The devil's chessboard!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Flowers from a Puritan's Garden" 1883)
"So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes!" 2 Corinthians 2:11
"Be watchful; the world is the devil's chessboard! You can hardly move backward or forward, but he is ready to attack you with some temptation!"
Those who play at the game of chess know that great caution is needed. Your opponent is working toward a design of which you know nothing; and while you imagine that you are doing exceedingly well, he is entrapping you!
The game of life, as against Satan, is one in which . . .
his maneuvers and artifice,
his long practice and stratagems,
his superior skill and deceptiveness,
and his unscrupulous schemes-
give him an immense advantage over our poor self-conceited folly!
Lord, help us! You know our adversary; be pleased to deliver us out of his hand.
"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes!" Ephesians 6:11