October 14, 2021

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

God has given us amazing minds. Indeed, this gift is a great treasure! But we must often be reminded that our finite minds cannot be compared with the mind of God, who moves in very unexpected ways! He can use even the words of unbelievers prophetically (see quote of Caiaphas below).

Thus far, Luther had not been present at the Diet to defend his teachings. Aleander’s address had made a deep impression before all the powerful representatives present, and no one there spoke up on Luther’s behalf. But the words about to be spoken by Duke George of Saxony actually brought an “about face” to the council regarding the appearance of Luther before them. The Duke, speaking from his secular position, stood and with a terrible exactness listed the numerous deceptions and abominations of popery, along with the dire results. You must know, the Duke was a staunch papist. In closing he said: “These are some of the abuses that cry out against Rome. All shame has been put aside, and their only object is money, money, money…so that the teachers who should teach the truth utter nothing but falsehoods, and are not only tolerated, but rewarded, because the greater their lies, the greater their gain. It is from this foul spring that such tainted waters flow. Alas, the scandal caused by clergy hurls so many poor souls into eternal condemnation. A general reform must be effected.” The Duke’s words reveal that the power of the God of truth worked even through His adversaries, and similar to Caiaphas, a lasting and prophetic truth had been uttered.

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.  John 11:49-52

While one can easily see that the Duke possessed a measure of good sense, he had no recognition that the Roman church had gone so far astray that she would never become willing to humble herself. Long ago foreseen by God, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Jeremiah prophesied:

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; for her judgement reaches up to the skies. Jeremiah 51:9  (see also Revelation 18:2-5)