Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man,
prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Say, A sword, a sword is
sharpened, and also furbished: It is sharpened to make a sore
slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make
mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree. And he hath
given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is
sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the
slayer. Cry and howl, son of man; for it shall be upon my people, it
shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the
sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod?
it shall be no more, saith the Lord God. Thou, therefore, son of
man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be
doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of
the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy
chambers. I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,
that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is
made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter. Go thee one way or
other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy
face is set. I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause
my fury to rest: I the Lord have said it (verses 8-17).
The sword of judgment is now described as being prepared for the
slaughter. How all this should have a meaning for us at the present
time. All the nations of the earth, who boasted but yesterday of a
civilization which makes for righteousness and peace, are either at war
or are preparing for war. May we not see behind it all the sword of the
Lord? Has He not begun judgment among those nations? The threatening
vengeance of the Lord will ere long fall upon this age which so long has
turned a deaf ear to the wooings of His love. And the question here is
asked, "Should we then make mirth?" Is this the time of mirth, worldly
enjoyment and indifference? Not for God's people who discern the signs
of the times and who know from the Word of God the coming events. The
place for us is in "Bochim" (Judges ii:4-5. "Bochim" means "Weeping.")
The time of the sharpening of the sword is the time for His people to
trim their lamps, for earnest heart-searching and prayer. The character
of the unsaved, nominal "Christian" masses is also being clearly
revealed. They show what they are, "lovers of pleasure more than lovers
of God." Though the sword is being drawn and sharpened, they are given
to mirth and pleasure, like the company described in 1 Sam. xxx:16. The
sword of judgment will find them in their merry-making and will change
all into weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Again the prophet is commanded to cry and to howl, to smite upon his
thigh and to smite his hands together, in view of the coming terrors of
judgment. And solemnly the Lord saith, "I will also smite mine hands
together, and I will satisfy my fury."