The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 69

There is no otlier alternative. 11 For me or against me" (Exod. xx.xii. 26; Jer. viii. 1 ; Matt. vi. 24; vii. 13, 14; xii. 30). JII. 'l'HA'f IT IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY CORRESPONDING CONSEQUENCES, "J will honour." 11 Shall be lightly esteemed." 1. Honour; by his friendship, appoint- ment to honourable service, giving success therein, open acknowledgrnent before men here and hereafter. 11 Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 2. Lightly ,esteemed; by himself, men, angels, despised even by themselves, and cast away among the vile. "He that saveth his life shall lose it." 3. There is a strict corre- spondence between character and consequences, both generally and particularly, in -kind and measure. And the joy and misery of the future will be the consummation and the ripened fruit of what now exists (Gal. vi. 7). IY. THAT ITS CONNECTION WITH ITS CONSEQUENCES IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN. Men often think otherwise. But "be not deceived." Consider-!. The natural comtitu- tion and tendencies of things, as ordained by him who is" above all, and in all, and through all." 2. The recorded and observed facts of life. 3. The express de- -claratwns of him "who cannot lie." "I will honour." 11 They ahall be lightly esteemed. "-D. Ver. 30.-O.Jfice not/ting witliout cliaracter. The worthlessness of rank or hcredi tary position without corresponding wisdom or virtue is a commonplace of moral reflection. But it is startling to find how strongly it is affirmed in Holy Writ of those who hol.d high office in the house of God. The priesthood in Israel was hereditary, though in point of fact the regularity of the succession was often broken; ·but such hereditary office was never meant to protect unworthy men like the sons of Eli. Their position was forfeited by their misconduct, and their priestly functions were transferred to other hands. The principle is for all time, and for general application. Does one reach and occupy a high station in the Church ? No matter what his line of "holy orders" may be, or who laid hands of ordination on his head, or what functions he is held competent to perform, he must be judged by this test-Does he honour God in his office, or honour and serve himself? Does he so live and act as to commend and glorify Christ? And the same test must be applied to the man professing himself a Christian who occupies a throne on the earth, or who holds high dignity in the state, or who has power as a writer or an orator over the minds of men, or who as a capitalist has great means and opportunities of usefulness. Does he in his station g·lorify God? If not, his rank, or office, or grand position avails him nothing. I. THE PIOUS DIVINELY HONOURED. To honour God; think what this implies. To know him truly, to reverence and love him. In vain any verbal or formal homage without the honour rendered by the heart (see Matt. x:v. 8). He whose heart cleaves to God will show it in his daily conduct. He will be careful to consult God's word for direction, and observe his statutes. He will openly respect God's ordinances, and give cheerfully for their maintenance, and for the furtherance of righteous and charitable objects. He will honour the Lord with his substance, and with the first-fruits of o.11 his increase. He will worship God with his family, and teach his children II the fear of the Lord." In his place or station he will make it his aim, and hold it his chief end, to glorify God. And, without any vaunting or ostentation, he will show his colours-avow his faith and hope openly. The boy- king·, Edward VI., showed his colours when he sat--alas I for how short a time-on the English throne. So did Sir Matthew Hale on the bench, and Robert Boyle in the Iloyal Society, and William Wilberforce in the highest circles of political life. So did Dr. Arnold among the boys at Rugby, and Dr. Abercrombie and Sir James Simpson among their patients in Edinburgh ; Samuel Budgett in his counting-house at Bristol, and General Havelock among his troops in India. These men were not in what are called religious offices ; but, in such offices or positions as Providence assigned to them, they bore themselves as religious, God-fearing men. And others there are in places and callings more obscure who are quite us worthy of esteem ; those who, in houses of business among scoffing companions, in servants' halls, in workshops, in barrack-rooms, in ships' forecastles, meekly but firmly honour the Lord, and ennoble a lowly calling by fidelity to conscience and to God. The Lord sees and remembers  6-1- THE FIHST BOOK OF SA:IIUEL.