Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin (continued)
EZEKIEL
to themselves promiscuously. For there were always many reprobate among the elect people, because not all who sprang from father Abraham were true Israelites.
(Romans 9:6, 7.)
Since therefore it was so, the Prophet properly shows here that what he had previously promised was peculiar to God's elect, and to the true and lawful members of the Church, but not to the spurious, nor to the degenerate, nor to those who are unregenerated by the true and incorruptible seed. This is the Prophet's intention. But lest there might seem to be too much rigor when God, as it were, armed comes down into the midst to destroy all who do not repent, the Prophet here declares their crime
--- namely, because their heart walks after their heart, that is, thine heart draws itself, and so the word heart is twice repeated. It is indeed a superfluous repetition but emphatic, when he says, that the heart of those who so pertinaciously adhere to their own superstitions is then impelled by its own self to new motions, so that by its continual tenor it goes always towards superstitions. Hence I will be an avenger, says God. Hence as often as God proposes to us testimonies of his favor, let each descend into himself and examine all his affections. But when any one lays hold of his own vices let him not please himself in them, but rather groan over them, and strive to renounce his own affections that he may follow God: neither let him harden himself in obstinacy, so that his heart may not proceed and rush continually towards evil, as is here said.
PRAYER.
Grant, Almighty God, since we have utterly perished in our father Adam, and there remains in us no single part which is not corrupt, whilst we carry material for wrath, and cursing, and death, as well in the soul as in the body, that being regenerated by the Spirit, we may more and more withdraw ourselves from our own will and our own spirit, and so submit ourselves to thee, that thy Spirit may truly reign within us: And afterwards, grant that we may not be ungrateful, but considering how inestimable is this benefit, may we dedicate our whole life and apply ourselves to glorify thy name, in Jesus Christ our Lord. --- Amen.
Lecture Thirty First,
Ezekiel 11:22-23
22. Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
22. Et sustulerunt cherubim alas suas, et rotae e regione ipsorum: et gloria Dei
Israel super ipsos sursum.
23. And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
23. Et ascendit gloria Iehovae e medio urbis, et stetit super montem qui est ab oriente urbis.
Here Ezekiel repeats what we saw before, namely, that God as he had chosen
Mount Zion had at length rejected it, because that place had been polluted by the many wickednesses of the people. The Jews fancied that God was, as it were, held captive among them, and in this confidence they gave themselves up to licentiousness. Hence the Prophet shows them that God was not so bound to them as not to