There is somewhat very striking in the manner of the Prophet's opening this Chapter. It is like an alarm, rousing up and imperiously demanding attention: and not unsimilar to what our Lord represented in the parable. At midnight there was a cry made, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Matthew 25:6. Reader! it is always midnight in that soul that is living in a careless state! But I would ask the question of the Reader, (I mean the awakened and truly regenerated Reader), doth it not strike him, as it doth me, that in the midst of these alarms, there is still discoverable somewhat of divine love? Methinks, it is the expostulations of grace, mingled with the just rebukes of a much injured Lord. Under the frowning countenance of the threatened dispensation, we can, I think, discern strong features of mercy. See similar passages, Ezekiel 20:1 throughout. Hosea 11:8-9.
Ezekiel 7:1-4
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompensea upon thee all thine abominations.
4 And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.