1 Samuel 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seems him good. I. A JUDICIOUS DISCOVERY FROM WHENCE ALL EVILS COME. "It is the Lord." He is omnipotent, and who hath withstood His power. He is just, and will bring no evil without good cause, He is wise, and whatsoever evil He bringeth He can draw it to a good end....He remaineth the same God in the fire and in the earthquake which He was in the still voice; the same when He slew the Israelites as when His light shone upon their tabernacle. His glorious attributes cross not one another. His justice taketh not from His mercy, nor His mercy from the equity of His justice; but He is just when He bindeth up, and merciful when He woundeth us....The same God that overthrew Pharaoh in the Red Sea, that "slew great and mighty kings" (Psalm 136:15, 17, 18) did deliver up His own people, did deliver up the ark to Dagon: for His justice, His wisdom, and His mercy "did endure forever." II. A WELL-GROUNDED RESOLUTION. Let us learn with Eli to "kiss the Son, lest He be angry" (Psalm 2:12), nay, to kiss Him, and bow before Him when He is angry; to offer Him up a peace offering, our wills, of more power than a hecatomb, than all our numerous fasts and sermons, to appease His wrath....This is the truest surrendry we can make...."I do not only obey God, and do what He would have me, but I am of His mind," saith the heathen Seneca....The stubbornest knee may be made to bow, and obedience may be constrained. But the true Israelite doeth it with joy and readiness, and though he receive a blow he counteth it as a favour, for He that gave it hath taught him an art to make it so. (Anthony Faringdon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. |
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