THE DOUBLE ACCUSER

When we consider the Diabolus character—his strength and opportunity, whereby he visits his vengeance upon a weak, susceptible race, we can readily understand that his make-up would be far from complete without a continuous outflow of slander. But his courage and audacity stand out in glaring relief when we find him an Accuser. It does not require large intelligence or bravery to be a slanderer—only baseness of character—but to be an accuser, face to face with false charges, especially in the presence of One who has power over all things, reveals an impudent bravery that dazes the judgment.

When questioned of God about his presence among devout spirits—as they were assembled for worship—he answered in the manner of a guilty boy: “Just going to and fro in the earth.” Peter tells us that his mission of going to and fro is of seeking and devouring. He is then reminded of Job’s character—how that this saint is perfect and just; Satan’s blighting influence has not been able to touch and overthrow the aged Job. In his shrewd rejoinder Satan accuses God of two sins: partiality and falsehood.

Translated into its literal meaning, the language would be about as follows: “I deny that Job is perfect; but for the protection you have thrown around him he would be as other men. His pretended piety is hypocrisy; he serves you because you have blest him with abundance; he has not fallen into sin because you have hedged him about. If you treated Job as you treat others, his holiness would soon be about as genuine as mine.”

Satan accuses God of protecting His servant and blessing him in material things in a special and partial manner, viz: “a respecter of persons.” But the fiercest accusation is hidden in his reply to God’s question, also put in the form of a question, and finished by an emphatic declaration: Job is not the man God said he was; “but put forth Thine hand and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face.” A being who can stand before the Lord God, of whom the hosts of heaven sing and shout—he, himself, once among the number—saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy,” and accuse Him of being guilty of partiality and falsehood—what may we expect from him? The Word says he accuses the saints day and night.

Observe that he accuses the saints, those who are striving in righteousness. The man who lies, cheats in business, accumulates a fortune, and lives all the vices without apology is not an object of malicious accusation. The scandals in select circles cause only a ripple, even though the offenses occupy much space of the associated press. The principles of such affairs are often staged as heroes and heroines for the entertainment of a morbid public taste. Satan accuses the saints; the presumption is shouted from the housetops: “There is none that doeth good, no not one.”

The saints—every good man and woman—must at some time face charges against their moral or religious character. This hellish machination goes on day and night. It is reasonable to conclude that much of the unrest, depression, and backslidings among the people of God may be traced to this cause; innocent men and women have not only cast away their hope through rumoured accusations, but have been driven to desperation and suicide.

The reader must keep in mind the suggestion made in a former chapter: that while Satan has the power by his presence of himself, or his minions, to create an atmosphere, unfathomable, impenetrable, yet surcharged with horror and dread; but his activities are seldom apart from human instrumentalities. Just as he is the arch slanderer, through the word of mouth, so is he the accuser, both of God and saints, through human personalities under his control.

A flood sweeps away, or lightning destroys a man’s possessions; he looks up, curses and accuses God of cruelty and injustice. Death enters the home; the mourners charge God falsely. His accusations are confined to no particular method; the one most suited to the case is used, whether self-condemnation or from another. Self-reproach, through memory and meditation, is a most powerful agency in carrying on this work. Once we begin to think on our ways—seeking to turn our steps unto the testimony of God—we face a life of sins and blunders mountain high and unsurmountable. But when faith takes wings and lifts the agonizing soul “out of the mire and clay,” an everlasting reminder of the past clings to us, often robbing us of peace and joy. How many Christians have grown weary and given up because of memories blackened by consequences of past sins—sins which God said, if we confess and forsake, He would “remember them against us no more forever.”

If the truth, which can never be revealed until the Judgment Day, could be known! Our asylums are swarming with unfortunates who have lost mental balance because of remorse and condemnation, resulting from an accusing memory. Wherever Satan is unable to lure the saints into actual transgression their life and usefulness are often destroyed by tormenting spirits accusing them day and night The Book holds out no deliverance from this scourge until the Accuser is forever cast down by the wrath of God at the final shifting of the scene.

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