invasions, that cut down the glory of Judea, are compared to so many sweeps of the razor across the face of the land.  And these circumstances were called a hired razor because God took the kings of Assyria, with whom He had no sympathy, to do the work, and paid them in palaces and spoils and annexations.  These kings were hired to execute the divine behests.  And now the text, which on its first reading may have seemed trivial or inapt, is charged with momentous import:  “In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired—­namely, by them beyond the river, by the King of Assyria.”

Well, if God’s judgments are razors, we had better be careful how we use them on other people.  In careful sheath these domestic weapons are put away, where no one by accident may touch them, and where the hands of children may not reach them.  Such instruments must be carefully handled or not handled at all.  But how recklessly some people wield the judgments of God!  If a man meet with business misfortune, how many there are ready to cry out:  “That is a judgment of God upon him because he was unscrupulous, or arrogant, or overreaching, or miserly.  I thought he would get cut down!  What a clean sweep of everything!  His city house and country house gone!  His stables emptied of all the fine bays and sorrels and grays that used to prance by his door!  All his resources overthrown, and all that he prided himself on tumbled into demolition!  Good for him!” Stop, my brother.  Don’t sling around too freely the judgments of God, for they are razors.

Some of the most wicked business men succeed, and they live and die in prosperity, and some of the most honest and conscientious are driven into bankruptcy.  Perhaps his manner was unfortunate, and he was not really as proud as he looked to be.  Some of those who carry their head erect and look imperial are humble as a child, while many a man in seedy coat and slouch hat and unblacked shoes is as proud as Lucifer.  You can not tell by a man’s look.  Perhaps he was not unscrupulous in business, for there are two sides to every story, and everybody that accomplishes anything for himself or others gets industriously lied about.  Perhaps his business misfortune was not a punishment, but the fatherly discipline to prepare him for heaven, and God may love him far more than He loves you, who can pay dollar for dollar, and are put down in the commercial catalogues as A1.  Whom the Lord loveth He gives four hundred thousand dollars and lets die on embroidered pillows?  No:  whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.  Better keep your hand off the Lord’s razors, lest they cut and wound people that do not deserve it.  If you want to shave off some of the bristling pride of your own heart do so; but be very careful how you put the sharp edge on others.