Ezekiel 34:29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land… I. ITS NATURE. There never was such another. The plant has two perfectly distinct natures. In the language of the Song of Solomon it is both "white and ruddy." Each of those two natures is complete in all its attributes. Christ was perfect God, and at the same time perfect man. II. ITS BEAUTY. Every believer will acknowledge this. Feeling how exactly suitable the Lord Jesus is to meet your every want, you admire all that concerns Him. III. ITS FRUITFULNESS. The Lord God, who in the beginning gave to man every tree for meat, has given us Christ for the same purpose. Other trees have only one species of fruit, but this produces twelve manners of fruits: fruits for every season: fruits for prosperity; fruits for adversity; fruits for every occasion that can possibly arise; fruits for newborn converts; fruits for those of riper experience; fruits for fathers and mothers in Israel; fruits suited to every individual whom the Holy Spirit leads to Christ. IV. ITS PERMANENCY. Its branches will be ever stretching forth, the glory of Paradise. Its leaves will never lose their healing virtues. Its fruits will be as delicious ten thousand ages hence, as they will be in the very commencement of your future eternity. No one that takes shelter beneath its branches will ever be compelled to flee from under it. V. ITS FRAGRANCY. In whatever sanctuary He is preached, how fragrant is He there! In whatever book He is set forth, how fragrant is He there! The leaves of that book all smell of myrrh, aloes, cassia, and all manner of sweet spices. How fragrant, too, is any house which is the abode of even one of the Lord's redeemed people! How fragrant is any parish, any country, where believers are multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost! VI. ITS SHADOW. There will come seasons when you will find the hot winds of severe afflictions beating so vehemently upon your heads, that, without Christ's supporting grace, you will be brought to your wits' end, and will be at the point to die. Oh, that you would see how sad is your condition compared with that of Christ's people in their trials and difficulties! VII. ITS CELEBRITY. In one respect this plant resembled others. In its origin it was tittle accounted of. In His incarnation, humiliation, and death, He was comparatively despised and rejected; but springing up, in His resurrection, ascension and heavenly glory, He has become greatly renowned, and is daily made more so by the spreading of His Gospel throughout all nations. I conclude by a two-fold admonition. 1. Feed upon this plant yourselves. 2. Make it known to others. (C. Clayton, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. |
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