1183. The Divine Provision
The Divine Provision
"Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
"I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
"I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hand, and a chain on thy neck" (Eze_16:9-11).
God does more than see us, more than save us, more than swear to us–God begins at once to perfect us, that He may present us unto Himself without spot or blemish or any such thing.
Listen to this story of preparation as set forth in Ezekiel.
1. "I washed thee." Rev_1:5 comes at once to mind. "Unto Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins." God does not only want us saved, He also wants us washed, made clean. The conditions in which God finds the sinner, as described in Eze_16:3-5, would not do for a child of God.
2. "I anointed thee with oil." We have here the anointing of the Holy Spirit, under the type of the oil. As soon as believers are saved they are baptized in one Spirit into one body; and God commands them, "Be filled with the Spirit."
3. "I clothed thee also with broidered work." Saints are robed with the garments of salvation. The prodigal's father gave the command: "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him." Our sins are all placed on Christ, and He bore them away; then His righteousness was placed upon us, and we are robed fit for the King's palaces.
4. "I girded thee." The girding has to do with service. The Lord took a towel and girded Himself, and washed His disciples' feet. The high priest of old girded himself, for service, and our Lord Jesus our Great High priest, is now walking amidst His churches, girded about the paps with a golden girdle. Thus would God have us girt about with Truth, that we may serve Him.
5. "I covered thee with silk." We have here more than adornment, we have a suggestion of protection. "He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust" (Psa_91:4).
6. "I decked thee also with ornaments * * bracelets * * chain * * jewels * * earrings * * crown * * gold and silver." We think at once of the Christian graces–the patience that is more precious than gold; the love, the joy, the peace, etc., which are given to saints that they may therewith adorn the Gospel of Christ.
7. "Thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil." The redeemed are invited into God's banqueting house. They are fed with the finest of the wheat. Why should saints ever lust after the flesh pots of Egypt, the onions, and the garlic, the melons and the leeks? We have the manna which came down from Heaven–angels' food; we have a table prepared in the midst of our enemies. Let us feast and be glad.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR