GOD'S AWFUL JUDGMENT IN THE BREAKING AND WITHERING OF THE STRONG RODS OF A
COMMUNITY deg.
EZEK. xix. 12.--Her strong rods were broken and withered.
In order to a right understanding and improving these words, these four
things must be observed and understood concerning them.
1. _Who she is_ that is here represented as having had strong rods, viz.,
the Jewish community, [who] here, as often elsewhere, is called the
people's mother. She is here compared to a vine planted in a very fruitful
soil, verse 10. The Jewish church and state is often elsewhere compared to
a vine; as Psalm lxxx. 8, &c., Isai. v. 2, Jer. ii. 21, Ezek. xv., and
chapter xvii. 6.
2. What is meant by _her strong rods_, viz., her wise, able, and well
qualified magistrates or rulers. That the rulers or magistrates are
intended is manifest by verse 11: "And she had strong rods for the
sceptres of them that bare rule." And by rods that were strong, must be
meant such rulers as were well qualified for magistracy, such as had great
abilities and other qualifications fitting them for the business of rule.
They were wont to choose a rod or staff of the strongest and hardest sort
of wood that could be found, for the mace or sceptre of a prince; such a
one only being counted fit for such a use: and this generally was overlaid
with gold.
It is very remarkable that such a strong rod should grow out of a weak
vine; but so it had been in Israel, through God's extraordinary blessing,
in times past. Though the nation is spoken of here, and frequently
elsewhere, as weak and helpless in itself and entirely dependent as a
vine, that is the weakest of all trees, that can't support itself by its
own strength, and never stands but as it leans on or hangs by something
else that is stronger than itself; yet God had caused many of her sons to
be strong rods, fit for sceptres; he had raised up in Israel many able and
excellent princes and magistrates in days past, that had done worthily in
their day.
[Illustration: THE MEETING-HOUSE AT NORTHAMPTON IN WHICH EDWARDS PREACHED.
ERECTED 1737.]
3. It should be understood and observed what is meant by these strong rods
being _broken and withered_, viz., these able and excellent rulers being
removed by death. Man's dying is often compared in Scripture to the
withering of the growth of the earth.
4. It should be observed _after what manner_ the breaking and withering of
these strong rods is here spoken of, viz., as a great and awful calamity
that God had brought upon that people. 'Tis spoken of as one of the chief
effects of God's fury and dreadful displeasure against them. "But she was
plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind
dried up her fruit; her strong rods were broken and withered, the fire
hath consumed them." The great benefits she enjoyed while her strong rods
remained are represented in the preceding verse: "And she had strong rods
for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among
the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of
her branches." And the terrible calamities that attended the breaking and
withering of her strong rods, are represented in the two verses next
following the text: "And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry
and thirsty ground. And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which
hath devoured her fruit." And in the conclusion in the next words is very
emphatically declared the worthiness of such a dispensation to be greatly
lamented: "So that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is
a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation."
That which I therefore observe from the words of the text to be the
subject of discourse at this time, is this:
_When God by death removes from a people those in place of public
authority and rule that have been as strong rods, 'tis an awful
judgment of God on that people, and worthy of great lamentation._
In discoursing on this proposition, I would,