x. 5-34. _O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, &c._
This prophecy may be used to illustrate the following truths of
abiding interest. +I. The power of empires and the policy of
statesmen are all under the control of God.+ Free-will is one great
fact of the universe; an all-controlling providence is another; and
God knows how to harmonise both. In investing man with free-will, God
did not abdicate the throne of the universe; He still rules, and
whether they do it voluntarily or involuntarily, all men further His
purposes. 1. This is a truth to be ever remembered by those who rule.
Their desire should be to work along with God, and not merely in
subordination to Him. This is the one secret of true prosperity and
abiding power. 2. It is full of consolation for good men when rulers
are yielding to a mad and wicked ambition (Ps. lxxvi. 10). +II. God
exercises His control of empires and statesmen for the promotion of
the welfare of His people.+ Every great empire has some underlying
policy that guides and controls all its actions; _e.g.,_ the
underlying policy of Russia is said to be the ultimate acquisition of
Constantinople. God's "great policy" is the promotion of the welfare
of His people. In raising up or casting down kingdoms He has this
object always in view. This again is a profoundly practical truth.
1. The ruler who remembers it will at least abstain from every form
of assault on the Church of God. He who undertakes to persecute the
Church, undertakes to make war upon Him from whom he received his
power, and who can instantly resume it (Acts ix. 4 and Matt.
xxviii. 18). 2. Remembering it, God's people will not be dismayed in
times of calamity. They will look with assured confidence, not for
the destruction of the Church, but of her persecutors; and they will
not look in vain. When the "whole work" that God has in view shall be
accomplished, the ungodly instrument by which it was effected shall
be utterly broken (vers. 12-20). [All this belongs to a realm of
truth, the importance and preciousness of which is not likely to be
appreciated in these times of freedom from persecution, but by the
martyrs in all ages it has been well understood.] +III. In the view
of God the welfare of His people is prompted precisely in proportion
as their holiness is promoted.+ We see from verses 20, 21, that while
God intended by the Assyrian invasion to punish iniquity (ver. 6),
His ultimate design was to bring His people back to Himself in
penitence and faith. Here we have, 1. A correction of our views. We
are apt to suppose that by the welfare of the Church is meant peace
and outward prosperity. We are satisfied if her revenues and social
influence are increasing. God often thinks it better to take these
things away. The day of true welfare for Judah begins when the fierce
armies of Assyria come up against her (H. E. I., 3666). 2. Light is
cast upon God's estimate of holiness. So precious is it in His sight,
that He overrules even the policies of great empires for the
promotion of it among His people. It is distinctly revealed that this
is His aim in all the discipline of our personal life (Heb. xii. 10;
H. E. I., 85-90, 2842, 2843). This should be to us, then, 3. An
instruction. We should estimate holiness as God does. We should
constantly "follow" it (Heb. xii. 14; H. E. I., 2845-2848). And
besides humbly submitting to His chastisements (Lam. iii. 22), we
should thankfully acquiesce in whatever calamities He is pleased to
send upon His church or on ourselves, even though they be relatively
as terrible as an invasion by the Assyrians, remembering that His
purpose therein is to bring us back to Himself, to make us like
Himself, and so render us capable of a happiness that shall be
perfect and eternal.