Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?… I. WHAT IS HERE IMPLIED. It is something crooked. What is this? It is not the same in all, but it may easily be found. 1. It is sometimes found in the mind. One complains of the slowness of his apprehension; another of a narrow capacity; another of a treacherous memory. 2. It is sometimes found in the body. Some are defective in their limbs. Some are the subjects of indisposition and infirmity. 3. It is sometimes found in our connections. Perhaps it is a bad wife. Perhaps it is a brother. Perhaps it is a servant. Perhaps it is a treacherous or a frail friend. 4. It is sometimes found in our calling or business. Bad times. Untoward events. Dear purchases and cheap sales. Bad debts. 5. Sometimes it is found in our condition considered at large. Is the man wealthy? In the midst of his sufficiency he is afraid of poverty. Has he been crowned with success? There is some circumstance that tarnishes the lustre, or mars the joy. Has he honour? This bringeth along with it defamation. Has be exquisite pleasure? It soon cloys, and the repetition of the scene becomes insipid. II. WHAT IS EXPRESSED — namely, that God is the author of this. There is no such thing as chance in our world. Nothing can befall us without the permission and appointment of the all-disposing providence of our Heavenly Father. Now, how rational this is. Why, surely it is not beneath God to govern what it was not beneath Him to create! III. WHAT IS ENJOINED. It is to "consider." 1. So consider the work of God as to be led to acknowledge that resistance to it is useless. 2. See and acknowledge the propriety of acquiescence. (1) Remember, in order to produce this acquiescence, that your case is not peculiar. (2) remember that all is not crookedness. (3) There is wisdom in the appropriating of your crook. (4) There is goodness in your crook. 3. So consider the work of God as to improve it and turn it to advantage. (1) Let it embitter sin. (2) You are to improve it by turning from the creature to the Creator. (3) You are to improve it, by its leading you from earth to heaven. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?WEB: Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked? |
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