"I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that
swear by Malcham."
--Zephaniah 1:5
Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both
parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time
to Malcham. But duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy His soul
hateth. The idolater who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one
sin less than he who brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the
temple of the Lord, while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof.
To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a dastard's policy. In the
common matters of daily life, a double- minded man is despised, but in
religion he is loathsome to the last degree. The penalty pronounced in the
verse before us is terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine
justice spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and professes to
follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and gives it dominion in his
heart?
My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of
double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus--dost thou truly
love Him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father
Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of little
value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the
land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible
fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole
universe, and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, He reigns in
my heart, there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone
on Jesus crucified, and live alone for Him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my
heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me
to salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my
heart to fear Thy name.
