That bringeth the princes to nothing
Great men reduced to nothing
Earth has its great men.
Social distinctions grow out of the constitution of things, and are, therefore, Divine in their foundation.
I. EARTH’S GREAT MEN GOD REDUCES TO NOTHING.
1. Death is the destruction of all mere worldly distinctions.
2. Death is effected by the agency of God. “He bringeth,” etc. Not chance, fate, accident, etc.
II. Earth’s great men He reduces to nothing NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR DETERMINED EFFORTS TO BE SOMETHING. “Their stock shall not take root in the earth;”
1. The implied tendency of earth’s great men in relation to life. They seek to “root” themselves here.
2. The manifest folly of earth’s great men. They are trying to do what they cannot accomplish. Heaven’s decree is against it, and there is no overcoming that decree. The roots of our earthly life, such as they are, are only like those of certain marine plants, that spring up one floating wavelet to be destroyed by the next; or rather like the roots of those atmospheric plants that strike only into a wave of air; that roll swiftly on, Heaven only knows where.
III. HE DOES THIS WITH THE GREATEST EASE. “He blows upon them and they wither,” etc. (Homilist.)