The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 286

III. IT IS VARIOUSLY EXEROIBED. Sometimes God controls the foe by natural causes and instrumentalities. The destroying angel comes down upon the camp and smites the host; pestilence decimates the bands of the enemy; an earthquake opens the prison-doors; the storm scatters the invader's fleet. Sometimes God controls the foe by human agency. One enemy of God makes war upon another, anJ cripples the forces which were on the point of being employed against the Lord's people. Or a great deliverer is raised up, whose valour and heroism crush the enemy, and set the threatened free from fear and danger. In any case God is never at a loss for means by which he may bring his counsels to pass. IV. IT IS ALWAYS EFFEOTUAL. The control of God may be defied by God's enemies, and it may be ignored or distrusted by his friends. But it exists, and it is superior to all earthly powers and machinations. Revelation is full of instances of this control as manifested in the history of Israel and in the history of the infant Church of Christ. And the annals of Christianity, through long centuries, contain abundant confirmation of the great and blessed truth-" the Lord reigneth." V. IT SHALL BE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED. Here and now men may withhold the confession. But sooner or later it shall be publicly admitted that all powers are subject to the King of kings.-T. Ver. 10.-.An evil device. We have been taught by the Divine Master, Christ, that it is from within that human conduct takes its origin. It is the heart which is the source alike of good and of evil. The tree bears fruit, whether sound and wholesome and palatable, or harsh and useless; the living well, the fountain, sends forth streams, whether sweet and cheering, or bitter and polluted. So the thoughts, intents, and devices of the heart find their expression in the words which reach men's ears and in the deeds which draw men's eyes. God, who knew the inmost nature of men, as well as their individual and political act~ revealed the secret spring of the malicious efforts of the foes of Israel, saying, "It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and that thou aha.It devise an evil device." I. p ASBION PBOMPTS THE Evn. DEVICE. There is in all men's nature a principle assuming various forms-impulse, propensity, passion. If there were no such principle, we cannot see how human life could go forward. It is the spring, the motive power, of the machine. It is not implanted within us in order that it may be eradicated, but in order that it may be governed, directed, controlled. In itself it is not bad. But passions become bad when misdirected and uncontrolled by reason and conscience. ~- II. CHOIOE ADOPTS IT. Anger, lust, or some other passion prompts to a certain course of action. The mischief is wrought when the man, in the exercise of choice, accepts as the motive of his action, and identifies himself with, a passion, the indul- gence of which works evil, preferring such a principle of action to a higher and better one, The device thus adopted by the enemies of IHrael was a device of selfish passion, only to be indulged at the expense of justice and gocd feeling. 111. SINFUL HABIT NOURISHES IT. It is not n single feeling, a single purpose, which usually accounts for a man's, a nation's, evil ways. The mischief, when isolated, might be checked. But ii is too often fostered and thus encouraged, complicated, and multi- plied, ns the mind broods upon it. A mere fancy becomes, when encouraged, a desire ; a desire, when encouraged, becomes a settled purpose. IV. SINFUL AOTIVITY EXECUTES IT. The desire does not long remain such ; it tends to its satisfaction. 'l'be device is a means to an end, and achieves itself. God's mercies are permitted, in some cases and to some extent, to "bring wicked devices to pass." For wfae purposes, the Ruler of all suffers men not only to think evil thoughts, but to accomplish evil deeds. v. GOD 0AN AND OFTEN DOES FRUSTRATE IT. The oft-quoted proverb is a true one, "Man proposes, God disposes." The All-wise has his own plans, the Almighty has his own means; and the wiAdom and the power of men, measured against the Divine resources, will surely be brought to nothing. "Hitherto shalt thou go, and no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." '!'here is no occasion for the people of Christ to be dismayed or overmuch distressed when evil devices enter into the minds of their adverearies. All is known to their Divine Friend and Protector, who is abundantly able to defend and to deliver his own. "He taketh the wi11e in ,rnr, 'l'l3:E BOOK OFI THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oa. xxxvm. l-23,