The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 95

The overplus of material substance in one land may thus be conveyed to lands where lack is felt. Interchange promotes mutual advantage, mutual confidence, mutual good will. The nation so employed is a blessing to the world, Knowledge is diffused, healthy emulation is aroused, religious truth is disseminate<l. IV. EVERY DETAIL OF A NATION'S COMMERCE BAB AN INTEREST IN THE MIND OF Goo. It is very noteworthy that God should have made known to Ezekiel all these particulars in the history and commerce of Tyre; for it is obvious that the prophet in Chaldea could have known them in no other way-unless, indeed, he bad been there before the Captivity. Not an item in the mercantile transactions of Tyre but received the cog- nizance of God. Every purchase, every sale, obtained either his smile or bis frown. Nor, if we reflect on the matter, need we wonder. If God takes an interest in all our personal affairs, so must he also in our united interests and in our public concerns. If he stoops to count the hairs of our head, he is only consistent with himself when he notes every legislative measure and every international transaction. V. SELF-ESTEEM IS AN ELEMENT OF WEAKNESS, "0 Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty." A. well-built ship, well fitted and complete, is a thing of beauty. It has a charm for the eye. But herein lies a danger. If the owner be taken up with the beauty of his ship, he is prone to neglect her planks and bolts and cordage. The external brightness of a ship is no security against inward rottenness. So is it with the state politic. There may be many outward signs of prosperity-wealth, magni- ficence, high reputation, prosperous commerce-and yet there may be a worm at the root, a hidden leak that may founder the gallant ship. The only real element of stability is righteousness. The only true rampart of defence is the favour of Jehovah. Instead of self-esteem, there ought to be thankfulness. Instead of self-boasting, there should be trust in God. VI. THE STOUTEST SHIP IS LIABLE TO WRE0K. Every part in the construction and furniture of a ship is a human contrivance to harmonize with the forces of God in nature, and to resist what is perilous to life. Yet human contrivances are, at the best, imperfect. They cannot face, in serious battle, the material forces of God. Some simple occurrence in nature, such as a waterspout, an electric spark, or an earthquake, may shatter in a moment the staunchest ship. Sooner or later every ship finishes its career. Scarcely ever has a ship endured the natural period of a human life. If it hae braved a thousand storms, it yields to natural decay, and falls to pieces in the harbour. Apart from God, there is nothing durable, nothing permanent. VII. THE WREOK OF A NOBLE SHIP PRODU0EB WIDESPREAD GRIEF. It is a spectacle distressing to the eye to see a fine ship wrecked upon a rocky coast. But as soon as the imagination takes in the full meaning of the event, the pain felt is greater. We think of the crew-all their privations and anxieties and fine.I death. We think of desolate widows and orphaned children. We think of the loss of valuable property, the frustration of hopes, the impotence of human contrivances and skill, the blow to further enterprise, tho sense of hidden danger which surrounds us all. Wider still aud deeper is the terror awakened in men's minds when a flourishing empire succumbs to fierce invasion. Human hopes are crushed. Security to life and property is disturbed. A great panic spreads. Life in every place seems imperilled. If Tyre falls, what empire, what city, can be safe? Things material often receive rude disturbance, that we may find our security in that kingdom" which cannot be shaken."-D. Vere. 1-36.-A celebration of remarkable prosperity. "The word of the Lord came again unto rue, saying, Now, thou sou of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus," etc. " We have here," says Hcngstenberg," the lamentation over the fall of Tyre, announced in the foregoing chapter. First, ite present glory is presented at full length to the view (vers. 1-25); then its fall, the importance of which can only be understood from the knowledge of its glory. We must profoundly know the gloria mundi if we are to take to heart the sic transit gloria mundi." So the prophet sketches the rich8S and luxury, the power and glory, of the island-city. We have before us- I. A CELEBRATION OB' BEMABKABLE PROSPERITY, Ezekiel exhibits several distinct features of the prosperity of Tyre. 1. Her advantageoua situation. " Thou that dwellest at the entry [Hebrew, 'entrances'] of the sea . . . thy borders are in the heart of the se11B." Being built on an island, the sea was accessible fr9m every side of EZEKIEL-II, H 98 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. LOH. XXVII, 1-36,