Thy words were found, and I did eat them,
&e.] The messages he was called to deliver unto others
appeared to him to be of God, and they were as welcome to him as
food is to a hungry man; he cheerfully received them, treasured
them up in his memory, digested them in his mind, and carefully
retained them. So the doctrines of the Gospel, which are the
words of God, and not of men, when by searching and close
application they are found in the Scriptures, and under the
ministry of the word, they are food to souls, sweet, savoury,
wholesome, nourishing, and strengthening; not as merely heard
externally, or only assented unto, or superficially tasted of;
but when eaten, as Ezekiel's roll was by him; and which is done
by faith, which receives, feeds upon, and digests the word; for,
unless it is mixed with faith, it is not profitable: and
thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine
heart;
the messages which the prophet was sent with, even those which
denounced grievous things against his people in case of
impenitence, were gladly received by him, and he readily
delivered them, hoping that they would be a means of bringing
them to a sense of their sins, and to repentance for them, and so
of preserving them from ruin; and especially those words or
doctrines he had in commission to deliver, which respected the
Messiah, his person, offices, kingdom, righteousness, and grace;
the calling of the Gentiles, and the enlargement of the interest
of Christ; the glory of his name, and the prosperity of his
people in the latter day. The word of the Gospel, when received
and eaten by faith, whether by ministers or people, is productive
of spiritual joy and pleasure; the promises of it being exceeding
precious; and the doctrines of it doctrines of grace, salvation,
peace, pardon, and righteousness, by Christ, who is the sum and
substance of them: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God
of hosts;
what added to his joy was, that the name of the Lord was called
upon him, or that he was called a prophet of the Lord: this he
looked upon as a high honour done him; and what still more
increased his joy was, that he was a prophet, not of Baal, that
could not hear nor help his prophets and worshippers; but of the
Lord God of hosts and armies, who was able to uphold him, protect
and defend him, against his enemies.