The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 108

Vers. 3-10.-The folly of worldly wz"sdom. It might not have occurred to an ordina..-y observer that Tyre owed its position to its wisdom, and its downfall to an unwise confidence in that wisdom. But the Prophet Ezekiel looked below the surfocc, and traced the arrogance and presumptuous ungodliness of tho great city to its cluim t.o worldly prudence, sagacity, and skill, which, being substituted for true and Divine wisdom, became the occasion of the city's downfall and destruction. I. ~~E RANGE AND BE;ALITY OF WORLDLY y.'ISDOM, It has respect to earthly good, prescnbmg means by which health of body, riches and luxuries, worldly honour, etc., may be attained. It bounds its regards by the horizon of earth and time. It employs instrumentalities which experience approves as efficacious. It takes counsel of the prosperous and the honoured. It pursues patiently aud persistently aims which are mundane and which are within human reach, wasting no time (as it would say) upon ethereal sentiment, imaginary aud ideal perfection, Utopian schemes. II. THE FRUIT OF THIS WISDOM. The case of 'l'yre is to the point. The understand- ing and skill for which the Tyrian merchants and mariners were noted were not employed in vain. Success was their attestation and approval. Uncertainty is indeed distinctive of all human endeavour and undertaking. But a. large measure of success may fairly be reckcned upon as likely to be secured by the use of means devised by the wisdom of this world. A.s a man soweth, so does he reap. III. THE BOAST OF THIS WISDOM. Tyre claimed to be wiser than Daniel, and to be able to penetrate all secrets. There are those who would think it vulgar and con- temptible to boast of their birth, their wealth, their honours, who, however, a.re not above boasting of their insight, sagacity, and prudence. They would never have fallen into errors which misled their neighbours! They would have known how to deal with such a person, how to contend with euch difficulties, how to adapt themselves to such circumstances! Trust them to find their way, however intricate its windings I IV. THE TRIAL OF Tms WISDOM. It is admiUed that, in ordinary circumstances and times, worldly wisdom is sufficient to preserve a. man and a na~ion from calamities, to secure to them many and real advantages. But every true student of human nature and human history is a.ware that times of exceptional probation and difficulty have to be encountered. It is so in the life of every man, it is so in the history of every people. The principles which served well enough before are useless now. 'l'he men of the world are at a loss, and know not whither to turn. The crisis ha.e come: how shall it be met? V. THE VANITY OF THIB WISDOM. Mere cleverness and fox-like keenness, mere experience upon the low level of expediency, are proved in times of trial to be alto- gether worthless. Deeply rooted convictions of Divine truth, and habits of reverential conformity to laws of Divine righteousness, "the fear of the Lord" (in the language of Seri pture),-such are true wisdom. Anything short of this must issue in disappoint- ment and powerlessness. Human expediencies may carry us a long way, but a point ie reached where they fail, and where their worthlessness is ma.de apparent. Such a point was reacbed in the history of Tyre, when it was found that wealth could not buy off the hostility of Babylon, and that mercenaries could not resist Babylonian arms or policy overcome Babylonian persistence. ' VI. THE OVERTHROW AND CONFUSION OF Tfil9 WISDOM. The language of the prophet npon this is singular and suggestive: "I will bring stran~ere upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness." 'l'he wisdom in which the Tyrians trusted, and which excited the admiration of their neighbours and rivals, could not withstand the attack of Oriental soldiery a.nd tactics. It was boasted in days of prosperity; but in the day of e.dversit.y its strength was small. VII. THE DISCREDITING AND CONTEMPT OF THIS WISDOM. There are times when professions are accepted as valid and trustworthy ; but there are also times when pro- fessions a.re of no avail, and when solid facts and realities alone will abide. As in the case of Tyre, the wisdom which is weighed in the balances and is found wanting is _utterly discredited. Men despise what formerly they praised. Such is the fate to which the wisdom of the worldly wise is doomed. " It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the _prudent will I reject. . . . Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? "-T, .:,a, xxvm. 1-26.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 111