Verse 1

CONTENTS

Here is still the ruin of Egypt described, and those who come to her help. The Lord promiseth to strengthen the arm of Babylon for Egypt's destruction.

Verses 1-5

The language is very solemn, and the subject very affecting. Indeed the horrors of war in any and every nation are enough to make all men howl, and cry woe worth the day.

Verses 6-19

The Lord's anger will be excited against all that come to the help of Egypt; for this is rebellion against the Lord. Reader! it is an awful thing to be found fighting against God. When good King Josiah went up to Megiddo to battle in an unjust cause, though admonished to the contrary, he was punished with death. See 2 Chronicles 35:20 to the end. In a spiritual sense, to be found opposing the Lord in his gospel, what an alarming thing!

Verses 20-26

The subject of Egypt takes up another sermon of the Prophet, and at a distant period from the former; which may serve to teach us how sure the word of the Lord is, and that no word gone out of his mouth can fall to the ground. Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19.

Verse 26

REFLECTIONS

PAUSE, Reader, over this chapter, and connect with it the former; and learn from both the sure and certain purposes of the Lord in their accomplishment. When we thus view the Lord Jehovah going forth to punish the nations, and especially with an eye for the injuries done to his people, what a solemn representation doth it afford of the sovereignty of God? Oh! could we but learn more humbly to bend before the just and all-wise decision of the Lord, in his dispensations both of men and things, how differently would be our estimate of right and wrong to what it now is? Here, in this chapter as well as in several others around, we behold the Lord's jealousy for his people in the punishment of the nations; in all which we ought to mark his sovereignty, and to bow down implicitly before it. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Wherefore and whence his dispensations are so directed? why Christ, his great gift, is held forth to one nation with a full, free, and extended hand, while others know not the Lord, nor the operation of his hand? who shall take upon him to determine? It is the Lord, (said an ancient deeply-exercised soul, under the heaviest afflictions,) let him do what seemeth him good. This was enough to stop all complaints. He adds no more. Blessed Lord! give me grace in the reading of thy judgments, and, marking thy mercies, to learn, like David, to sing of both, and to direct my song to thee. For sure I am thy glory is in all; and when this is the object to be attained, Egypt's destruction or Israel's deliverance, must be right. Again I say, Shall not the Judge of the earth do right?