T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S over it. The warning was unheeded, but He was faithful. We must deliver our souls from the blood of men by doing our best to give to them the words of life and death which have been committed to us. Ezekiel delivered his soul (33 :9 ); Noah, Daniel and Job delivered theirs (14:20) “Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, a* 1 Rve, saith the Lord God,' they «hall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.’’ Paul delivered his (Acts 13:45-52). There is no more impressive lesson in the Bible than this. Would that every real Christian could sense it and walk in the light of it. We are responsible for the giving of God’s message to every creature as far and as fast as possible and God will hold us to an accounting. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) Visions of the glory of God can only be seen through God’s eye-glasses. (2) Preparation of life precedes a call to special service. (3) Always hold yourself ready to respond to God’s call, “ Here am I; send me.” (4) The Word of God is the wedge which opens wide the door for the Spirit’s entrance. (5) The source of strength by which we stand upon our feet is the Spirit of God. (6) Faith in God’s Word drives away the torment of fear. (7) The duty of the messenger is to deliver the message. (8) The watchman’s place is on the wall. The watchman’s message is a word of warning. (9) When we have faithfully warn ed the wicked of his wicked way we are free from his blood. v. 1. Son of man. The term “ son of man” in the book of Ezekiel is no title of distinction. It is precisely the opposite of this. It denotes the ab
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sence of distinc- COMMENTS FROM tion in the per- MANY SOURCES s o n o f t h e Keith L. Brooks prophet. It signi fies no m o r e than “ member of the human race.” Its sense might also be conveyed if we were to render it by the word “ mortal.” It expresses the infinite contrast between the heavenly and the earthly, between the glorious Being who speaks from the throne, and the frail creature who needs to be supernaturally strengthened be fore he can stand upright in the atti tude of service.—Exp. Bible. He is properly so called as being a type of the Divine Son of man. That title, as applied to the Messiah, implies at once His lowliness and His exaltation in His manifestation as the representative Man at His. first and second comings re spectively (Ps. 8:4-8; Matt. 16:13; 20: 18 and/on the other hand, Dan. 7:13, 14; Matt. 24:44; James 5:27).— Brown. Stand upon thy feet. He had been upon his face (1:28). Humiliation on our part is followed by exaltation on God’s part (3:23, 24; Job 22:29; James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5 :5), On the feet was" the fitting attitude when he was called on to walk and work for God. (Eph. 5:8; 6:15).— J. F. & B. v.- 2. Spirit entered into me. The Word was followed by the Spirit. Thus the Word of God and the Spirit of God a r e always connected.— Gaebelein. When he spake unto me. The man who has truly heard God speak, necessarily has a message to men. Not only are his spiritual perceptions quickened, and all the powers of his being stirred to the highest activity, but there is laid on his conscience the burden of a sacred duty. The true prophet is one who can say with Paul, “ I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”— Skinner. v. 4. They are stiffhearted. The greatest difficulty he will have to con tend with is the impenetrability of the minds of his hearers to the truths of his message. The incapacity of the people is not intellectual but moral and spiritual. They can understand the prophet’s words but they will not hear them because they dislike the truth which he utters, and have rebelled against God who sent him.-^—Watson. I do send thee. God opposes His com mands to all obstacles. Duties are ours. v. 5. Whether they will hear. The prophet was Commissioned to go on, undeterred by their opposition. Under such circumstances we must be sure of
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