1 Samuel 2:3-4 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge… God's knowledge extends to — I. THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE. There is nothing in any part of this universe which comes not beneath His glance. Our imagination fails us as we try to think what is included in the knowledge of God in the wide sphere of the physical creation. II. ALL FINITE INTELLIGENCES. We should conclude from the exercise of our reason, and Scripture fully confirms the belief (Colossians 1:16), that beside and above our own, are many grades of spiritual intelligences peopling the vast spaces of the heavens. The all-embracing wisdom of God must include a perfect knowledge of these — of their nature, of their capacities, of their habits, of their life. But let us rather pursue that which practically concerns us, our Father's knowledge of His human children. God knew from the beginning — 1. The possibilities of our nature; how high we could rise and how far we might sink, how much we could enjoy and how much we could endure. 2. The course of human history. He saw what use and what misuse of his great opportunity man would make, how he would be overcome in the day of trial, and what long and dark course of sin and suffering he would pursue. 3. Our capacity to rise. III. THE WORTH AND THE UNWORTHINESS OF HUMAN LIFE AND ACTION. By the God of knowledge "actions are weighed." 1. What is included in human action? We must not take a restricted view of those "actions" which are weighed by the Judge of all. They include — (1) All visible movement, all overt deeds; the things which our hands execute, the paths which our feet tread, the activities of the busy world, the discharge of household duties, our indulgences, our studies, our devotions. But they include very much more than this; they embrace(2) all utterance, both premeditated and casual. The distinction between words and deeds is only true in part. It is often the case that speaking is the finest and noblest action. (3) All thoughts, feelings, and determination are the actions of the soul. The spirit of man is constantly at work when no sound is heard and no deed is witnessed. We may go so far as to say that human action includes(4) our fixed attitude of soul — especially that which we deliberately take toward the Father and the Saviour of our spirit. 2. Weights in the Divine balance. By what does God determine the worth or the guilt of an action? (1) By the purity or impurity of our motive (Matthew 6:1, 5, 16; Matthew 23:15; 1 Corinthians 13:1). (2) By the measure of difficulty to be mastered. God "knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." He requires of us "according to that we have, and not according to that we have not."(3) By the presence or absence of privilege. Far more was expected from those who had "the law" than from those who had it not (Matthew 5:46, 47; Romans 2:12). (W. Clarkson, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. |
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