The week's reading begins with the 10th chapter of Ezekiel, in which the vision of the first chapter is in great part repeated, showing that the great God has a care over His work and over His people. This is followed by some of the most searching moral instruction to be found in the Word to chapter 27. Many of these are predictions of the last days. Chapters 16 and 23 present the awful sins of Judah and Israel, under the figures of lewd women. We would suggest that they be read in private, altho some passages in them are properly read anywhere. Chapter 20 is very striking indeed, as showing the importance of the Sabbath, revealing God not only as God, but as Sanctifier and Redeemer. The 21st chapter points out the destruction of the kingdom of Judah, and the change in human dominion. Three more overturnings were to take place, by Medo-Persia, by Grecia, by Rome, and then Christ would come and the kingdom would be His.
Beginning with the 25th chapter, we have prophecies regarding other nations from which we may learn much. Ammon, Tyre, Moab, and others around Judah, had rejoiced at her humiliation. They had said "Aha!" when God's sanctuary had been made desolate, and therefore the Lord points out the specific destruction which should come upon them. Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon, was to be a "stable for camels," a "couching place for flocks." Tyre, the merchant city of the Mediterranean, was to be "a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea;" and the end of the great instigator of Tyre's wickedness is also predicted in chapter 28, the first of our readings next week.
