23<\/strong>. Judgment had been so often threatened and so often deferred that the failure of prophecy to realize itself became a proverb. Too superficial to apprehend the meaning of its postponement these scoffers made light of the threatened judgment (2Pe 3:3<\/span>; 2Pe 3:9<\/span>). Now they shall be undeceived. For similar popular sentiments, cf. Jer 5:13-14<\/span>; Jer 17:15<\/span>.<\/p>\n the effect of every vision<\/em> ] Lit. the word<\/em> the contents, of every vision.<\/p>\n Verse 23<\/span>. The days are at hand<\/B><\/I>] Far from failing<\/I> or being prolonged<\/I>, time is posting on, and the destruction threatened is at the door.<\/P> <\/p>\n Tell them; either who use the proverb, or are stumbled at it; tell the one to convince, the other to instruct them. <\/P> I will make this proverb to cease: thus they abuse my patience, and affront my truth, and deride my justice; but when my patience at its period calls in my justice to vindicate it, and when calamities felt prove my truth and the presence of these sorrows, there can be no more place for such a proverb, the groundlessness of it being discovered to all. <\/P> Say unto them; assure them. <\/P> The days are at hand: see Eze 12:22<\/span>; they draw near indeed, when within some three years Jerusalem shall see the enemy besieging it, and feel his sword cutting down her chosen men. All that which the vision contained shall, ere few years are over, clearly appear accomplished, according to what my prophets foretold. <\/P> <\/p>\n 23. effect<\/B>literally, “theword,” namely, fulfilled; that is, the effective fulfilment ofwhatever the prophets have spoken is at hand.<\/P><\/p>\n Tell them therefore<\/strong>,…. Plainly and boldly, with the greatest assurance and confidence, as from God himself:<\/p>\n thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease<\/strong>; by quickly accomplishing the things which they, by this proverb, represented as at a great distance, and what would never be brought about:<\/p>\n and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel<\/strong>; when the things predicted shall take place:<\/p>\n but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision<\/strong>; the time is hastening on, and will quickly come, when every prophecy shall be fulfilled: it was in the sixth year of Jehoiachin’s captivity that these prophecies were delivered out; and in the ninth year Nebuchadnezzar came with his army, and besieged Jerusalem; so that the days were at hand; in three years’ time there began an accomplishment of the above predictions, which were scoffed at in the proverb used.<\/p>\n (23) The effect of every vision.<\/strong>The sense <\/strong>would be made clearer by rendering the accomplishment of every vision.<\/p>\n 23-25<\/strong>. <\/strong> I will make this proverb to cease <\/strong> The execution of the prophetic threat has so often been withheld, because of the repentance of a few righteous men or the long-suffering of Jehovah (33; Jer 18:7-8<\/span>; Jer 26:17-19<\/span>), that the failure of the prophetic judgment had become a proverb. The mercy of God in postponing chastisement is used as a proof that God did not and could not rule in the affairs of men. (It is the same spirit which says that God is always on the side of the heaviest guns. But did not that general die in exile?) Besides this there were many, who claimed to be seers, who prophesied according to the wishes of the people, and painted Israel’s future as bright and prosperous (Eze 12:24<\/span>). This made the work of the true prophet more difficult. But now “the effect” (literally, word<\/em>) of every vision “is at hand” and will not again be delayed. Soon everyone will be able to discriminate between the false divination and the true prophecy (Eze 21:21<\/span>; Deu 18:10<\/span>; Jer 14:14<\/span>; Jer 28:3<\/span>; Isa 30:10<\/span>).<\/p>\n “Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh, I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, ‘The days are at hand and the word (i.e. carrying out of the word – effective fulfilment) of every vision.’<\/p>\n Israel are to be made to realise that the proverb is now no longer true. Indeed it will cease to exist. For the opposite is about to prove true. The prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah are about to come to their final awful fulfilment. And the people will see it and realise how foolish they were. ‘The days are at hand.’ That is, are about to burst on them with unexpected speed.<\/p>\n There is a warning to us all here of the danger of assuming that the warnings of God are simply empty threats which can safely be ignored because ‘God is love’, or of thinking that judgment is far off and therefore does not really matter.<\/p>\n DISCOURSE: 1102 Eze 12:23<\/span>. The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision<\/em>.<\/p>\n EXCEEDINGLY diversified were the ways by which God communicated his mind to his ancient people. At Mount Sinai he spake to them by an audible voice, and by legible characters engraven on tables of stone. To the high-priest he imparted the knowledge of his will, by means of the Urim and Thummim, which constituted his breast-plate. To the prophets he revealed himself by dreams, and visions, and inward inspiration. The Prophet Ezekiel was favoured with many and most extraordinary visions; some of which were very obscure; whilst others were either manifest in themselves, or were made clear by a special revelation of their import. On many occasions the prophets were directed to make use of some significant actions, which were to convey to the people knowledge of the events which awaited them. Of this last kind was the revelation now made to them by the Prophet Ezekiel. Many of the Jews had been carried captive to Babylon. But, because there yet remained in Juda a king of their own nation, the people who lived under him thought that he would protect them from any fresh invasion, and even liberate their captive brethren also from the Chaldean yoke. But they continued to rebel against God as much as ever; and God therefore warned them, that all of them, both king and people, should go into captivity. Such warnings they had often received from the mouths of other prophets; and because God had exercised forbearance towards them, they thought that the threatened judgments should never be executed, or, at all events, not be executed in their day. This even passed into a proverb among them; so that it became a common saying among them, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth [Note: ver. 22.]. But, in opposition to this, the prophet was ordered to exhibit before them, in his own person, a representation of the impending judgments; and to announce to them Gods determination to inflict them speedily: Say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.<\/p>\n In improving this subject, there are two things to be noticed:<\/p>\n I.<\/p>\n The tidings here announced<\/p>\n These, as I have observed, were, that the proverb which they had used should cease; and that all the judgments which Gods servants had from time to time denounced against that people should speedily be accomplished. I must however declare to you, that the days are at hand, for every vision of Gods word to take effect But these tidings will appear in all their force, if we mark,<\/p>\n II.<\/p>\n The sign by which they were confirmed<\/p>\n The prophet was commanded to dig through the wall of his house, and carry out his furniture upon his shoulders in their sight, and, as through excess of grief, to cover his face, so as not to see the ground; in order to shew the people what should be done by them, both king and people, in their approaching siege and captivity [Note: ver 312.]. Thus he was to them as a sign [Note: ver. 6, 11.].<\/p>\n And have we no sign, confirming Gods word to us? And now, what encouragement had the prophet to discharge his painful office? It was but a peradventure: It may be<\/em> they will consider [Note: ver 3.]. With that humble, but feeble hope [Note: 2Ti 2:25-26<\/span>.], I address you, my Brethren.<\/p>\n 1.<\/p>\n It may be<\/em> that some of you will consider<\/p>\n [O that God would incline your hearts to consider all the visions which from time to time are set before you! Truly, not one has ever been kept back from you: no; I have declared unto you, as far as I have been able, the whole counsel of God. Your lost estate has been set before you with all fidelity; and the way of salvation proclaimed to you, in all its freeness, in all its fulness, in all its excellency: and that record has been explained to you in an infinite diversity of ways, that He who hath the Son, hath life, and he who hath not the Son of God, hath not life [Note: 1Jn 5:11-12<\/span>.]. The effects<\/em>, too, of these visions have been set before you, by an exhibition, so far as I was able, of all the blessedness of heaven, and of all the misery of hell. Now, then, consider these things, I pray you. Consider your own personal interest<\/em> in them. Consider in what light you will view them the very instant that your soul is separated from your body: and now, so lay them to heart, that they may prove effectual for your conversion to God, and for the everlasting salvation of your souls ]<\/p>\n 2.<\/p>\n It may be<\/em>, however, and I fear will be<\/em>, that the great mass of you will not consider<\/p>\n [When I look back, and see how little fruit all my past instructions have produced, I cannot but fear that this will share the same fate as they; and in the space of one hour, or, at all events of one day, be altogether forgotten. Not that they will be forgotten by God, in whose name they are delivered: for they are all recorded in the book of his remembrance, and will rise up in judgment against those who have failed to improve them. Why, my Brethren, will you make so light of these things, which yet you believe to be of everlasting moment, and which God makes known to you by me for the eternal welfare of your souls? I tremble to think, that, at this very instant, whilst I am addressing these things to you for your good, I am eventually only sinking many of you into deeper perdition. O that God would awaken you to a sense of your condition, ere it be too late [Note: See Zep 1:12<\/span>. with Eze 7:5-9<\/span>. which, though primarily applicable to temporal judgments, may be addressed to a soul in this state.]! O that so much as one<\/em> of you would arise from his stupor, and recover himself out of the snare of the devil, by whom he is led captive at his will! Let me not, my Brethren, be disappointed of this<\/em> hope: but go home, and fall upon your knees before God, and pray to him, that, whatever other rebels may do, you<\/em> may be wise, and consider your latter end.]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Eze 12:23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.<\/p>\n Ver. 23. The days are at hand.<\/strong> ] Opponit aliud dictum fere tot syllabarum; <\/em> a plain and plenary confutation.<\/p>\n are at hand. The fulfilment took place five years later. <\/p>\n effect = word: i.e. the [fulfilled] word, meaning, or purpose. <\/p>\n I will: Eze 18:3, Isa 28:22 <\/p>\n The days: Eze 12:25, Eze 7:2, Eze 7:5-7, Eze 7:10-12, Joe 2:1, Zep 1:14, Mal 4:1, Mat 24:34, Jam 5:8, Jam 5:9 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Jer 1:12 – I will Jer 48:16 – near Lam 4:18 – our end is near Eze 7:7 – the time Eze 12:28 – There shall Eze 13:6 – have seen Amo 8:2 – the end Mic 7:4 – the day Rom 2:4 – despisest Rev 22:10 – for<\/p>\n Eze 12:23. Proverb ts used in the sense of something that is repeated frequently as if it were taken for granted to be a truth. But the Lord declared that it would he caused to cease, for the days are at hand when the threatened event will occur. All of Ezekiels writings thus far were done between the 2nd and 3rd stages of the captivities, and that period altogether was only eleven years. But most of that had passed at the time we are now studying, hence the final downfall of the capital city was truly at liana.<\/p>\n The Lord promised that the people would no longer say such things because He would prove them wrong. Ezekiel was to contradict this proverb and give the people another one that the days of the coming captivity were not far off and that the prophets’ visions would come to pass. The Lord would frustrate the false prophecies and predictions of the future that only flattered the people.<\/p>\n Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision. 23. Judgment had been so often threatened and so often deferred that the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 12:23”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20714\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
DEATH AND ETERNITY NEAR AT HAND<\/strong><\/p>\n
Now, similar tidings I have to announce to you. Concerning you, also, have many visions been revealed
[You have been warned, times without number, that God hateth, and will punish, sin. You have been told, that death will arrest you, and carry you into the presence of your God; that, according to your state before him, God will deal with you in a way of judgment or of mercy; and that the state in which you will then be fixed, will abide for ever ]
But you have disregarded them, even as the Jews of old did
[Some will go so far as to say, that these visions will fail, and never be accomplished. Others of a less daring habit, who would not venture thus flatly to contradict the word of God, will yet divest it of all its power, by supposing that it refers to other times and other persons, rather than to themselves at this time: The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are afar off [Note: ver. 27.]. If a man, duly authorized, were to come and arrest us for any crime, we should feel a personal<\/em> interest in all that he said: but when the plainest and most pointed truths are spoken to us from the Lord, we hear them as if we had no personal<\/em> concern in them whatever; and are no more affected with them, than we should be with a relation of some events which had occurred, or were about to occur, in some foreign nation with which we were personally unconnected ]<\/p>\n
[Death and judgment are not far off from any of us: for what is the longest life, when viewed in connexion with eternity? But how few, in comparison, live to an advanced age? yea, what multitudes are cut off in the very prime of life! And what a change in a congregation does a few years effect! and, when our day is come, has not every vision its full effect? Go, and see whether Gods word was not verified towards the Jews in Babylon. God himself put it to their descendants, in a way of solemn appeal, My words, and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers?<\/em> To which they were constrained to reply, Like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us<\/em> [Note: Zec 1:6<\/span>.]. And so also shall his every word take hold of<\/em> you, and be fulfilled in you. Think what ye will of his long-suffering and forbearance, if ye continue to disregard his warnings, know of a surety, that your judgment lingereth not, and your damnation slumbereth not [Note: 2Pe 2:3<\/span>; 2Pe 3:9-10<\/span>.] ]<\/p>\n
[Yes, (the departed year<\/em> is a sign to us; or our departed brother<\/em> is a sign to us;) every person who dies around us, and every sound of his funeral knell, is a sign to us, that the visions of God are taking effect, and that soon they shall take effect with respect to us. We may, in our imagination, put the evil day far from us; but every day and hour brings it nearer to us: and when the day is fully come, not all the universe can arrest the hand of death, or protract our existence here one single moment. Then, whatever be our age, whatever our rank, or whatever interest the whole nation may have in our life<\/em> [Note: It was preached in Jan. 1827, on account of the death of the Duke of York.] we must obey our summons, and go into the presence of our God. Prepared or unprepared, we must stand naked before him, and receive from him that doom which his word has taught us to expect I say again, therefore, to you, that every person that is called into the eternal world is precisely such a sign to you as Ezekiel was to the Jewsa sign that the visions of God are true, and that every one<\/em> of them, in due season, shall take effect.]<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nFuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"