Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 7 · Verse 14 – Verse 15
CHAP. VII.
14. They have blown the Trumpet even to make all ready, but none goeth to the battle, for my wrath is upon all the Multitude thereof.
IN this Verſe is ſet downe one of the moſt grievous calamities that could befall them, namely deſpondency of mind; they were called upon to Battle, but none had a heart to goe forth to it, and the cauſe is given, my wrath is upon them all.
Some conceive theſe words to be ſpoken Ironically, and read them thus: Blow the trumpet, let all be in a readineſſe, O ye Jewes call forth, call together your ſtrong Souldiers, let all arm, and haſten to meet the Enemy, he is come into your Quarters, ready to aſſault you in your Cities. Where are you? why doe you not appear in the open fields, or ſtand upon your Guard to defend your Countrey and Cities, you are cowardly ſpiritleſſe men.
There is none goeth to the Battle.
Such Ironies and Sarcaſmes the Scripture ſometimes hath, Iſa. 8.9. Aſſociate your ſelves O yee people, and yee ſhall be broken in pieces, Iſa. 21.5. Ariſe yee Princes, and anoint the Shield.
Belſhazar and his Nobles were voluptuous, the Medes were comming to his deſtruction, undermyning the wals of Babylon, and here the Spirit of God upbraided him and his Princes for their effeminacy and cowardlineſſe.
We may take them literally; They have blown the trumpet, given publique notice to City and Countrey, to make ready for Warre; but none ſtirs, none goe forth, they are without ſpirit. The firſt mention of Trumpets we find in Scripture, is Exod. 19.16. And there they were uſed at the giving and promulgation of the Law, and to this day in many places Lawes are proclaimed with the ſound of Trumpets: They were alſo uſed to proclaime Faſts, and convocate ſolemn Aſſemblies, Joel 2.15. Blow the trumpet in Zion, ſanctſie a Faſt, call a ſolemne Aſſembly, and ſolemn Feaſts, Pſal. 81.3. In worſhip, 2 Chron. 5.12, 13. In the journeying of their camps, Numb. 10.2. For then the cloud that uſed to be over them remov'd, Numb. 9.22. Then Moſes prayed, Numb. 10.35. And then the Trumpet ſounded, verſ. 5, 6. It was alſo uſed to warne the people againſt the danger of Warre, Ezek. 33.3. And in their Wars, Joſh. 6.9. Here they blow the Trumpet to warn them of the danger, to quicken them up to prepare againſt it; There was loud ſounding, and vehement crying, arme, arme, arme, and none went out to the Battle; they wanted not Men, Means, Munition, Horſes, Chariots, Spears, Shields they had, but hearts they had not, no courage to fight with their Adverſaries, to ſtand for Religion, their Countrey, liberty or lives.
Obſerv. 1 That when God is wrath, all preparations and attempts are in vaine: They blow the Trumpet, make ready for Warre, and none ſtirs to goe forth; and what is the reaſon, the wrath of God is upon the whole multitude. God was not with them to counſell, to encourage them, to proſper their attempts, and ſo nothing came of all.
Humane endeavours ſinke, when they are not ſ…conded by God; aeconomicall, and politicall affaires fall to the earth when they are not upheld by heaven, Pſal. 127.1. Except the Lord build the houſe, they labour in vaine that build it. 'Tis not man and wife can build up a family without God: This the Elders knew that ſaid to Boaz, Ruth 4.11. The Lord make the woman that is come into thine houſe like Rachel, and like Leah, which two did build the houſe of Iſrael. So except the Lord keepe the City, the watchmen watch but in vaine. Let Cities, States, Kindoms have many watch-men, let them be faithfull and induſtrious, yet if God watch not more then they doe, more then they, all is loſt. Cities have been ſuddenly ſurprized, Kingdoms over-run, notwithſtanding all the art, vigilancy, and induſtry of men. Its not the Counſell, Militia, Magiſtracy, Miniſtry of a City or Kingdom that can ſecure them, if Gods wrath be upon them.
Obſerv. 2 2. That it's a dreadfull evill when the heart and ſpirit of a people is taken away. Here was danger calling to arme and goe forth; but none went forth, they were heartleſſe unſpirited men.
It's a great mercy among other neceſſaries to Warre, to have men of valour; If there be money, armes, skill, men, and not courage, all is nothing. When Goliah defied the Armies of Iſrael, 1 Sam. 17.10, 11. They were diſmayed, their hearts failed within them, and had not God put courage into David, all Iſrael had lain under the reproach of one Philiſtine.
It's obſervable in Scripture, that in Judah were many valiant men, 2 Sam. 24.9. There were 500000. ſuch in Davids days. In Abijah's days there was an Army of 400000. valiant choſen men, 1 Chron. 13.3. In Aſa's dayes was an Army of 580000. out of Judah and Benjamine, and all of them were mighty men of valour, 2 Chron. 14.8. In Ahaz dayes were 120000. valiant men of Judah ſlaine in one day, 2 Chron 28.6. The men of Judah were famous for their valour, yet now there were no valiant men left, there were none had hearts to goe forth and give the enemie battle. The promiſe was, that one of them ſhould chaſe a thouſand, and two put ten thouſand to flight, Deut. 32.30. The meaning is, they ſhould mightily prevail in battle; this was in caſe they provok'd not God againſt them. And therefore it follows; except their Rock had ſold them, and the Lord had ſhut them up, if it were come to that, then they ſhould be faint-hearted and feeble: and ſo was it now, God their Rock was againſt them, he had ſold them into the hands of the Chaldeans, and ſhut up their ſpirits, and the ſtrong were become as tow, Iſa. 1.31. They were heartleſſe, headleſſe, armleſſe, none durſt oppoſe the ſtout and proud adverſary. God hath variety of wayes to fruſtrate the endeavors of men, and one among other, and of the ſaddeſt nature is, to unſpirit men. It's a wonderful judgement, when the wiſdome of the wiſe doth periſh, when the underſtanding of the prudent is hid, Iſa. 29.14. And it's as heavy, ſtrange a judgement, when the mettle and courage of valiant Souldiers in time of neede is not to be found.
The Germans were a warlike people, and Lavat obſerves, that after the Councel of Conſtance their ſpirits failed them, there they dealt unfaithfully with Huſſe, and after cruelly and ſhamefully they put him to death, and attempting to bring the Bohemians to the old way of worſhip; they were eaſily overcome, and ſometimes fled at the ſight of their enemies.
Obſerv. 3 3. Apprehenſion of Divine wrath diſcern'd and approaching, diſpirits ſtrong men: there were without doubt many ſtrongmen in Judah as at other times, but they were without ſpirit, their ſins had ſtirred up God to bring the Northern Force upon them; Nebuchadnezzar with all his Forces, they were now entring their land, ready to ſit down before Jeruſalem, and they ſaw now the ſad threats of the Prophets fulfilling, God even fighting againſt them, and this ſunk their guilty hearts, Deut. 32.25. Terrour within ſhall deſtroy the young man: The young men that are full of blood, ſpirits, lively, even terrour within ſhall deſtroy them. Their guilt wil not only unſpirit them, but unlife them, Job 15.20. The wicked man travaileth with paine all his dayes. He hath prickings, ſtingings within. And verſ. 24. Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him affraid, they ſhall prevail againſt him as a King ready to the battle: There is power in theſe to deſtroy a ſinner, as in a King arm'd, attended with a multitude of Souldiers, to ruine his wounded, his flying adverſaries. Jeremie knew the power of Divine wrath, and therefore prays, Chap. 17.17. Be not thou a terrour unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evill. Hee feared left hee that was his hope ſhould be his terrour; the day of evill awakens ſleepy, guilty, dead works, and then God before truſted in, becoms dreadfull; look well to your hearts and conſciences, get off the guilt upon them, and get out the filth in them, Heb. 9.14. The blood of Chriſt doth purge the conſcience from dead works. That is, all ſins, and all guilt which works death, and binds over to death; but that's not all, they lie as dead things in the ſoule, and upon occaſion revive, have their reſurrection, and ſlay us anew.
CHAP. VII.
15. The ſword is without, and the peſtilence, and the famine within: hee that is in the field ſhall dye with the ſword, and hee that is in the City, famine and peſtilence ſhall devour him.
OF Sword, Famine, Peſtilence I have formerly ſpoken, God hath theſe Judgements in his hand, and can let them out when and where he pleaſes: and when Gods publique Judgments are abroad, there is no ſafety for ſinners in their Cities, in the Fields, God will purſue them though they flie, and ſlay them though they be never ſo ſtout. He will not only ſcare them with theſe, but he will deſtroy them by theſe.