Ezekiel 30:20-26 - Homiletics

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. The broken arm is suggestive of loss of power.

I. IT IS A CALAMITY TO LOSE POWER . 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 helplessly 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 activity 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. They have plenty of spiritual muscle, but the spiritual bones are brittle. Hence they sink into worse than a molluscous state.

II. THE LOSS OF POWER MAY COME AS A DIVINE JUDGMENT . Egypt is not only robbed of honor, possessions, etc. Her arms are broken. She loses power. This must 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 sudden attack of paralysis, a sudden failure of spiritual power.

III. POWER GROWS WITH USE . The arms of the King of Babylon are strengthened. Muscles become stout and tough with exercise. Brains grow strong with thinking. Souls 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 martial 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, doing 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.