What is here implied, as the trial of the prophet Ezekiel, was fulfilled more or less in the case of all the prophets. They were not teachers merely, but confessors. They came not merely to unfold the law, or to foretell the Gospel, but to warn and rebuke; not to rebuke only, but to suffer. This world is a scene of conflict between good and evil. The evil not only avoids, but persecutes, the good; the good cannot conquer, except by suffering.
I. The case seems to be this: Those who do not serve God with a single heart know they ought to do so, and they do not like to be reminded that they ought. And when they fall in with any one who does live to God, he serves to remind them of it, and that is unpleasant to them, and that is the first reason why they are angry with a religious man; the sight of him disturbs them, and makes them uneasy. Accordingly, as far as they have power to do it, they persecute him, either, as the text implies, with cruel untrue words, or with cold, or fierce, or jealous looks, or in some worse ways. A good man is an offence to a bad man. The sight of him is a sort of insult, and he is irritated at him, and does him what harm he can.
II. Religious persons are protected in this day from all great persecutions, and they cannot sufficiently be thankful for it. And yet, nevertheless, most true is it, that even now, no one can give his mind to God, and show by his actions that he fears God, but he will incur the dislike and opposition of the world, and it is important that he should be aware of this and be prepared for it. (1) Do not be too eager to suppose you are ill-treated for your religion's sake. Make as light of matters as you can. This is the true Christian spirit, to be meek and gentle under ill-usage, cheerful under slander, forgiving towards enemies, and silent in the midst of angry tongues. (2) Recollect you cannot do any one thing of these duties without God's help. Therefore you must pray to Him for the power. (3) None of us, even the best, have resisted the world as we ought to have done. Let us search our consciences; let us look back on our past lives. Let us try to live more like Christians, more like children of God. Let us beg Him to teach us how to confess Him before men, lest if we deny Him now, He may deny us before the angels of God hereafter.
Plain Sermons by Contributors to " Tracts for the Tunes," vol. v., p. 259; see also J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons,vol. viii., p. 141.
References: Ezekiel 2:6. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 225.Ezekiel 2:7. D. Moore, Penny Pulpit,No. 3432. 2 G. W. McCree, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxxii., p. 140. Ezekiel 3:5; Ezekiel 3:7. E. Mason, A Pastor's Legacy,p. 451; H. Melvill, Penny Pulpit,No. 1812.Ezekiel 3:7. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxiv., No. 1431; Ibid., Evening by Evening,p. 119.