If you have no idea who or what Ithuriel’s spear is, don’t fret, I didn’t either. I’ve shared in the past my fondness for reading through the old minutes of the Eclectic Society of London. (It’s a John Newton thing). In a discussion on discovering the “enmity of the human heart against God, in amiable moral characters” John Newton had this to say:
“The Gospel is Ithuriel’s spear.”
I’ll confess I had no idea what Ithuriel’s spear was a reference too, but thankfully the book I was reading had a footnote that it was from Milton’s Paradise Lost. But I still didn’t understand the reference so I did what any good millennial would do and Googled the phrase. It’s not an incredibly common phrase but it was one that was used more frequently in the 18th and 19th centuries (when Milton was more widely read). In fact Spurgeon even made use of this in a sermon, and he helpfully explains what is meant by the phrase:
Now, according to Milton, Ithuriel was an angel, who on finding Satan, in a toad-like form, tempting Eve, touched him with his spear and transformed him into his proper likeness, into his true colors. (Spurgeon from At the End of Your Life)
So what Newton meant is that the gospel has a way of displaying us as we actually are. He doesn’t only mean that the gospel rightly tells us that we are sinners against a holy God, what I believe he is saying is that when we proclaim the gospel to a “good ol’ boy” his true colors will quickly be shown. We will soon discern the pride, or anger, or self-righteousness, or scorn such a one has for the things of God. Or we’ll see one who truly does treasure Christ. The gospel exposes who we really are.
There is one other time when Spurgeon used that phrase Ithuriel’s spear and it’s helpful to us. After a long season of depression suddenly he turned to his wife and she could tell that Charles was back. Light seemed to return to his eyes. This is how Spurgeon would later explain it:
Like a flash of lightning from the sky, my soul returned unto me. The burning lava of my brain cooled in an instant. The throbbings of my brow were still; the cool wind of comfort fanned my cheek, which had been scorched in the furnace. I was free, the iron fetter was broken in pieces, my prison door was open, and I leaped for joy of heart. On wings of a dove, my spirit mounted to the stars—yea, beyond them. Whither did it wing its flight, and where did it sing its song of gratitude? It was at the feet of Jesus, whose Name had charmed its fears, and placed an end to its mourning. The Name—the precious Name of Jesus, was like Ithuriel’s spear, bringing back my soul to its own right and happy state. I was a man again, and what is more, a believer… (Quoted from Drummond’s Prince of Preachers)
“The gospel is Ithuriel’s spear.” What a terrific phrase that I think we should bring back…but maybe we should actually read Paradise Lost first.
Him there they found
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,
Assaying by his devilish art to reach
The organs of her fancy, and with them to forge
Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams.Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness. Up he starts,
Discovered and surprised.
—
Photo source: here (I’m really not sure why the angel is posed like a ballerina)
