Ezekiel 33.23-25:
How bereft of much richness we are when we throw out the Old Testsment as a relic, or simply read it as a history that gives context to the New Testsment, and not also a rule of piety or examples of how NOT to live. For example, if we make application of Ezekiel's warnings to God's notorious people here in Ezekiel 33, we see vestiges of our own hearts and practice. Think we, because we are in the visible church, that -regardless of our clinging to darling sins, sans mortifying and forsaking them- we shall "possess the land," that is, inherit the kingdom of God? Well, Israel didn't, why would we -with so much greater light and understanding of the gospel- presume any more than they? Then, considering the far greater light we have been afforded as those grafted in, we acknowledge that we are far more culpable than hard-hearted Israel of old. This knowledge must drive us to Christ, away from ourselves, and -consequently- toward a greater care and "obedience, as the evidence of the truth of [our] faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which He hath appointed [us] to salvation," (WLC 32).
vv. 30-32:
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance. Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
How bereft of much richness we are when we throw out the Old Testsment as a relic, or simply read it as a history that gives context to the New Testsment, and not also a rule of piety or examples of how NOT to live. For example, if we make application of Ezekiel's warnings to God's notorious people here in Ezekiel 33, we see vestiges of our own hearts and practice. Think we, because we are in the visible church, that -regardless of our clinging to darling sins, sans mortifying and forsaking them- we shall "possess the land," that is, inherit the kingdom of God? Well, Israel didn't, why would we -with so much greater light and understanding of the gospel- presume any more than they? Then, considering the far greater light we have been afforded as those grafted in, we acknowledge that we are far more culpable than hard-hearted Israel of old. This knowledge must drive us to Christ, away from ourselves, and -consequently- toward a greater care and "obedience, as the evidence of the truth of [our] faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which He hath appointed [us] to salvation," (WLC 32).
vv. 30-32:
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
As Master Brooks often says in his addresses, "You know how to apply it." Lord grant us much strength and vigor in the work of mortification, with fresh supplies of His grace, ever trusting in His righteousness alone.
