EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(8)
Yet will I leave a remnant.—In
Ezekiel 6:8-10 the general gloom of this prophecy of judgment is lightened for a moment by the mention of the remnant who shall be brought by their afflictions “to know that I am the Lord” in a far higher and better sense than those mentioned in
Ezekiel 6:7. This Divine plan pursued from the beginning, as is shown by St. Paul in
Romans 9:6-13, of purifying the people by setting aside the mass, and showing mercy to a remnant, looks far beyond the Babylonish captivity, as is shown by the parallel prophecy of Zechariah, uttered after the return from that captivity, “They shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again” (
Zechariah 10:9). Beyond this brief glimpse at the remnant, however, the cloud settles down again upon the prophecy; for the period until the destruction of Jerusalem, now but a few years off, must be almost exclusively a period of the denunciation of judgment.
Ezekiel 6:8-10.Yet will I leave a remnant —“A gracious exception that often occurs in the prophets when they denounce general judgments against the Jews; implying that God will still preserve a remnant of that people; to whom he will fulfil the promises made to their fathers.”
And they that escape of you shall remember me,&c. — Your afflictions shall bring you to the knowledge of yourselves, and a sense of your duty to me.
Because I am broken with their whorish hearts —I am much grieved, and my patience is tired out with this people’s idolatries, called in Scripture spiritual whoredom. God is here introduced as speaking after the manner of men, whose patience is tired out by the repeated provocations of others, especially when they see no hopes of amendment.
And with their eyes go a whoring after their idols —The eyes are the seat of lascivious inclinations: see
2 Peter 2:14. So, in pursuit of the same metaphor, the eyes are said to go a whoring after idols, the people being often tempted to idolatrous worship by the costliness of the images, and the fine show they made.
And they shall loathe themselves,&c. — With a mixture of grief toward God, of indignation against themselves, and abhorrence of the offence.
And they shall know I have not said in vain,&c. —
Without cause,as the word
חנם is more significantly translated
Ezekiel 14:22; the sufferers had given him just cause to pronounce that evil. Or,
without effect:their sins were the cause, and their destruction is the effect of their sufferings.
6:8-10 A remnant of Israel should be left; at length they should remember the Lord, their obligations to him, and rebellion against him. True penitents see sin to be that abominable thing which the Lord hates. Those who truly loathe sin, loathe themselves because of sin. They give glory to God by their repentance. Whatever brings men to remember Him, and their sins against him, should be regarded as a blessing.
The force of the words is, "When the slain shall fall in the midst of you, then at last ye shall know that I am the Lord." So in
Ezekiel 6:10 where the knowledge implies a recognition of the merciful intent of Yahweh's dispensations, and therefore, a hope of restoration.
8. Mitigation of the extreme severity of their punishment; still their life shall be a wretched one, and linked with exile (Eze 5:2, 12; 12:16; 14:22; Jer 44:28).
It is the Lord that preserves a remnant, the enemies’ rage would destroy all; and it is an act of deliberate and voluntary resolution, not by chance, but by choice.
A remnant; some few in comparison with the great multitudes that are cut off. Though he promiseth a handful shall remain, yet it shall be in that condition that they are little more than escaped, a poor and small remnant left, as
Zephaniah 3:12.
Ye shall be scattered; either by your own choice, shifting from country to country; or else, dissipated by the order of the proud oppressing conqueror, who will scatter families, lest they should be a little comfort to one another, and great jealousy to him; he will scatter to prevent conspiracies.
Yet will I leave a remnant,.... Not in Judea, but in Babylon, and in the countries where they should be dispersed, as follows:
that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations; which was threatened to be drawn, and sent after them,Ezekiel 5:2; but all should not perish by if; some should escape; for this was not the time to make a full end of them:
when ye shall be scattered through the countries; that is, of Egypt, Ammon, Moab, and Assyria; for this respects their dispersion at the time of the Babylonish captivity, and not their present dispersion.
Yet will I leave a remnant,{d} that ye may havesome that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.(d) He shows that in all dangers God will preserve a few, which will be as the seed of his Church and call on his Name.
