Wicked Men the Rod of God

    WICKED MEN THE ROD OF GOD

    "O Assyrian, the Rod of mine anger," Isa 10:15.

    The ungodly, and bloody persecutors of the Lord's people, are called his hand, his rod, and his sword. "Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword; from men of the world, which are thy hand, O Lord," Ps 17:13-14.

    PABALLELS

    I. A Man smites such as have offended him with his hand, and with a Rod or sword. So God makes use of the wicked, as an instrument to chastise his children, when they transgress his law, and grievously sin against him.

    II. As a hand or Rod lays on harder or softer blows, according to the pleasure and purpose of him that strikes. So God lets the wicked out upon his own people, to oppress and afflict them as he sees good, either in a milder or more severe manner.

    III. When a father hath chastised his children sufficiently, and thoroughly humbled them; he sometimes casteth the Rod into the fire. So when God hath by the wicked, who are his Rod, thoroughly humbled his people, and taken away their sin, he will throw the wicked, their bloody persecutors, into the fire of his wrath. "For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction," Isa 10:25.