Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/107

 that shall condemn me f Behold, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up" (Isa. 1. 8, 9) a challenge which is thrown down still more triumphantly in the New Testament in the words, " Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God; who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom. viii. 33, 34). Satan's malice and hatred against the Church and the individual believer in Christ is as great as it is against Israel. And he still appears as " the accuser of the brethren," before God and before our own conscience; but with such an " Advocate with the Father " as " Jesus Christ the Righteous," who has Himself become " the propitiation for our sins " (i John ii. I, 2), we need fear neither his fury nor his malicious accusations. Is Satan's hatred of us great? The love of Jesus is greater. Is Satan ever on the watch and restlessly walking about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour? Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep, and His eyes run to and fro throughout the earth to prove Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect towards Him, and His myriads of blessed angels are sent forth specially to guard and to be ministering spirits to them who shall be heirs of salvation. Therefore we may continue the Apostle's song of triumph: " Who shall separate us from the love of God? . . . for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ fesus our Lord."

But to return to the context. The great Advocate bases His plea on Israel's behalf, first on the ground of Jehovah's immutable choice. "Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan"

The verb yigar, from ga ar (" to rebuke," " to reprove "), " when applied to God, who accomplishes all things by His own power, includes the idea of actual suppression "; and