Ezekiel 14:11 - Homiletics.

Religious reciprocity.

The relations of the soul with God are reciprocal. There is first of all a mutual approach, and there will be a communion so long as the religion is a living fact. The mutual relationship may be looked at from either of its centres. But first its common character must be considered.

I. RELIGION CONSISTS IN SPIRITUAL OWNERSHIP . There is an appropriation on both sides. This involves certain important facts.

1 . Close connection . We hold what we own. It is true a man in England may be the proprietor of an estate in New Zealand, but even then he is connected with it by immediate agency. Religion implies a close relation between the soul and God.

2 . Powers of use . We have rights over what we own. The inheritance which is so tied up that the heir cannot touch it or do anything with it, is scarcely to be called property; the rights of ownership are shadowy indeed in such a case. Real ownership confers rights and powers. So it is in religion. The mutual ownership here confers mutual rights and powers.

3 . Value . A man may own what is worthless—leagues of Siberia or tons of desert sand. Still, as a rule, he makes the most of his property, and if he is proud of owning anything, we may be sure that he values it. Now, the mutual religious ownership of God and the soul is referred to in a way to show that it is prized.

II. THE SPIRITUAL OWNERSHIP OF THE BIBLE IS RECIPROCAL .

1 . God owns the souls of his people . "That they may be my people" is the expression in regard to God's design in the discipline of Israel. God regards his people as his "inheritance" ( Psalms 28:9 ).

2 . God ' s people own God . They do not only confess his Name.

III. THE ESTABLISHING AND CONFIRMING OF THIS RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP IS THE GREAT END OF THE DISCIPLINE OF LIFE . It is the re-establishing of an old broken connection. Israel had once stood in this happy relation with God; she had lost it by sin. We are all God's children by birth; but by sin we too have lost the privileges of sonship. The great hindrance lies in our rebellion against God. Israel could not boast of her descent from Abraham, nor of her covenant relationship with God, for the covenant was broken by sin, and the family claim disowned. The only way to secure this happy condition again is to give up the newer connection with sin. Now, God sends severe discipline to lead to that result ( Ezekiel 14:10 ). He uses his rod to drive the wanderer home.