Ezekiel 38:14 - Homiletics

The day of security.

I. THERE IS A DAY OF SECURITY . Then God's people dwell safely. We talk of the warfare of the Christian life. There is a lifelong war. But this is not a perpetual battle. There are lulls in the storm, and quiet seasons in the Christian contest. At such times there is a temptation to unreasonable ease and confidence, just as in times of trouble people are ready to despair and imagine that "all these things are against" them. Still, the day of security has its blessing, and if this is not abused it may be welcomed as helpful.

1. It affords an opportunity for recovering strength . The soldier cannot be always fighting. Repose is essential as a pro-legation for future exertion.

2. It enables us to perform quiet work . The whole of Christian experience is not covered by the idea of warfare. There are such things as working in the vineyard, fruit-bearing, building up the house of God, etc; which his servants have to attend to, and which can be best accomplished without distracting thoughts, in times of security.

3. It offers us a foretaste of heavenly blessedness . Heaven is a safe place, and its Messed inhabitants dwell there securely. Their security, indeed, is sound and enduring; while ours on earth may be but brief and treacherous, like the calm on a mountain lake, which may be broken at any moment by a sudden squall. Still, while we enjoy the peace we may be thankful for it, and gratefully accept it as an earnest of that in the eternal home, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest."

II. THE SECURITY OF GOD 'S PEOPLE IS OBSERVED BY THEIR FOES . Gog and Magog take note of the security of Israel and bestir themselves. Satan watches his opportunity, and often finds it best when the servants of God are quite confident in the sense of safety. The city gates are left open and the walls unmanned because no enemy is expected. The doors are unbolted at night because the householder never imagines that any burglar will visit his home. But these very signs of security tempt an attack, and, when it comes, give fatal facility to the enemy's projects. The Eurydice suddenly went down with all on beard, when struck by a squall off the Isle of Wight, just because the fine weather had tempted the crew to leave all the port-holes open. It must have been observed by every one who has watched his own experience that seasons of spiritual peace and joy are commonly followed by times of severe temptation. Immediately after the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus he was led into the wilderness to be tempted. Peter's boast was swiftly followed by his denial of his Master. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" ( 1 Corinthians 10:12 ).

III. THE SECURITY OF GOD 'S PEOPLE REVEALS THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF HIS SERVICE . Gog and Magog seem to take note of the security of Israel as beasts of prey observe the unsuspecting confidence of the game they are scenting; out they might also observe it with admiration, as Balaam did that of the tents of Israel ( Numbers 24:5 ), as Milton's Satan observed the peace and joy of the happy pair in Eden. If so, however, the prospect need not inspire despairing, regrets as it did in Balaam ( Numbers 24:17 ), nor malignant envy as Milton represents it doing in Satan. The peace of God's people may be shared by all, for all may become God's people. Even Gog and Magog may enjoy the same security. Russia, the land of the ancient Scythians, became a Christian nation, we may see the calmness of Christian experience, and take it as a witness to the blessedness of the Christian privileges. Thus the gospel is preached by the very countenances of God's people.