding fair appearances, their hearts were set upon the most abominable and filthy idols: they preferred the service of them to the holy worship of God; so that these were "the stumbling-blocks," over which they fell into all kinds of iniquity; and yet instead of casting them behind their backs, they set them up before their faces, determined to cleave to them at all events. They are
'not only idolaters in their heart; but they have 'actually set up idols and worshipped them. Lowth . (Marg. Ref . c-f.-Note, 7:16-19, v. 19.) Could it then at all consist with the glory of God to notice, or to give a favorable answer, to the inquiries of such hypocrites? On the contrary, the prophet was instructed plainly to inform them, that the Lord himself had determined to answer all Israelites, without respect of rank or station, who came with idolatrous hearts to inquire of him, "according to the multitudes of their idols;" either denouncing vengeance upon them proportioned to their aggravated crimes, or giving them up up to be deluded to their ruin. Thus he would ensnare them in their own counsels, leave them to manifest the concealed wickedness of their hearts, shew all the world their hateful character, and renVOL. IV
will answer him by myself:
8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him ta sign and a proverb, and "I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
1 18:30, 1 Sam. 7:3, 1 Kings |o Hos. 4:14. 9:10. Jude 19. 8:47-49. Neh. 1:8,9. Is. 55:6,
7. Jer. 8:5,6. 31:18-20, 50:4, 5. Lam. 3:39-41. Hos. 14:1 -3,8. Jon. 3:7-9. Matt. 3:8 -10, Acts 3:19. 17:30. 26:20, Jam, 4:8-10.
* Or, others.
m 4. 8:16, 16:63. 36:31,32. 2 Chr. 29:6. Is. 2:20. 30:22. Jer. 13:27. Zeph. 3:11. Rom. 6; 21.
n Ex. 12:48,49. 20:10. Lev. 16: 29. 20:2. 24:22. Num. 15:15, 16,29.
p 3,4.
q 33:30-32. 2 Kings 8:8,&c. Is. 58:1,2. Jer. 21:1,2. 37:13,9,10,17. 38:14-23.
г 4,7,8.
s 15:7, Lev. 17:10. 20:3-6. 26:17. Ps. 34:16. Jer. 21:10. 44:11.
1 5:15. Num. 26:10. Deut. 28: 37. Ps. 44:13,14, Is. 65:15. Jer. 24:9. 29:22.
u Lev. 20:3. 22:3. Num, 19:20 x 6:7, 13:23.
der them contemptible and miserable: seeing they were all totally alienated from him, through an infatuated attachment to idolatry. -That I may deal with them according to 'their deserts, and thereby convince them, that I am a Searcher of hearts, and know the 'secret wickedness of their thoughts.' Lowth . - 'He shall be led with lies, according as he 'delighted therein.' ( Marg . Ref.g -k.- Notes , 9-11.7:25,26. Jer . 21:1,2. 37:1-10.)
V. 6-8. The only way to escape the threatened judgments would be, by repenting, and by "turning themselves," and endeavoring to turn one another, from all their idols and iniquities to the worship and service of God; and by turning away their faces with abhorrence from all their abominations, that they might look another way, and act in a contrary manner. Thus, and thus only, could they expect an answer of peace. ( Marg . and Marg .
Ref . 1, m.- Notes , 9:3,4. 18:30-32.) For every Israelite, nay, every proselyte, or stranger dwelling in the land of Israel, would be dealt with according to the foregoing rule. If in his heart any man separated from the Lord, favored idolatry, and looked towards that great occasion of iniquity; ( Notes , Gen. 19:16–22, v . 17, 26.
Luke 17:32.) and then, out of curiosity or a desire to serve God and idols also, to save appearances, or to obtain reputation, should consult the prophets; the Lord would answer every such inquirer, not by the mouth of his prophet, but by himself and his own powerful vengeance. (Marg. Ref . n-r.) He would execute such punishment upon him, as should render him an example and proverb to all others; ( Marg .
Ref . s, t.- Notes , Deut . 29:19-25. 1 Kings 9:7-9.) singling him out from his people, among whom he had impiously intruded; and maki making known his own omniscience and omnipotence by detecting and avenging his crimes. ( Marg . Ref . u, x.- Note , 15:6-8.)'The declaration is general, and affects the [497 out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
9 And if the prophet be deceived when || through the land, and they spoil it, so that he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have it be desolate, that no man may pass through deceived that prophet; " and I will stretch because of the beasts:
10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him ;
11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, dneither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but ⚫ that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
[Practical Observations.]
12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, hand will cut off man and beast from it.
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they should * deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass
20:25. 2 Sam. 12:11,12. 1 Kings 22:20-23. Job 12:16. Ps. 81:11,12. Is. 63:17. 66:4.
Jer. 4:10. 2 Thes. 2:9-12.
z 16:27. Is. 5:25. 9:12,17,21. 10:4.
a 17:18-20. 23:49. Gen. 4:13. Num. 5:31. Mic. 7:9. Gal. 6:5.
32:38. Zech. 13:9. Heb. 8:10. 11:16. Rev. 21:7.
f 9.9. Ezra 9:6. Is. 24:20. Lam. 1:8,20, Dan. 9:5,10-12.
g 4:16. 5:16. Lev. 26:26. Is. 3:1. Jer. 15:2,3. Lam. 4:9,10. h 17,19,21. 25:13. Gen. 6:7. Jer. 7:20. 32:43. 36:29. i 16,18,20.
'captive Israelites, those who still remained in 'their own land; and the proselytes who dwelt 'there.' Bp. Newcombe .
V. 9-11. These inquirers would soon be weary of consulting God's prophets, and be disposed to apply to those of another character; who would be left, like Ahab's prophets, to the illusions of a lying spirit: and thus being deceived themselves, to believe that prosperity would attend the inquirers, they would deceive them also. ( Marg . Ref . y. Notes , 13:7 -16. 1 Kings 22:19-23. Is . 63:15-19, v. 17. Jer. 4:10. 2 Thes. 2:8-12.) This the Lord warned such men to expect: for he fully purposed thus to punish them for their hatred of his truth and service.
Though not the Author of the deceived prophet's sin, yet his being left to fall into Satan's delusions was the effect of a judicial sentence against him; and thus God used him as the instrument of blinding and hardening hypocrites, to their destruction.
And, as the false prophet only sought his own | interest or credit in his predictions, and for that sin was given up to "strong delusion to believe a lie;" as those who consulted him, only sought encouragement in idolatry and wickedness; and as the enmity of their hearts against God prepared them to welcome these delusions. which emboldened them to further
16 Though these three men were tin it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour our out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls " by their righteousness.
21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; 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!
rebellion: so the Lord would punish them in awful indignation, and cause them to bear the load of their atrocious guilt, which would involve both the deceived prophet, and the hypocritical inquirer, in the same terrible destruetion. Yet this severity to individuals would prove mercy to the house of Israel, by warning them against idolatry and iniquity, that they might still continue the people of God. ( Marg . Ref . z-e.- . Notes , 11:17-21.)
Deceived . (9) ( Note , Jer . 20:7-9, v . 7.) When 'any false prophet is deceived, the probable 'event proving contrary to his prophecy, I JE'HOVAH have so superintended the course of 'things as to deceive that prophet. Вр. Newcombe. ( Notes , Ex . 4:21. 9:12. 14:3,4.)
V. 13-21. The faith, obedience, and prayers of Noah had prevailed "to the saving of his house," though not of the old world: and he was assured that the earth should not be deluged a second time. (Notes, Gen. 6:8-17. 7: 1,20-23.9:9-17. Heb . 11:7.)-Job's sacrifice and intercession in behalf of his friends were accepted: ( Marg . Ref . m.-Note, Job 42:7-9.) and Daniel had prevailed with God for the discovery of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, by which his companions and the wise men of Babylon, were preserved from death. ( Marg . Ref . 1.- Notes , Dan.2 :)-It was a singular hon
22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left af have brought upon Jerusalem, even con remnant that shall be brought forth, both cerning all that I have brought upon it. sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and dye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I
с 6:9,10. 16:63. 20:43. 36:31. Jer. 31:17-21. d Jer. 3:21-25.
or for Daniel, who was not at this time above thirty years of age, to be ranked with these ancient eminent saints of God, who were most
23 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 GoD.
e 8.6-18. 9:8,9. Gen. 18:22- 22:8,9. Dan. 9:14. Rom. 2:5 33. Neh. 9:33. Jer. 7:17-28. Rev. 15:4. 16:6.
they would be comforted concerning the evil which the Lord had done to Jerusalem: percerving that he had good cause for all the se
honored by the answers given to their pray-verity which he had exercised; and taking en
ers in their own time. - Yet if these three eminent saints, of different ages, had all lived at once, and united in intercession for a land which had filled up its measure of sin, they would not have prevailed. Their righteousness indeed would either have exempted them from temporal calamities, or converted them into blessings: Yet not as the ground of their acceptance; but their righteous conduct would evince them to be justified persons, and partakers of God's grace and favor; and thus ensure his protection and their everlasting salvation, according to the tenor of the new covenant.
The prayers, examples, and pious labors of eminent believers, have often checked the progress of national wickedness, promoted reformation and true religion, and thus conduced to the lengthening of public tranquillity; and there is abundant encouragement during the time of the Lord's patience and mercy, to use means for the conversion of children, relatives, and neighbors: yet when that time expires, and "the days of vengeance" arrive, no intercession can prevail for the impenitent; nor can any righteous man deliver his nearest relations from destruction. ( Marg . and Marg.
Ref . -o-x.- Notes , Jer. 15:1-4.) But if this were the case with any other nation, the grievous transgressions of which had provoked God to commission either famine, or destructive beasts, or war, or pestilence, to execute his righteous vengeance upon it; if such men, as Noah, Daniel, aniel, or Job, could not prevail for the preservation of a single person, even one of his own children; how much more would this be the case with Jerusalem and Judah, whose unprecedented crimes connected with their special religious advantages, had provoked God to commission against them all these four sore judgments at once, to the total desolation of the land!
'The nation therefore must not hope to escape, because of a very few pious men among them: individuals must not expect safety, because related to pious persons: nor ought Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or other prophets, to repine, that the Lord would not preserve Jerusalem for their sakes, or in answer to their prayers. ( Marg . Ref . y-a.)- Staff of bread . (13) Marg . Ref . g. -Note, Ps . 105:16. -Sword , go , &c. (17) Notes , Jer . 47:6,7.
V. 22, 23. Though the Lord determined to desolate Jerusalem and Judah, and to execute his "four sore judgments" on the inhabitants: yet for his own name's sake, and out of respect to his covenants with Abraham and David, and his promises relative to the Messiah, he would preserve the lives of a remnant of the Jews, who still remained in the land; both sons and daughters, that they might yet increase for the future replenishing of the land. These would be carried captive into Chaldea: and when the few pious Jews, who were there before, should "see their ways and doings,"
couragement to expect the performance of his promises of a future restoration, and of many blessings to the people. It is not certain whether this consolation and satisfaction would result from noticing the atrocious wickedness of the captives; or from hearing their penitent confessions, and declarations of the crimes, which had filled Jerusalem and Judah. But probably many of them shewed very plainly, by their abandoned conduct, for what crimes God had executed vengeance on the nation; and others, being brought to repentance, made such a report of the abominations which they had witnessed, as silenced all objections, and composed the minds of the pious remnant to cheerful acquiescence, and confidence in the truth and mercy of God. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 6:8-10. 7:16—19, v. 16. 12:16.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-11.
Very wicked men may assume such specious appearances of piety, as to impose upon the most discerning ministers of Christ: for who can know what secret abominations are practised in the lives, or what unmortified lusts abound in the hearts, of some, who behave theinselves devoutly under the preaching of God's word, and the administration of his most solemn ordinances?
But the Lord sees through every disguise, and will certainly y nly unmask every dissembler: (Note, 1 Cor. 4:3-5.) and as his answers are addressed to men according to their characters; so we should shew, as well as we can, to whom the comforts, and to whom the terrors, belong; "dividing the word of truth" according to the character, conduct, and disposition of our hearers; and leaving the Lord, by means of the conscience, to make the application to individuals. ( Notes , 2 Cor . 4:1,2. 5:9-12, υυ . 11,12. 2 Tim . 2 : 14— 18, v . 15.)-All the wickedness of mau springs from a heart estranged from the holy character, law, and service of God, through the idolatrous love of himself, and of the creatures.No external decency, form, or reformation, can be acceptable to God, so long as any idol possesses the heart, and rivals him in our affections: yet how many sit to hear his word, and join in his worship, and at his table, who idolize riches, pleasures, honors, and the praise of men! who seek happiness from worldly distinctions, and confide and rejoice in them, rather than in the love and service of God! and how many, who prefer their own wisdom and righteousness to his glorious salvation!
Thus, instead of saying, "What have I to do any more with idols?" and casting them away with abhorrence, they resolutely cleave to them; and these prove stumbling blocks, over which they fall into iniquity and misery. By their secret attachment to worldly objects, they are prepared to listen to the tempter, and to commit scandalous crimes; or, loving this present