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… "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite." He who "hath weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance weigheth the spirit:" and by Him actions are weighed. Looking forward, faithful Abraham said: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" I. THE TRUTH ITSELF. "By him actions are weighed:" — 1. Unerringly. "The Lord is a God of knowledge;" and all of us may say with the Psalmist, "Thou understandest my thoughts afar off: Thou are acquainted with all my ways." "We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth." 2. In connection with and having regard to their antecedents. When the Israelites provoked the Lord at the Sea — "even at the Red Sea" — their sinfulness was aggravated by their want of remembrance of "the multitude of His mercies." On the other hand, the moral value of worthy actions is enhanced by relation to unfavourable antecedents. To the Canaanitish woman Jesus said: "O woman, great is thy faith." 3. In connection with the degree of knowledge at the time possessed. That Abraham obeyed and went out, "not knowing whither he went," and that "he offered up Isaac," quite in the dark as to the Divine design. On the other hand, the sin of Saul of Tarsus, when he was "a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious," great as it was, was far below what it would have been had he then believed that Jesus was the Christ. 4. In connection with and having regard to the circumstances under which they are performed. 5. In connection with and having regard to the motive from which they spring. When Hezekiah displayed "all that was found in his treasures" it was the character of his motives, so peculiarly unbecoming amid such great and tender mercies from the Lord, that had specially to do with his subsequent humiliation under the providence of Him who "weigheth the spirits" (Isaiah 20:13-17). "It was the loving motive of Mary, who took very costly and precious ointment" and anointed the feet of Jesus, that led to the signal honour conferred by our Lord. II. REFLECTIONS. 1. In view of the great truth, that "by Him actions are weighed," how forcible trod full of suggestiveness the words: "Many that are first shall be last, and the last first" (Mark 10:31). 2. How differently should different minds be affected by the truth now under consideration. "I know thy works and where thou dwellest, oven where Satan's seat is; and thou holdest fast My name." 3. What gratitude should be enkindled by the assurance that the Lord, by whom actions are weighed, "delighteth in mercy." "A false balance is not good": and "they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 3:2). It is well to feel with Job — "Let me be weighed in an even balance." (J. Elliot.) 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. |
    |