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-7-
The God Who Is
Lord of the Acts of Men
Amos asks, "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6). No man can accuse the Lord of sin. Sinfulness proceeds from the creature. Men are guilty of perverting the right ways of the Lord, but evil itself, like goodness, is the creation of God.
The apostle John tells us, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). No one will question the fact that God is the Maker of a mother's love, but what about a devil's hatred? Who made that? the Devil? Then are there two creators? The Bible allows for no such dualism. God is the Maker of a mother's love, as well as of a devil's hate. There is no other Creator except the Lord.
The Lord says, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things" (Isaiah 45:7). This is not the work of the Devil: it is the work of God, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Someone may object by saying that this makes God evil. When God takes away our breath and we die and return to the dust, does this make God a murderer? or when the Lord takes a man's wealth by fire or flood, does this make God a thief? Plato taught that Law was sovereign and that God must obey the Law, but this is heathen foolishness. God is the Author of the Law, and as such, He is Lord of the Law. So the writer of Hebrews tells us that the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, "was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God" (Hebrews 3:3,4).
In I Samuel chapter 16, verse 23, we read, "And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." Note first, that music affects people physically, for Saul was "refreshed"; it affects them mentally, for he was made "well"; and it affects people spiritually, for "the evil spirit departed from him." But note as well, that the evil spirit came "from God."
During his reign, king Ahab refused to worship the Lord choosing rather to serve Baal. On the eve of battle at Ramoth-Gilead, he turned to the prophets of Baal. Micaiah warned Ahab saying, "Behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee" (See: II Chronicles 18:18-21). See how plainly the Bible speaks, declaring that it was the Lord who put a lying spirit into the mouths of these false prophets. As Thomas Watson testified, "All God's creatures are at His check and beck."
In Job chapter 12, verse 16, we are told, "With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his." Again, in Isaiah chapter 54, verse 16, the Lord says, "Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy." The Devil is one of the most obedient servants God has: he does exactly as he is supposed to do—he destroys. This is the reason he is called "Apollyon," or "The Destroyer" (Revelation 9:11).
Lord of lords
In Proverbs chapter 21, verse 1, Solomon wrote, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." God is sovereign over the politics of men. Throughout history, the Lord has often given people the kind of government they deserve. As William Penn observed, "People who will not be ruled by God will be ruled by tyrants."
"The kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations" (Psalms 22:28). The Lord "changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding" (Daniel 2:21). This is the reason we pray to the Lord; but the tragedy is that many Christians look for help—not from the Lord, but from the government of men.
Again, in Proverbs chapter 21, in verse 31, Solomon declares, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD." Nations may amass great stockpiles of armaments in preparation for the day of battle; they may equip themselves with numberless nuclear arsenals, but "wisdom and might are his" (Daniel 2:20).
The psalmist declares, "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1).
Daniel records, "All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, `Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?'
"While the word was in the king's mouth there fell a voice from heaven, saying, `O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.'
"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
"And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, `What doest thou?'
"At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase" (Daniel 4:28-37).
God is Lord over the politics of men. His is the unseen hand in all human affairs. In the words of Edward Perronet,
Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, And crown Him Lord of all.