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I. EVEN A CHILD OF GOD MAY BE EXERCISED WITH SORE TRIALS AND AFFLICTIONS, THAT MAY LIE VERY HEAVY UPON HIM. (Psalm 38:2; Job 9:17). And what wonder, if the children of God meet with trials upon earth, where they were never promised, nor could rationally expect their rest? What wonder, seeing they so often sin, and procure the evils under which they groan? All this is consistent with the love of a father, and our relation to him.

II. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN BEING SILENT UNDER THE TRIALS GOD SEES FIT AT ANY TIME TO EXERCISE US WITH?

1. A deep sense of God's hand in what we suffer. This was the ground of David's silence: "I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it" (Psalm 39:9). And Hezekiah, mourning, directs his eye to God and heaven. "What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and Himself hath done it" (Isaiah 38:15).

2. It includes a subscribing to God's justice in all His dealings with us, and that whatever He takes from us or lays upon us, we dare not to conclude the worse of Him in our thoughts or to open our mouths against Him. Thus being silent is opposed to self-justification, as being convinced that He hath punished us less than our iniquities deserve.

3. It includes a resigning ourselves to God, as having the most unquestionable dominion over us, and right to do with us and ours as seems good in His sight (Job 3:12).

4. It includes resting in His pleasure, as that which is wisest and best; in opposition to murmuring and impatience, inward frets and discomposure of soul.

III. WHAT CONSIDERATIONS MAY HELP TO WORK THE SOUL OF A CHILD OF GOD INTO SO DESIRABLE A FRAME, AS TO BE MUTE WHEN GOD'S AFFLICTING HAND MAY BE MOST PRESSING UPON HIM. The reasonableness of this frame may appear —

1. From God's unquestionable right to dispose of us and ours as He pleases. When it is His will which is done upon us, His sovereignty should teach His creatures to be silent (Romans 9:21, 22).

2. It should teach us to be silent in whatever instance God afflicts; as it is He that continues to us many other mercies, which have been all forfeited, and which might have been as justly removed as those He has taken away.

3. We ought to be silent under what God will have us suffer, as considering we have many ways sinned and offended against Him (Job 40:4, 5).

4. We have reason to be silent, as considering that all God's dispensations, how afflictive soever, are conducted by unerring wisdom to His own glory. And if God be glorified, why should we be dissatisfied?

5. The people of God have reason to be silent under every affliction He brings upon them, considering He hath made with them an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure, which is sufficient to be all their salvation and is all their desire (2 Samuel 23:5).

Application:

1. To be impatient under affliction is unbecoming a child of God, considered as a new creature.

2. To oppose our wills to the will of God is high presumption, and both provoking to God, and dangerous to ourselves (Isaiah 45:9).

3. It is contrary to our covenant engagements. When we yielded ourselves to God, did we not expressly agree that He should lead us to heaven, and that we would follow Him through what way He pleased to show us — through seas or wildernesses, or through any, even the roughest paths, so He brought us safe to the promised land.

4. Impatience under affliction is inconsistent with our own prayers. Submission to the will of God is, or ought to be, our daily request, and especially under such trials.

5. It would bring us under the charge of ingratitude to our best benefactor and friend. Has God heard my main prayer, and drawn me to Christ? Yet, if He lays His hand upon me in this or the other instance, shall I by my complaints drown all the remembrance of His former loving-kindness and grace? Moreover, what a slight should we put on the remaining everlasting rest, should we repine at present sufferings, which are so soon to issue in endless joy!

(D. Wilcox).

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KJV: Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

WEB: Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aaron held his peace.