October 16

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine that we may enter into them; and forthwith Jesus gave them leave. - Mark 5:12-13.

IF we reflect, on the one hand, on the extreme limitation of our faculties, and, on the other, on the depth of God’s designs, we shall not wonder at being called to walk by sight, and not by faith. Well, a period of development is hastening along, when we shall understand what we now believe. Now, even now, we are able to trust the Lord in the darkness, and now, even now, we may study his doings, and the discoveries we make will amply reward our diligence. The narrative before us affords materials for a variety of reflections. One view of it only we intend to notice; that is, prayer-the prayer of devils: “And all the devils besought Jesus.”

Here is their acknowledgment of the Saviour’s power over them. They could not injure even brutes without his permission. Their creed is beyond that of many who profess and call themselves Christians. None of the devils in hell disbelieve the Divinity of Christ. They believe and tremble. And so do men. How many things do they admit to be right, and yet in their practice deny or oppose their convictions. And all Christians know with regard to themselves, that the contemplative and the speculative surpasses that which is experimental and practical in religion.

Our truest wisdom will be, not in yielding submission to the dictates of philosophy, falsely so called, in disbelieving the existence and agency of evil Spirits, but in resisting the devices of beings of whom we are necessarily ignorant. Blessed be God that we are conscious the tremendous power of our adversaries is limited and completely controlled by him who is our Saviour and our Friend, who loved us and died for our sakes.

But will devils pray, and will they be heard? Yes: “And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. Astonishing! Was it out of affection for them, or sympathy with their design? Impossible! But what was the design of their request? It was founded on malice and mischief. No longer permitted to torment the man, they entreat permission to enter the swine; not out of spite to injure the property of the Gadarenes, but to render Christ obnoxious to them through the spoiling of their goods. And so it fell out. These Gadarenes, though dwelling on the other side Jordan, were Jews, and possessed of and engaged in the disposal of contraband property-property which it was unlawful to sell, to eat, to touch, or to possess. Satan knew that they were expressly violating the Divine command. He knew as well as Paul what was the “root of all evil.” He was acquainted with the history of Achan and of Gehazi, and knew that man would sell body and soul, God and heaven, and everything else, for profit. He knew their hate would drive off the Messiah, who interrupted these unrighteous and sordid gains. Therefore this permission to enter the swine was sought by these evil Spirits.

Permission was given. Yes; in judgment, and deserved judgment. This is an awful part of the subject. Satan desired to have Peter that he might sift him as wheat is sifted. Thus Satan desired to have Job; and he destroyed all he had, not in spite against his sons and daughters whom he killed, or against his servants whom he had taken captives, or against his flocks and herds. No; but it was solely in malice against the proprietor. “Yet in all this Job sinned not.” He triumphed in his trial, which was found unto praise and glory and honour. The same permission was given to Satan to tempt the Gadarenes. How different the result!

The gold will endure the furnace; the dross will be consumed. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”