The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 125

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-6.-The doom of Egypt. I. .AN INSPIRED PREACHER PROPHESIES CONCERNING A GREAT FOREIGN NATION. The Hcbre1v prophet did not confine bis attention to the little strip of territory on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, which we call the Holy Land. He was God's messenger to the world. I. The heathen are concerned with God's messages, God notices them and has intentions concerning them. Thertforo: 2. It is the duty of the Church to make God:s troth known to.the heathen. Ezekiel was not a Jonah; he was not called upon to visit the heathen a~ a prophet of Jehovah. But his written words might be read by some of the more inquiring Egyptians. It is well to take large views of God's thoughts, our duties, and the world's needs. II. Goo CALLS A MIGHTY EMPIRE TO JUDGMENT. Tyre was greater and more famous than the little Ammonite and Moabite countries; but even 'l'yre was small compared with Egypt-one of the great world-empires. 1. No people can be above the rule of God. 'l'he biggest earthly kingdom is beneath the King of kings. Egypt is compared to one of its monster crocodiles (ver. 3). But it is not the less to be called to account by God. 2. No people can be too strong to be overthrown. Even great Egypt is to fall. The strongest have their weak places. Might.y citadels may be shaken by earthquakes. All man's grande11t works and most imposing institutions are frail, and may be broken up by the rod of the Unseen. Ill. THE GREATNESS OF ANTIQUITY IS NO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE DANGERS OF FUTURITY. After China, Egypt seems to be about the most ancient empire in the world. In the region of its influence and among its neighbours Egypt was venerable wilh age before any of its rivals had made an appearance on the world's stage. Its known history goes back to four thousand years before Christ. For tens of centuries this hoary old empire of the Pharaohs held on its course amidst the rising and falling of many ambitious but short-lived neighbours. Yet Egypt wo.snot immortal. Dynasty succeeded dynasty, ond Egypt long stood the shock of war and change. But at last her hour of reckoning drew near. Then her long past afforded her no shelter. England cannot live in the future on her past history. The Church of the coming age cannot stand strong and safe on no better foundation than the glory of saints and martyrs in earlier ages. IV. INTELLECT 18 NO SUBSTITUTE FOB A GOOD CONSCIENCE. Egypt was famous for her learning and her science. Long before the B11bylonian and Persian astronomical science arose by the Euphrates, there were schools of literature, philosophy, and physical science on the banks of the Nile. It was a help in the training of Israel's great deliverer that he was educated in the j!;reatest centre of light of his age (Acts vii. 22). Yet the great intelligtnce of ancient Egypt did not preserve its sons from gross moral corruption, and no worldly wisdom was able to provide against the descending arm of judgmeut. Culture will not dispense with the need of conscience. University honours are not passports to heaven. Knowledge and thought will not shield the sinful against the wrath of future judgment. Vers. 6, 7.-" A staff of reed." Egypt is here compared to a staff of reed that had been trusted by Israel and had failed her in the hour of need. Earlier than this the Jews were warned not to trust Egypt because the old empire of the Nile had become weak 11s one of the reeds that grew by her sacred river. The confidence would be fatal, for the staff would break and pierce the hand of one who leaned upon it (lea. xn.vi. 6). It was oommon for the prophets to warn the J ewe against the mistnke of going down to Egypt  (28 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [crr, XXIX. 1-21.