And on the Third Day, He Named the Gathered Water 'Sea'

In "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience", Henry David Thoreau uses God as a motif throughout the piece in order to draw parallels between the American government and totalitarian regimes.  Thoreau states that if the people cannot be moved to change their government, it is "the will of God"(1019) that the government be obeyed.  This alludes to the concept of divine right, the belief that a monarch receives their right to rule from God, and anyone who takes a stance against the monarch is transitively taking a stance against God.  America was founded upon opposing these principles, and it is the common patriot's belief that America is the best country because they have defied these rulers.  However, according to Thoreau, the common American has "drifted from his position" of fervently fighting for his rights and has allowed the government to turn into an expedient.  Therefore, by their lack of action, Thoreau is accusing the American people of fostering a totalitarian-like government. In addition, Thoreau claims that taking action instead of merely voting for a matter divides "states and churches" (1022), and separates the "diabolical" in a man from the "divine."  The separation of church and state represents the difference between a true democracy and a totalitarian government, in which kings and queens derive their power from God.  Here, Thoreau is implying that taking action is what makes an American a true American.  Moreover, he divides the diabolical in a man from the divine.  Although diabolic is defined as "so evil as to recall the Devil," and the devil was greatly looked down upon by 19th century Americans, I think that Thoreau's utilization of this contradictory word was not on accident.  By encouraging men to bring out their diabolical side, he is encouraging rebellion against society, and in turn, the government.  He is not asking men to remain divine and proper. Rather, he is asking them to put down their feather pens, get their hands dirty, and take action.  Finally, Thoreau states that those who use rationale opposed to action are "as likely to serve the Devil as God" (1018).  Again, Thoreau is bashing those who refuse to man up and take action against a force they know is immoral.  He brings the Devil and God to close proximity with one another to show that there is no difference between a corrupt totalitarian regime and America's seemingly just system.The motif of providence effectively threads Thoreau's call to action to mend the government.