An
entirely new principle established — individual
condition before God
In chapter 33, in view of
these judgments, which put His people on entirely new
ground (for they were judged as Loammi, with the nations,
and this is why the prophecy can look on to the last
days, although the judgments had been but
partial)—in view then of these judgments, God
establishes an entirely new principle, namely, individual
conduct as the ground of the dealings of God, in contrast
with the consequences of national sin (v. 10, 11). Thus
the door was still fully open to individual repentance
founded on a testimony that applied individually,
whatever the national judgment might be. The end to which
the judgment applies is in contrast with the effect to be
produced by it on the individual, and that in order to
confirm the principles. Faith would not be shewn now by
reckoning on the promises to Israel, or on the
intervention of God in behalf of His people as in
possession of His promises, for the people were judged;
and the very thing that would have been faith, had it
been the time of the promises, and that hereafter also
will be faith, is but hardness of heart in the time of
judgment (v. 24). Compare Isaiah 51: 2, a passage often
entirely misapplied. The little remnant in the latter
days may trust in a God who had called out one man alone
and had multiplied him; but such a thought on the part of
the people, when God was cutting off the multitude of
them because of their iniquities, would only cause the
judgment to be more keenly felt. In this way of judgment
on the iniquities of which they had been nationally
guilty (and not by a blessing which presumption would
snatch from God), they should know that Jehovah was God.
Ezekiel 33 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
In chapter 33, in view of these judgments, which put His people on entirely new ground (for they were judged as Loammi, with the nations, and this is why the prophecy can look on to the last days, although the judgments had been but partial)—in view then of these judgments, God establishes an entirely new principle, namely, individual conduct as the ground of the dealings of God, in contrast with the consequences of national sin (v. 10, 11). Thus the door was still fully open to individual repentance founded on a testimony that applied individually, whatever the national judgment might be. The end to which the judgment applies is in contrast with the effect to be produced by it on the individual, and that in order to confirm the principles. Faith would not be shewn now by reckoning on the promises to Israel, or on the intervention of God in behalf of His people as in possession of His promises, for the people were judged; and the very thing that would have been faith, had it been the time of the promises, and that hereafter also will be faith, is but hardness of heart in the time of judgment (v. 24). Compare Isaiah 51: 2, a passage often entirely misapplied. The little remnant in the latter days may trust in a God who had called out one man alone and had multiplied him; but such a thought on the part of the people, when God was cutting off the multitude of them because of their iniquities, would only cause the judgment to be more keenly felt. In this way of judgment on the iniquities of which they had been nationally guilty (and not by a blessing which presumption would snatch from God), they should know that Jehovah was God.