Romans 14:11-12 For it is written, As I live, said the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.… (text and Exodus 10:17; Acts 9:6). This passage is taken from Isaiah 45:23, and predicts the universal subjugation of mankind to the Divine will. This does not mean universal salvation, for there is a twofold subjugation — the one represented by Pharaoh and the other by Paul. I. The one is by conviction of God's terrible POWER; the other, by conviction of His LOVE. An overwhelming sense of God's great power compelled Pharaoh to "bow his knee" before the Almighty. He felt that further rebellion would be his ruin; and for a moment he yielded. Paul's subjugation sprung from a conviction of God's love in Christ. The voice said to him, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." This brought him down, smote his rebellious will, reduced him to subjection. So it is ever; wicked men and devils are made to bow by a sense of God's force and God's power. Good men and angels bow from a sense of His love. II. The one subjugation involves moral ANGUISH, the other moral ENJOYMENT. What a state of agony and alarm was Pharaoh in! But what joy came into Paul at the heavenly voice of Mercy! The one subjugation therefore involves heaven, the other, hell. 1. In the one, there is the sense of slavery; in the other, a sense of freedom. 2. In the one, there is a sense of overwhelming terror; in the other, a sense of hopefulness. 3. In the one, there is the sense of Divine favour; in the other, the sense of Divine antagonism. III. The one becomes a ministry of DESTRUCTION to others; the other, a ministry of SALVATION. Pharaoh, the moment the panic abated, rushes on and brings destruction on himself and his hosts. Paul begins a beneficent ministry which issues in the salvation of thousands. Conclusion: In which way wilt thou be subjugated? It is not for thee to determine whether thou shalt bow thy knee or not: thy knee must bow, thy tongue must confess; but it is with thee to determine how thou wilt do it — by a sense of God's power or of His love, by coercion or by choice. (D. Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. |
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