Vers. 17-20.-Nebucliadnezzar's wages. Nebuchadnezzar was used as God's servant in the work of destroying Tyre. But he got little profit out of that expedition. Therefore he was to receive his wages in the possession of the fertile and wealthy land of Egypt. This curious rendering of history in the light of Hebrew prophecy and poetry is suggestive. I. THE GREATEST KING IS BUT Gon's HIRELING, Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as a common labourer whose wages must be provided for. The pomp and ceremony of royalty are nothing in the sight of Heaven. Religion, like death, is a great leveller. II. GoD MAKES USE OF SELF-SEEKING MEN. Nebuchadnezzar was called upon to work out Divine decrees. But it was not pretended that he did this of set purpose or with any disinterested motives. His aims and ends were selfish, his views and ideas dark and heathenish. Yet he was a useful instrument of Providence. Thus the greatest selfishness may be converted into a means of doing God's will. Ill. GoD IS A JUST MASTER WHO PAYS GOOD WAGES. No man shall lose by entering his service. .At first there may be no advantage, and the service is found to be disappointing. Tyre does not pay. 'l'hen Egypt must be thrown in. The beginning of the service seems to be unprofitable; the end of it will cel'tainly be amply rewarded. The labourer is not paid hour by hour. He must wait for his wages. God's labourers often seem to be kept Jong waiting. But they will surely see their pay-day, and then receive their dues with interest. IV. fu DEGRADES filMSELF WHO SEBVES FOB NOTHING BETTER THAN WAGES, The servant needs, earns, and has a right to expect and enjoy, his wages. But he has a gross and selfish mind if be bas no other interest in his work than the prospect of making a living out of it. Erery man's work should be valued by him on its own account as a contribution to the good of society. Especially is this true of spiritual work. In that there is a prospect of rewards for which even Christ looked forward (Heb. xii. 2). Therefore it is not wrong to expect rewards ; every lawful stimulus that can be had is needed to encourage our service. But he is no true Christian who only serves his Lord for the sake of what he can get. Nebuchadnezzar the heathen, not Paul the Christian, is his model. V. THE HIGHEST SEBVIOE IB DIBINTEBESTED. Nebuchadnezzar, king as he was, had degraded himself to the level of a common hireling in the sight of Heaven by carrying out his great expeditions in a mean and mercenary spirit. But the lowliest Christians rise to the rank of "kings and priests" (Rev. i. 6) when they give the royal service that seeks for no selfishness. This condition does not contradiot that previously mentioned, in which a reward is expected. .All depends on its quality. It is the working for self-seeking ends that degrades Christian work. Christ's reward was unselfish-to "see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied." The true Christian should learn to say- " And I will a.sk for no reward, Except to serve thee still." Ver. 21.-The budding horn. We are not to think of a full-grown horn putting forth buds, like .Aaron's rod-in this case a useless monstrosity of growth. The idea is that of a young horn first appearing as in a bud and then growing. A horn is to bud and grow on the house of Israel. I. 'l'HE PROMISE, 1. In the nature of the horn. This signifies three things. (1) cu. xx1x. 1-21.] 'l'HE BOOK OF 'fHE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 131
Strength. The horn ie a symbol of strength, God promises an end of weakness, a time of power and energy. (2) Defence. The born is a weapon, and by means of it its possessor wards off att.ack. The people of God have been barrassed and oppressed. But this time of helplessness is to be succeeded by one of security. (3) Glory. The horn is an ornament. The stag's antler is the animal's pride and beauty. Women wore horns as part of their head-attire. The exalted born (Ps. cxii. 9) stands for the raising up of honour and dignity. 2. Jn the growth of the ho-rn. It buds: (1) With a small beginning. The budding horn is at first only discovered as a slight swelling on the head of the animal from which it grows. The best things begin in a small way- the obscure spring of the great river, the grain of mustard seed, the little child, the Christian experience. (2) With continuous advance. The born buds, pushes forward, develops ioto maturity. The best things are living and growing. They cannot remain in a stationary condition. The type to be followed is not the fossil horn in the museum, but the budding horn on the living head. All things of worth have a future towards which they press onward. II. 'l'BE FULFILMENT. 1. In Israel. A horn budded on the bead of the restored Israel. From the doleful captivity by the waters of Babylon the Jews returned to their own land. At first they were but a small and feeble folk-like the first appearance of the horn. But the horn was present in the bud. Israel was alive and growing, and she had yet a great destiny before her. 2. In Ohrist. Christ appeared like a born growing out of Israel. He came as (1) the strength, (2) the defence, and (3) the glory of Israel. He was born an infant in a lowly condition. Elsewhere he is compared to a sprout from the stem of Jesse (Isa. xi. 1). Christ was a Jew, and he grew np quietly in the Jewish nation. His beginning was humble; but his complete lifo is beyond all description in its greatness and glory. All the hope of the futnre is with him. 3. In the Ohurch. Christ lives in his people. He is born again in his Church, and be grows again in the growth of this his new, mystical body. Thus on the weary, faded world there is seen to grow a new aud surprising life. The Christian Church came in strength and promise as a boru of salvation to the old world. It is still a growing horn. All Christians may enjoy its great advantages, and all men may be Christians. Thus there is for all the threefold promise of the budding horn-its strength, its defence, and its glory. No man enjoys these privilege:1 to the full at first. The horn appears as a bud. The Christian life begins in lowly spheres. But it grows like Israel's ilor.Q,