Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
EZEKIEL
distant. That diabolic proverb --- ``Le terme vaut l'argent,'' 149 is still common in the mouths of many, and such impiety has been rife in all ages. When therefore
God suspends his judgments, the reprobate intemperately boast themselves as if they could continue in sin with impunity. For this reason the Prophet says, the end is watching --- that is, hastening --- because although God had delayed he would no longer refrain from destroying the Israelites. It follows ---
Ezekiel 7:7
7. The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
7. Venit mane super to, habitator terrae: venit tempus, propinquus est dies tumultus, 150 et non clamor 151 montium.
Now he uses another word. He says, the morning is come, though some translate kingdom, but erroneously. For although {,}צפירהtzephireh, is a turban sometimes, or a royal diadem, yet the Prophet's language is distorted when they say that the kingdom was transferred, or taken over to the Babylonians. But the sentence flows best --- the morning cometh By ``the morning'' he implies what he had said before, namely, the hastening of God's vengeance. As, therefore, he said the end was watching, since God was hastening to take vengeance, so also he says, the morning is come to them, and then rouses them from that drowsiness in which they had grown torpid. We know that hypocrites commit all their sins as if no eye were upon them; as long as God is silent and at rest they revel without shame or fear. But the chosen remain faithful even in secret; but God's word always shines before them, as Peter says --- ye do well when ye attend to the Prophetic word, as a lamp shining in darkness. (2 Peter 1:19.) Although the faithful may be surrounded by darkness, yet they direct their eye to the light of celestial doctrine, so that they are watchful, and are not children of the night and of darkness, as Paul says. (1 Thessalonians 5:4,5.)
But the impious are, as it were, immersed in darkness, and think they shall enjoy perpetual night. As the rising morning dispels the darkness of night, so also God's judgment, on its sudden appearance, strikes the reprobate with unexpected terror, but too late.
For this reason, then, the Prophet says, that morning is come to the Israelites, because they had promised themselves perpetual night, as if they were never to be called upon to render an account of their conduct. We see, therefore, that he alludes suitably to that torpor which was the cause of their obstinacy, when they thought themselves safe in their hiding-places. Hence he laughs at their perverse confidence, who promise themselves impunity because they are in night. For the morning, he says, will immediately seize upon you; hence morning is coming upon thee, O inhabitant of the land; afterwards, the time is come: {,}עתgneth, properly signifies all appointed or determined time. Hence the Prophet meant that the time had come which God had fixed beforehand for his judgment, and thus he takes away from the impious the material for pride, for they always suppose that God is as it were 149Meaning — the duration of the sinful pleasure is worth the price paid for it. 150Or sound; some translate "of cutting off," I know not why — Calvin. 151Some translate "glory," as if it had been {,{הדhed. --- Calvin.