It ought therefore to be observed, that we have continually to do with Satan as with some wild beast, and that the world is the sea in which we sail. To convince us of this, the Prophet contrasts with it the Lord’s sword, hard, and great, and strong, by which he will easily slay an enemy that is both strong and crafty. Now, though this kingdom is defended by innumerable cunning devices, and is astonishingly powerful, yet the Lord will destroy it. It is indeed certain that this passage does not relate to Satan himself, but to his agents or instruments, (190) by which he governs his kingdom and annoys the Church of God. But the Prophet shews that all this will not prevent the Lord from destroying and overthrowing this kingdom. Wonderful are the stratagems with which he comes prepared for doing mischief, and dreadful the cruelty which he exercises against the children of God. In this manner he intended to meet many doubts by which we are continually assailed, when God declares that he will assist us, and when we experience, on the other hand, the strength, craft, and deceitfulness of Satan. For my own part, I have no doubt that he speaks allegorically of Satan and of his whole kingdom, describing him under the figure of some monstrous animal, and at the same time glancing at the crafty wiles by which he glosses over his mischievous designs. (189) A1though this description applies to the king of Egypt, yet under one class he intended also to include the other enemies of the Church. The word “leviathan” is variously interpreted but in general it simply denotes either a large serpent, or whales and sea-fishes, which approach to the character of monsters on account of their huge size. Having formerly spoken of the vengeance of God to be displayed against tyrants and wicked men who have shed innocent blood, he now proceeds farther, and publishes the proclamation of this vengeance. Here the Prophet speaks in general of the judgment of God, and thus includes the whole of Satan’s kingdom.
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