John Calvin on Ezekiel 14:23

He now puts the verb for comforting in the third person, but in the same sense, because after the Jews shall have been led captive, they will bear sure and special marks of God’s justice against their sins. This, then, is the consolation, as I explained it yesterday, while the exiles acknowledge that cruelty cannot be ascribed to God, as if he had exceeded moderation in exacting punishment; for the desperate wickedness of the people demanded it. But this passage contains a useful doctrine, since we collect from it that we are never tranquil in our minds unless when the greatest equity and justice appears in God’s judgments, and become present to our minds. As long, therefore, as we do not acknowledge God to be severe in just cases, our minds must necessarily be disturbed and disarranged: hence the word “consolation” is opposed to those turbulent thoughts. But since nothing is more miserable than to be distracted and drawn hither and thither, and to be anxiously disturbed, let us learn that those profit most who acquiesce in God’s judgments, although they do not perceive the reason of them, yet modestly adore them. But when God shows why he treats either us or others so severely, this is a special favor, since he offers us material for joy and tranquillity. Let us proceed.

CHAPTER 15

Ezekiel 15:1-5

1. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

1. Et fuit sermo Iehovae ad me dicendo,

2. Son of man, What is the vine-tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

2. Fili hominis, quid erit Or, “what is these.” — Calvin. lignum vitis prae omni arbore rami Or, “branching.” — Calvin. quae est inter arbores sylvae?

3. Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

3. An sumetur ex eo “Namely, wood.” — Calvin. lignum ad formandum, ut sit opus, vel an sument, Verbally, in taking, that is, if they take. — Calvin. ex eo paxillum, ut suspendatur in eo omne vas? Whatever vessel. — Calvin.

4. Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?

4. Ecce in ignem traditur Or, “is cast.” — Calvin. ad consumptionem, duas extremitates ejus consumpsit ignis, et medium ejus exustum est, That is, “after the fire had consumed it.” — Calvin. an utile erit ad opus?

5. Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

5. Ecce, cum esset integrum non factum fuit That is, “was not formed or fitted.” — Calvin. ut esset opus: quanto magis postquam ignis consumpsit ipsum et exaruit Or, “was burnt as before.” — Calvin. formabitur adhuc ut sit opus?