This, instead of humbhng him, incensed him in the highest degree —
[Instantly "he stretched out his hand to lay hold" on the prophet, determining probably to put him to death. Thus it is that the carnal heart is ever ready to rise against God. Men will insult God by every means in their power; yet, if reproved for it by a servant of the Most High, they account it an indignity, to be expiated only by the death of the offender. This was strongly exemplified in Jeremiah, and John the Baptist^: and indeed in every company we go into, we see the hand stretched out by wicked men against every one that
dares to advocate the cause of God Not that the
servants of God are on this account to refrain from bearing
s ver. .3, 5. ^ Jcr. xxvi. 7, 8, 11. Matt. xiv. 3—5, 10.
their testimony against iniquity: they must do so wherever they are, without fearing the face of man, or regarding any consequences that may come upon them.]
This rage of his brought on him, what we are next to consider,
III. His exemplary pmiishment —
God instantly smote his arm, so that he could not pull it in again to him —
[On many occasions has God vindicated the cause of his afflicted people, and shewn himself the avenger of their wrongs. Ahab menaced Micaiah; but God cut him off, according to Micaiah's word. Pashur smote Jeremiah, and put him in the stocks ; but God " soon made him a terror to himself'." In truth, God regards every thing that is done against his people as done to himself. When Paul was per- secuting the saints, the language of Jesus to him was, " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" We do not indeed expect that God will often interpose in the visible manner that he did in the instance before us ; but he will record every thing in the book of his remembrance, and requite every man according to his works. Then shall it be seen, that, however contemptible the saints may now appear, " it were better for a man to have a millstone hanged about his neck and be cast into the depths of the sea, than that he should offend one of those little ones who believe in Christ." " He that toucheth you," says God, " toucheth the aj)ple of mine eye."]
Now was this proud persecutor constrained to ask for the prayers of him, whom he had just before endeavoured to destroy —
[Thus was Pharaoh reduced to seek the intercession of Moses : and thus are many amongst ourselves compelled in a season of adversity to desire the prayers of those very minis- ters, whom in time of prosperity they have reviled and persecuted. And happy will it be for those who find their error now, and have grace given them to repent of it: for assuredly they who will not humble themselves in this world, will be made monuments of God's wrath to all eternity.]
Improvement —
1. Let nothing ever induce us to sin against God —
[The hope of preserving his temporal interests led Jero- boam into all his sins : and similar hopes are apt to produce
' Jer. XX. 2 — 4.