Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 11 · Verse 25
VERS. 25.
Then I ſpake to them of the Captivity, all the things that the Lord had ſhewed me.
HEre you have what the Prophet did after the Viſion, he had been in an extaſie ſome time, and now being brought to his ordinary and priſtine condition, he relates to the Captives what he had ſeen and heard. Many of thoſe in the Captivity, and probably ſome of thoſe Elders which ſate in the Prophets houſe, Chap. 8.1. thought them happy which were at Jeruſalem, condemned their owne act in coming to Babylon, judged their counſells fooliſh and weake, which they had about their coming thi…her, and blamed Jeremiah for exhor…ing them ther…unto; hereupon Ezekiel being returned, as he thought, from Jeruſalem to Chaldaea, ſpeaks unto them what he had received concerning the deſtruction of the Temple, City, Land, and the m…ſeries of the inhabitants, and thereby convinceth them, that they were in a far better condition then thoſe they ha… left behind.
All the things.
Things in Hebrew is words, now words are not ſhewne but heard, how then doth he ſay? Which he had ſhewed me: they were not meer words but words Veſ…ita externo ſymbol…. He had many types, Viz. Of a ſ…dge, of a raz…r, and haire, of a chain, of ſix men wi…h ſl…ughter weapons in their hands: of a cauldron, wh…ch were viſible words.
Obſer. 1.When men have been in the hand and power of the ſpirit, acted thereby, then are they ſi… to ſpeak unto the people. Then I ſpake unto them. When Moſes had been in the mount, then was h… fit to ſpeak to thoſe at the foot of the mount, when the ſpi…it had irradiated the minds of men with divine light and truths, then are they meeteſt …o communicate to others. The Apoſtles being filled with the ſpirit ſpake freely, boldly, Acts 4.13.20.
2. Gods Prophets and Meſſengers muſt ſpeak unto thoſe they are intended for, Ezekiel had his viſion, and all the types in it, for the Jewes, thoſe of the Captivity, not the Babylonians. God had a care of the Captivity, that they might be inſtructed concerning his mind, and be undeceived in their apprehenſions about the things of Jeruſalem, Then I ſpake unto the Captivity.
3 They muſt declare what they have h…ard and ſeen, not what is their owne; what is mans is uncertaine, unſatisfying, unſanctifying, but that which i… …h… Lords is infallible, will ſatisfie and ſanctify; Chriſt told the Apoſtles, the ſpirit ſhould take of his and ſhew unto them. John 16.14. & Math. 28.20. They muſt teach the people to obſerve what he commanded them, 1 Cor. 11.23. Paul received what he delivered, thus did Ezekiel he ſpake what the Lord ſhewed unto him.
4. They muſt be faithfull, ſpeake all the things which are ſhewed unto them, thus did our Prophet, he delivered unto them, all the Lord had ſhewne unto him, what ever he had ſeen or heard that he faithfully giveth out. There mu…t be no adding to the things of God, no detracting from them, no changing any of them, but what is the Lords, that muſt be diſpenſed. Chriſt who was ſent of the father, ſaith, All things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. Joh. 15.15. and Paul kep… back nothing, but delivered all the counſell of God unto them, Acts 20.20.27.