his haughty self-confidence and dell.ant fearlessness, regarded himself as the grtat potentate of the world, secure from all molestation, able to carry out all his schemes of aggrandizement, ready to meet in battle, and certain to overcome, the f->rccs of aay nation that might be foolhardy enough to challenge his supremacy. As " the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers," so the power of Egypt dwelt secure and proud, claiming dominion, and dreading no disturbance from any foreign rival or foe. Ill. THE ALMl()HTY GOD CONTROLS AND VANQUISHES TIIE POWER OF TIJE MIGHTIEST OF NATIONS AND OF KINGS, The language attributed to Jehovah, who is represented as addressing Pharaoh, is very graphic : " I will put hooks in thy jaws, ... and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers." God uses his own agents, but he always accomplishes his own purposes. He saw the need of humbling Egypt's pride, and he employed Babylon to do this work. It was done, and done effectively. The arms of Nebuchadnezzar were turned against Egypt, and God gave the land of Egypt to the King of Babylon, as a spoil and prey, and as his hire and wages for the service he hacl rendered in the siege and destruction of Tyre. IV. THE MIGHTY OF THIS WORLD, WHEN DEALT WITH BY THE MIGHTIEST, IS LEFT DEFENCELESS, HUMILIATED, AND ASHAMED. The picture here, in the fourth and fifth verses, painted by the prophet, is painful, but it is effective. The mighty.monster of the Nile is dragged by hook and line from the depths of the river it has been wout to call its own, is flung into the wilderness, and is "given for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven." Egypt, and all her dependents who trusted in her and boasted of her patronage, are brought low, their helplessness is made apparent; and those who but lately were an object of envy and of fear are now regarded with pity or with derision.-T.
Vers. 6, 7.-The II staff of reed." The figure is a very striking aad effective one, however it may have been distasteful to the house of Israel, and even more so to the vaunted prowess of Egypt. I. Tm,: SINFUL AND FOOLISII TRUST OF ISRAEL IN EGYPT. 'l'he circumstances in which Judah was placed at the time were such as to ma.ke it madness on the part of the remnant at Jerusalem to seek help from Egypt.. Not only so; they were strictly forbidden upon Divine authority to act in this manner. In quietness and confidence lay their safety, in returning a.nd rest, as Isaiah most powerfully and urgently represented to the people ;-not in the horsemen and the chariots of Egypt. II. THE HELPLESSNESS OF EGYPT AS A FRIEND AND DELIVERER, Why Egypt was at this timo so powerless to help those who sought her alliance may not be perfectly clear to us; but the fact is so, and of thi:I the events are sufficient evidtnce. It was a vain confidence which the Jews placed in the great and ancient world-power on the banks of the Nile. They thought they grasped a staff strong and trustworthy, aud they found it " a staff of reed." Ill. 'fHE INJURY INFLICTED UPON ISRAEL DY THE FAILURE OF EGYPT'S AID. Not only did the helper prove helpless; not only did the staff, when leant upon, bend antl break. Those who applied for help received hurt instead of aid; the reed broke antl pierced the hand that grasped it and trusted in its support. Jerusalem was all tho worse for turning to Egypt for as~istance against Babylon, the victorious o.nd, just then, irrcsisti hie power. IV, THE COMMON CONFUSION OF THOSE WllO FOOLISHLY TRUSTED AND OF THOSE WHO PLJ.CED OONFIDENCE IN THEM. Babylon rose; but Egypt and Judah fell. "All their loins shook ; " i.e. the consequences of their policy were trouble, fear, and misery to both. Both incurred the hostility of the power which they in vain leagued with each other to resist. V, THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS LESSON OF THE INCIDENT AND EXPERIENCE HERE DESCRIBED. There is a proneness among all nations to be guided in their alliances, aims, and efforts by considerations of worldly policy and expediency. Too seldom do they ask themselves-What is right? What is in accordance with the eternal Rea.son and Righteousness which rule the world? What, in a word, is the course which God npproves and enjoins? The proceedings undertaken at the instigation of worldly expediency, and in violation of Divine law, may meet with apparent and telllporary 134 THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oa. xxrx. 1-21.