desolation that was approoching, not only would these iilols prove themselves useless lJrotectors, they themselves would share the fate of their patrons. The idols are destroyed in the ruin of the idolaters. I. 'l'RERE rs No_ D~FENCE IN IDOLS. This is a lesson for the heathen, But not only pagans who worship 11nages of wood and stone need to learn it; men who despise the superstitions of_ heathendom have their own superstitions and practise their own idolatry, and the lesson 1s also for such people. 1. Every substitute fur God is an idol. Who.t a man love_s s~1premely and trusts in absolutely is his god. One man thus idolizes his money, believmg that he has only to draw a cheque to frighten away the most dreadful calamity. An~ther makes_ an idol of his own ability, his skill, energy, or cleverness, prou~ly supposmg that he 1s equal to any emerg_ency._ A third worships a theory, and 1magmes, say, that the general course of evolution will assuredly bring all right. A fourth idolizes his own religious experience, and, instead of tr11Sting God, puts his faith in his own saintliness. 2. No. idol will preserve its worshipper. Money, ability, theory, saintliness, all fail in the hour of trial, as surely as the sacred hawks and cats of Egypt proved useless in face of the march of the Chaldean army. II. Gou WILL DESTROY IDOLS. The idols of Egypt were to be destroyed in the general havoc of the invasion. The Philistine god Dagon fell down and was broken before the ark of the Lord (1 Sam. v. 4). The false hope will he laid low. It may be done speedily ; if so, we may thank God for a merciful deliverance. It may be long delayed, and not even seen during the present life. Dives lives clad in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously till the end of his days. The rich fool is not disillusioned till the very night of his death. But in the next world, if not in this, men must see things in their true light. A happier destruction of idols comes through the revelation of their vanity in the light of God's truth. 'fhis is the Christian method of iconoclasm. The missionary will do little good if he simply rails at the folly and sin of idol-worship. But if he makes men know of the existence of the one spiritual God, the idols will dis- appear without his taking any trouble to hew them down. Idols vanish from the soul when the vision of Christ is received. ill THE DESTRUCTION OF HIS IDOLS IB FOB THE SALVATION OF THE IDOLATER. There is redemption in the Divine iconoclasm. Idols delude men, hold them in bondage to superstition, degrade their souls, and blot out the view of the true heavens. God, seeing a rich man worshipping gold, snatches the fatal idol away and plunges the man into poverty, that there he may learn to search for the true treasure of the kingdom of heaven. Earthly 1011s is often thus sent to clear away obstructions that hide us from seeing what are our souls' true possessions. But the mere destruction of idols is not itself a salvation. It is remarkable that Christian and European education is rapidly destroying the native idolatry of India; but it is questionable how far this is a gain if nothing is substituted but a hard and scornful agnosticism. When the idols are cast out of our lives, we need that the Christ shall come in and bring his new life. Vers. 20-26.-Broken arms. Pharaoh's arms are to be broken, while the arms of the King of Babylon are to be strengthened. This metaphor describes the condition of the great empires that is consequent on the shock of conflict. 'l'he broken arm is suggestive of loss of power. L IT IS A CALAMlTY TO LOBE POWEB. This is felt to be so physically. So it is spiritually; for there are broken-armed Churches and broken-armed souls. 1, Men suffer great inconvenience who have broken arms. They cannot work. They are help- lessly dependent on others. What can be a more pitiable picture of helplessness than a man with both arms broken? Weak Churches are helpless; i.e. when spiritual aclivity fails. Weak souls are in a miserable plight, 2. Broken arms may be found on healthy men, There is no disease, only the result of an act of violence or of an accident. Spiritual failure may be suddenly brought about, possibly by a sudden fall into temptation. 3. Broken arms may be seen on strong men, The muscle is stout, but the bone has snapped. So there are men who display great energy and resources. But they lack stamina. They cannot hold up against any strain. 'l'hey have plenty of spiritual muscle, but the spiritual bones are brittle. Hence they sink into worse than a molluscous state. II. THE LOBB OF l'OWER :MAY OOME AS A DIVINE JUDGMENT, Egypt is not only oH. xxx. 1-26.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 147
robbed of honour, possessions, etc. Her arms are broken. She loses power. This musL be a bitter trouble for a great, proud people. God punishes nations by crippling their resources. If they have not used their powers well, these are taken from them. Thus the Roman empire was weakened in its corruption. It is the same with individuals. The misused talent is taken away. Sin destroys a man's best powers. It weakens the soul; often it weakens the mind also. This result may be quite unexpected-a sudden outbreak of war, a sndden attack of paralysis, a sudden failure of spiritual power. Ill POWER GROWS WITH UBE. The arms of the King of Babylon are strengthened. Muscles become stout and tough with exercise. Brains grow strong with thinking. 8ouls become vigorous by service. The battles of the Lord are not cruel and desolating like those of man. The soldier of Jesus Christ leaves no ruins in his wake. The martin! virtues of spiritual service are without alloy. It is well to gain renown and strength in the noble warfare against the world's sin and misery. If Nebuchadnezzar, doina0 God's will unwittingly, is still rewarded for the service, much more shall God's true, willing servants not fail of their recompense. The best reward is not to lie on beds of ease, but to receive more strength for more arduous service and sterner warfare in the future. The wages of God's servant is to have his arms strengthened.