Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The whereabouts and activities
of wicked men fulfill the purpose of God just as much so as those
in whom He is pleased to perform works of righteousness. Some
would consider such a statement as bordering on blasphemy, yet
the Scripture is plain that such is the case both by text and
example. The Lord hath made all things
for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Remember
the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else.
I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the
beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,
calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes
my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken it. I will
also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also
do it. The Lord raised up the nation
of Egypt along with Pharaoh, whom he gave wealth, servants,
and great power, in order to demonstrate his own glory in
his destruction and the ultimate deliverance of the people of
God from his hand. For the scripture saith unto
Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I
might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout the earth. He was pleased to establish Nebuchadnezzar
in the kingdom of Babylon, which at that time was the greatest
nation the earth had seen insofar as the extent of the power and
dominion of earthly kingdoms go. He ordained the wicked designs
of Nebuchadnezzar as a means of chastening the nation of Israel
and in order to establish the fact that he installs even the
wickedest of men in places of rule. We can see that very fact
illustrated in our own nation's leaders. It was not by chance
that Doeg was in the tabernacle the same day as David, any more
than it was by chance that Saul of Tarsus held the coats of the
men who stoned Stephen. Both of these events were necessary
in order to fulfill the purpose of God. even though the placement
of Doeg was unto destruction while the other was unto life,
as God used those very events to manifest repentance in Paul
when it pleased the Lord to open his eyes and awaken him from
the deadness of his sin. Doeg was a wicked man who gladly
accused Ahimelech, a righteous priest, of conspiracy against
the king. but also willingly took up a
sword to slay the priests of God in order to curry favor for
himself with King Saul. Yet he acted in the direct will
of Almighty God in slaying these priests, just as much so as Judas
Iscariot did the exact beating of the Lord in betraying the
Son of Man with a kiss. This very truth causes great
consternation to the moralists and conditionalists who are convinced
that only the righteous perform the will of God and thereby earn
his favor or blessings. Both Doeg and Judas fulfilled
the will of God. In his actions, Doeg was no different
than Paul. Paul was guilty of the same crime
as Doeg, and yet he was an object of his mercy and grace. There
is nothing that makes one man differ from another except the
grace of God. Paul testified of this when he
said, For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what
hast thou that thou didst not receive? Men cannot and will
not escape fulfilling the purpose of God for them in the earth,
whether that be in fattening them up to their own destruction
or to deliver them from sin unto the blessings of the righteous.
God will have all of the glory in his just destruction of the
wicked, to which he has ordained them, and he will most certainly
have all of the glory in the bestowal of mercy upon the objects
of his everlasting love. Therefore hath he mercy on whom
he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. We live
in an age where the prevailing message which masquerades as
Christianity is one which despises that precept and makes men the
master of their fate and the captain of their soul. Free will
is the golden calf that is worshipped by the multitudes. Keep silence,
all created things, and wait your Maker's nod. My soul stands
trembling while she sings the honors of her God. Life, death,
and hell, and worlds unknown hang on his firm decree. He sits
on no precarious throne, nor borrows leave to be. Chained
to his throne, a volume lies with all the fates of men, with
every angel's form and size drawn by the eternal pen. His providence
unfolds the book and makes his counsel shine. Each opening leaf
and every stroke fulfills some deep design. Here he exalts neglected
worms to scepters and to crown, and there the following page
he turns and treads the monarch down. Do you worship at the throne
of this sovereign Savior, or have you made up one of your
own? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.