Ezekiel 5:9 - Homiletics.

A unique event.

No doubt the intention of this prophecy is to express the horror of a judgment that is so exceptionally dreadful that history may be searched in vain for a precedent, and futurity will never behold its equal. But the very possibility of such an event suggests truths of wider significance. There are principles involved. in this prediction which the modern reverence for the uniformity of law has led us to pass by too hastily.

I. THERE ARE UNIQUE FACTS AND EVENTS . Many things happen but once. They appear as novelties to surprise us, and they perish without issue. The world is full of singularity, individuality, and consequent variety. There is but one Niagara, one 'Iliad,' one Shakespeare. Innocence can be lost but once; the soul's fall is an event by itself, not to be compared with innumerable subsequent sins. Jesus said, "Ye must be born again"—not many times; for one act of regeneration suffices, though many experiences of forgiveness and purification may follow. "It is appointed unto men once to die." That dread Jordan has to be crossed but once. There is one Christ, and "none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12 ). "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" ( Hebrews 9:28 ).

II. THIS UNIQUENESS IS NOT CONTRARY TO THE UNIFORMITY OF LAW NOR TO THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD .

1 . Laws may converge to one result. It might be according to regular laws that slowly gathering fires should suddenly burst out into one great final conflagration, or that, after vast ages of slow approach, two worlds should at length rush into violent collision. Such awful occurrences would be unique, but would involve no breach of uniformity.

2 . Varying circumstances will bring out new and singular, effects. With changeless laws we see changing events. The novel situation gives a new bearing to the old law.

3 . Human wills lead to new conditions. We cannot abrogate any law of nature; but we can change the venu of the forces that surround us, as the steersman may alter the course of the ship by turning the rudder, although he cannot shift the direction of the wind by a point. If, then, God works through uniform laws and so proves to us his eternal constancy, he may yet send novel events without precedent and without following.

III. THIS UNIQUENESS OF FACTS AND EVENTS SHOULD WIDEN OUR CONCEPTION OF THE DIVINE ACTIVITY .

1 . It opens a door for miracles. We cannot explain the cause and process of a miracle, but we may see that the most tremendous and unparalleled events might happen by some novel Divine action without any breach of natural laws, perhaps even through the operation of them. It will then be no less of God, forevery act of nature and law is Divine. It will be above nature still, for the very conception of a miracle involves the thought of a specially purposed Divine action. Yet it may be in harmony with law and uniformity of method.

2 . This uniqueness warns us against a slavish adherence to the inductive method in theology. It shows that here an induction can never be perfect. There may be facts left out of account. Therefore we cannot in all cases predict what God will do in the future by considering what he has done in the past. Assuredly he will be consistent with himself. But in entirely novel circumstances he may reveal entirely fresh forms of judgment or redemption.

3 . This uniqueness should strengthen our faith in special providence. God does not feed his children on fixed rations. To some he may send exceptional chastisement, to others peculiar blessings. Justice does not imply equality; it means fairness. It would not be lair to give the same allowance to all. Here is scope for God's discriminating action, and therefore room for our individual prayer, faith, and hope.