Ezekiel 9:2 - Homiletics.

A writer's inkhorn.

Here was a singular contrast. When Jerusalem was about to be given over to slaughter, six armed men went forth for the work of destruction, their accoutrements and military bearing quite in harmony with the dread circumstances of the day; but accompanied by a most incongruous companion, a civilian, one of the city clerks, perhaps, with no better ammunition than an inkhorn. When, however, the work of this man of ink is apparent, his function is seen to be of supreme importance in regard to the events of the day; for he it is who is to set a mark on the foreheads of the penitent, which is to save them from the otherwise indiscriminate slaughter.

I. THE INFLUENCE OF THE INKHORN . Writing was but slenderly used in those early days; yet even then the pen was known and used. Since that distant age how greatly has its power extended! It is now par excellence the tool and weapon of civilized society. From the inkhorn go forth influences that encircle the globe and endure to many generations. The writer at his desk uses his magic fluid as an elixir vitae for ideas which would otherwise he still born and be speedily buried in oblivion. By means of this potent agency he is able to give body and endurance to the fleeting fancies of the hour. The greatest truths are thus preserved and transmitted. If there had been no inkhorn, we should have had no Bible. Civilization has grown up on the food of literature. The sword destroys; the pen creates. When the work of the warrior is lost in the wreck of ages, the work of the writer still endures. The victories of Nebuchadnezzar have left not a shadow behind them; but the Psalms of David are more powerful today than when the sweet singer of Israel first chanted them to his shepherd's harp.

II. THE MISSION OF THE INKHORN . This fearful power of writing may be put to hurtful or frivolous uses. It may disseminate poisonous ideas. Bad literature is worse than the plague. In private life the pen may record scandal that had better have been forgotten; it may write spiteful words that will rankle in the mind of the leader who peruses them long years after the heedless writer has forgotten that he ever committed the folly of putting them to paper. The power of the pen is a warning to the humblest writer to beware of what he sets down. But there is a noble use of this power. The man with the inkhorn in Ezekiel's vision was to mark the penitent, and so to secure their being passed over in the great slaughter by the men of the sword. It is nobler to save than to destroy. The arts of peace are better than the science of war. Pure literature should be a saving and protecting influence. They who have the thoughts of God written on their minds and hearts may be said to be marked against the advent of the destroyer. All who have the gift or the vocation of writing are called to a career which should be one of help to their fellow men. The literary man is tempted to be indolent and selfish, to dream his life away without coming into contact with the misery of his fellow men, and without doing much to alleviate that misery. Ezekiel's man of the inkhorn, however, is to leave his desk and walk through the streets. He is to use his ink to save his fellows. When a city is perishing it is no time to write idle sonnets.

III. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INKHORN . The man with the inkhorn was required to give an account of his use of it (see verse 11). This is a talent which the great Master expects to be used for his glory. Abuse of it is sin. Now, there are special temptations to such an abuse.

1 . The love of fame. This leads to writing what will be admiral rather than what is good and true.

2 . The greed of money. The gift of writing is prostituted to a shameful use when a man writes for pay contrary to his conscience and his convictions.

3 . The sense of power. A writer is tempted to set down striking words, even if they should not be quite true, or though, perhaps, they should needlessly pain some fellow man. Smartness is often cruel. Writing, like every other act of life, needs to be consecrated to Christ and executed for his glory.