And they shall know that I am the Lord ,.... As in Ezekiel 6:7 ; and that I have not said in vain ; either within himself, in his own purposes and decrees; so the Targum, "I have not in vain decreed in my word;' or by the mouth of the prophets: that I would do this evil unto them ; in carrying them captive, and dispersing them in other lands; for this is not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment, or of affliction. read more
Verse 10 He now mentions the fruit of their repentance, because the Israelites were beginning at length to attribute just honor to his prophecies. For we know that they trifled carelessly while the Prophets were threatening them. Because, therefore, they were in the habit of destroying confidence in all the servants of God, and of reducing as it were their truth to nothing, the Prophet says, that when they repented they would then perceive that God had not spoken in vain. While they were... read more
Many lost; few saved. The prospects of God's kingdom on the earth have never been wholly dark. A glint of light has always pierced the heavy clouds of gloom. Among the diseased grapes of the cluster, a solitary sound one is found. A thousand acorns are on the oak in autumn time; three or four only take root and flourish. The elect are still the few. But it shall not always be so. The turning point in their fortune is repentance. The internal change must always precede the external. I. ... read more
Stages in the soups prestress from sin unto salvation. "Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations," etc. These verses exhibit the exercise of mercy even in the execution of judgment; and they indicate certain stages in the restoration of a remnant of the people to the Lord Jehovah. I. SIN LEADING TO PUNISHMENT . In dealing with previous paragraphs we have already spoken of the sin and of the punishment of the Israelites.... read more
I have not said in vain, etc. The thought of that self-loathing and repentance reconciles Ezekiel to his work. To "labour in vain" is the great misery of all workers for God. A time will come when he shall see that God has not sent him to such a work "in vain." What before was dark will be made clear unto him (comp. Ezekiel 14:23 ). Ezekiel's words, "not in vain," are echoed frequently by St. Paul ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 , 1 Corinthians 15:58 ; 2 Corinthians 6:1 ; Philippians 2:16 , ... read more
The consciousness of God. To know that God is the Lord, i.e. Jehovah, is very different from knowing that Jehovah is God. In the latter case the true God is distinguished from false gods, as in Elijah's great appeal ( 1 Kings 18:21 , 1 Kings 18:39 ). But in the former case, though there is no question of what God shall be worshipped, the being and presence of the one true God need to be believed and realized. Jehovah means, "He who is," the Eternal, the one true self-existent Being.... read more
Ezekiel 6:8-10 . Yet will I leave a remnant “A gracious exception that often occurs in the prophets when they denounce general judgments against the Jews; implying that God will still preserve a remnant of that people; to whom he will fulfil the promises made to their fathers.” And they that escape of you shall remember me, &c. Your afflictions shall bring you to the knowledge of yourselves, and a sense of your duty to me. Because I am broken with their whorish hearts I am much... read more
The idolatry of Israel (6:1-14)From the time of the judges (the period that followed Israel’s settlement of Canaan) the people of Israel had copied Canaanite religious practices. Canaanite gods, collectively known as Baalim (plural of Baal) were gods of nature, and Israelites used the Canaanite shrines throughout the countryside as places to offer worship to Yahweh. These shrines were called ‘high places’ because they were usually built on the tops of hills and mountains. Israel’s false worship... read more
they shall know that I am the LORD . This expression occurs again in Ezekiel 6:14 ; Ezekiel 12:15 ; Ezekiel 20:26 ; Ezekiel 30:8 ; Eze 30:32 , Ezekiel 30:15 . Other similar passages outside Ezekiel are, first, Exodus 7:5 .Leviticus 23:43 (reference to Pentateuch); then 1Sa 17:44 , 1 Samuel 17:47 . 1 Kings 8:43 ; 1Ki 18:37 . 2 Chronicles 6:33 .Psalms 59:13 ; Psalms 83:18 ; Psalms 109:27 . Isaiah 19:12 ; Isaiah 41:20 ; Isaiah 46:6 ; Jeremiah 31:34 . See Ginsburg's Massorah, vol. i, 118, 134,... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 6:8-10
Judgment had hitherto triumphed, but in these verses mercy rejoices against judgment. A sad end is made of this provoking people, but not a full end. The ruin seems to be universal, and yet will I leave a remnant, a little remnant, distinguished from the body of the people, a few of many, such as are left when the rest perish; and it is God that leaves them. This intimates that they deserved to be cut off with the rest, and would have been cut off if God had not left them. See Isa. 1:9. And it... read more