CHAP. XV.
The unfitness of the wood of a vine for any thing but the fire, -5; an emblem of the character and doom of the Jews, 6-8.
ND the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, a What is the vine-tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is bamong the trees of the forest?
3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
4 Behold, dit is cast into the fire
Deut. 32:32,33. Ps. 80:8-16. Cant. 2:13,15. 6:11. 7:12. 8: 11,12. Is. 5:1-7. Jer. 2:21. Hos. 10:1. Matt. 21:33-41. Mark 12:1-9. Luke 20:9-16. John 15:1-6.
b Is. 44:23. Mic. 3:12. 11:2.
Jer. 24:8. Matt. 5:13. 9:50. Luke 14:34,35.
for
Zech.
Mark
d Ps. 80:16. Is. 27:11. John 15: 6. Heb. 6:8.
world, they apostatize from God; ( Notes , 1 Tim. 6:6-10, vv. 8-10. 2 Tim . 4:9-13.) or cares, riches, and sensual lusts render them unfruitful cumberers of the ground, fit for nothing but to be hewn down and cast into the fire: and "should the LORD be inquired of by such men, or give encouragement to them?" Assuredly, he will "answer them according to the multitude of their idols" and iniquities: he "will set his face against them," and make them examples of his vengeance: whilst their hypocritical worship will only aggravate their guilt and punishment, and they shall know that the heart-searching God cannot be imposed upon like their fellow mortals.
Such persons often grow weary of faithful ministers, and want "teachers after their own lusts," to comfort them in their evil courses; and they find others of like character ready enough to "teach things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." Thus evil men and seducers "are multiplied, and grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived:" ( Notes , 2 Tim . 8:13. 4:1-5, υυ. 3,4.) but the Lord over-rules the whole in awful righteousness, to their mutual delusion and aggravated destruction.
He sets his face against some of these teachers and professors of the gospel, for a warning to others: his punishments and threatenings have a tendency to alarm the consciences of the unconverted, and to caution his people to go no more astray from him; and they are made useful to upright believers. The door of mercy is still op open: sinners are still called on to repent, and turn from all their abominations: and all are admitted among the Lord's people, and have him for their God, who seek to be cleansed by "washing in the Fountain, which he hath opened for sin and uncleanness."
V. 12-23.
God will inflict many sore judgments on individuals and nations who sin against him: a remnant of pious persons may indeed for a time avert or retard national judgments; but they cannot possibly prevail with him to tolerate wickedness, or to save men in their sins; nor could they in their right mind desire it, even in behalf of their own sons and daughters. The Lord will certainly deliver his servants "from all evil, and preserve them to his heavenly kingdom;" and he will satisfy them as to his dealings with those, for whom they pleaded in vain but when the day of patience is expired, the same word and oath of God, which ensure the believer's salvation, are engaged for the condign punishment of the wicked. At present, "the whole creation groaneth" through the sins of men, and the
fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. * Is it meet for any work?
5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it
be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned!
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
7 And & I will set my face against them:
e Is. 1:31. Am. 4:11. Mal. 4:1. Matt. 3:12. Heb. 12:29.
* Heb. Will it prosper. Heb. made fit.
-6,24,25. Jer. 4:7. 7:20. 21: 7. 24:8-10. 25:9-11,13. 44: 21-27. Zech. 1:6.
g 14:8. Lev. 17:10. 20:3-6. 26:17. Ps. 34:16. Jer. 21:10.
very beasts of the field in various ways share the miseries of mankind. (Note, Rom . 8 : 18 23.) But in the future world sinners alone will suffer, and that in proportion to their personal guilt. Then the assembled universe will see, that "the LORD hath not done without cause, all that he hath done against them:" and his servants will be satisfied with his decisions, even against their nearest relatives.
For the detection of men's sins will manifest the justice of God in their punishment; even as the humble confessions of true believers now magnify the precepts and penalty of his holy law, and give all the glory of salvation to his grace.
In a firm belief, that we shall approve all the dispensations of God, towards ourselves and all mankind, when the whole shall be fully made known to us; let us now impose silence upon our rebellious murmurs and objections, the offspring of pride, ignorance, and unbelief; let us discard our useless anxiety about the case of others, assured that "the Judge of all the earth will do right;" and let us compose our minds into patient resignation to his will, which in all things is "holy, just, and good."
NOTES.
CHAP. XV. V. 1-5. Ezekiel and his companions seem not to have been easily satisfied, about the predicted judgments on Jerusalem and their nation, which they had been used to consider as "holiness to the LORD." He was therefore graciously pleased to represent to them the propriety propriety of these dispensations, by an apt similitude, which would also counteract the presumptuous hopes of the people. The church and nation of Israel had often been compared to a vine. ( Marg . Ref . a.Notes, Deut. 32:32,3 32:32,33. Ps . 80:8-16. Is . 5:1-7.
Jer. 2:20,21.) A vine is peculiarly valuable if fruitf fruitful; otherwise it is almost as unsightly and worthless as a bramble: other fruit-trees may be of some use for timber, but the vine is of no value except for its fruit.
"What is the wood of the vine more than another tree, or even than a branch of the trees of the forest?" Wood could not be taken from it for any work; not even for a pin or peg to hang a vessel on. ( Note , Is . 22:20-25, ου. 23-25.) Only some parts of other trees are used for fuel: but "the ends and the middle," the whole of the vine when cut down, as well as the prunings of it from year to year, are consigned to the fire, and nobody attempts to reserve any part of it for other uses.
And if it is useless, before it be cast into the fire, what can it be good for when almost consumed? ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . b-e -Notes , John 15:6-8, v. 6.)
they shall go out from one fire, and anoth er fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have * committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.