Ezekiel:38-39

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* Verse 1-13 - These events will be in the latter days . It is supposed these enemies will come together to invade the land of Judea , and God will defeat them . God not only sees who are now the enemies of his church , but he foresees who will be so , and lets them know by his word that he is against them ; though they join together , the wicked shall not be unpunished . * Verse 14-23 - The enemy should make a formidable descent upon the land of Israel . When Israel dwell safely under the Divine protection , shalt not thou be made to know it by finding that endeavours to destroy them are made in vain ? Promises of security are treasured up in the word of God , against the troubles and dangers the church may be brought into in the latter days . In the destruction of sinners , God makes it appear that he is a great and holy God . We should desire and pray daily . Father , glorify thine own name . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 39 ****** *** Outline of Ezekiel 39 *** The destruction of Gog . ( _1-10 .) Its extent . ( _11-22 .) Israel again favoured . ( _23-29 .) *** Commentary *** * Verse 1-10 - The Lord will make the most careless and hardened transgressors know his holy name , either by his righteous anger , or by the riches of his mercy and grace . The weapons formed against Zion shall not prosper . Though this prophecy is to be fulfilled in the latter days , it is certain . From the language used , it seems that the army of Gog will be destroyed by miracle . * Verse 11-22 - How numerous the enemies which God destroyed for the defence of his people Israel ! Times of great deliverances should be times of reformation . Every one should help the utmost he can , toward cleansing the land from reproach . Sin is an enemy every man should strive against . Those engaged in public work , especially of cleansing and reforming a land , ought to be men who will go through with what they undertake , who will be always employed . When good work is to be done , every one should further it . Having received special favours from God , let us cleanse ourselves from all evil . It is a work which will require persevering diligence , that search may be made into the secret recesses of sin . The judgments of the Lord , brought upon sin and sinners , are a sacrifice to the justice of God , and a feast to the faith and hope of God 's people . See how evil pursues sinners , even after death . After all that ambitious and covetous men do and look for , "a place of graves " is all the Lord gives them on earth , while their guilty souls are doomed to misery in another world . * Verse 23-29 - When the Lord shall have mercy on the whole house of Israel , by converting them to Christianity , and when they shall have borne the shame of being cast off for their sins , then the nations shall learn to know , worship , and serve him . Then Israel also shall know the Lord , as revealed in and by Christ . Past events do not answer to these predictions . The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that God 's favour will continue . He will hide his face no more from those on whom he has poured out his Spirit . When we pray that God would never cast us from his presence , we must as earnestly pray that , in order thereto , he would never take his Holy Spirit from us . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 40 ****** *** Outline of Ezekiel 40 *** The Vision of the Temple . - Here is a vision , beginning at ch . 40 , and continued to the end of the book , ch . 48 , which is justly looked upon to be one of the most difficult portions in all the book of God . When we despair to be satisfied as to any difficulty we meet with , let us bless God that our salvation does not depend upon it , but that things necessary are plain enough ; and let us wait till God shall reveal even this unto us . This chapter describes two outward courts of the temple . Whether the personage here mentioned was the Son of God , or a created angel , is not clear . But Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice , to whom we must look with faith in all approaches to God ; and he is Salvation in the midst of the earth , Psalms strkjv @74:12 ,. to be looked unto from all quarters . __Outline Henry ' __41 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 41 ****** __Outline Henry ' __42 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 42 ****** __Outline Henry ' __43 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 43 ****** __Outline Henry ' __44 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 44 ****** __Outline Henry ' __45 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 45 ****** __Outline Henry ' __46 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 46 ****** __Outline Henry ' __47 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 47 ****** *** Commentary *** * Verse Romans - 11 . It is wisdom to begin with that which is most easy , before we proceed to that which is dark and hard to be understood . The promises of the sacred word , and the privileges of believers , as shed abroad in their souls by the quickening Spirit , abound where the gospel is preached ; they nourish and delight the souls of men ; they never fade nor wither , nor are exhausted . Even the leaves serve as medicines to the soul : the warnings and reproofs of the word , though less pleasant than Divine consolations , tend to heal the diseases of the soul . All who believe in Christ , and are united to him by his sanctifying Spirit , will share the privileges of Israelites . There is room in the church , and in heaven , for all who seek the blessings of that new covenant of which Christ is Mediator . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * ****** Ezekiel 48 ****** __Outline Henry ' __1 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** * Verse Ezekiel - strkjv @20:37 . Isaiah strkjv @48:10 . Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace ; and so is suffering for Christ , for unto us it is given ,Php strkjv @1:29 . But they knew not what Christ 's cup was , nor what his baptism . Those are commonly most confident , who are least acquainted with the cross . Nothing makes more mischief among brethren , than desire of greatness . And we never find Christ 's disciples quarrelling , but something of this was at the bottom of it . That man who labours most diligently , and suffers most patiently , seeking to do good to his brethren , and to promote the salvation of souls , most resembles Christ , and will be most honoured by him to all eternity . Our Lord speaks of his death in the terms applied to the sacrifices of old . It is a sacrifice for the sins of men , and is that true and substantial sacrifice , which those of the law faintly and imperfectly represented . It was a ransom for many , enough for all , working upon many ; and , if for many , then the poor trembling soul may say , Why not for me ? * Verse 1-11 - Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause , is painful to the humble and spiritual mind . Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers , or more to their praise , than the success of their ministry , as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labour . The law of Christ was written in their hearts , and the love of Christ shed abroad there . Nor was it written in tables of stone , as the law of God given to Moses , but on the fleshy (not fleshly , as fleshliness denotes sensuality ) tables of the heart , Ezekiel strkjv @36:26 . Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression , by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit . He ascribes all the glory to God . And remember , as our whole dependence is upon the Lord , so the whole glory belongs to him alone . The letter killeth : the letter of the law is the ministration of death ; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel , we shall not be the better for so doing : but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual , and life eternal . The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death , but the New Testament of life . The law made known sin , and the wrath and curse of God ; it showed us a God above us , and a God against us ; but the gospel makes known grace , and Emmanuel , God with us . Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed ; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith ; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ , for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life . The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory , that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation . But even the New Testament will be a killing letter , if shown as a mere system or form , and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit , to give it a quickening power . * Verse 1 ,2 - This prophetical passage about measuring the temple seems to refer to Ezekiel 's vision . The design of this measuring seems to be the preservation of the church in times of public danger ; or for its trial , or for its reformation . The worshippers must be measured ; whether they make God 's glory their end , and his word their rule , in all their acts of worship . Those in the outer court , worship in a false manner , or with dissembling hearts , and will be found among his enemies . God will have a temple and an altar in the world , till the end of time . He looks strictly to his temple . The holy city , the visible church , is trodden under foot ; is filled with idolaters , infidels , and hypocrites . But the desolations of the church are limited , and she shall be delivered out of all her troubles .

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