The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 190

Ver. 19.-The sufferers wisdom and peace. "Wherefore." The word carrieB us back to the whole series of thoughts on persecution and sorrow in the preceding verses, and, as it were, binds them all together, as a man might bind a bundle of twigs to make a standing-ground for himself and his companions on a black bog. The fagot iH made up of these truths, namely-sorrow is no extraordinary anomaly; we share in the great Sufferer's afflictions; the purpose of them is our participation in the great King's glory, and that a joy exceeding the sorrow may be ours; that sorrow and shame will bring the Divine Spirit to overshadow us with his peaceful, dove-like wing, and to fill our sonls with the radiance of a present God; that by it we may glorify the God who in it glorifies us; that the sharpest sorrows are but a light portion of the judgments which are to come upon all the earth, and are meant, not to destroy, but to purify and to separate from those on whom the final and fatal judgment of condemna- tion shall fall Wherefore, for all this closely knit structure of calming and courage- giving truths, quiet confidence and uninterrupted diligence in holy deeds is the "Orrowful heart's wisdom. I. TIIE TRUE TEMPEB OP' THE CHRISTIAN SUFFEBER. We can scarcely fail to hear 1n the words one more echo of the gospel story. Peter remembers, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," and bids us all, in our lighter sorrows, in like manner commit our souls to God. The word is the same, and, though our Lord spoke of the act of death, and the apostle of the surrender in life, the temper and disposition are the !ame. Absolute confidence and complete submission were exhibited on the cross. Nothing less is our duty and privilege. When sorrow comes, and not only in joy when it is so easy, we are to give up ourseJ.ves to God in the full abandonment of trust, as a man who has been fighting for hours against the storm reaches home at lai't, and, with muscles relieved from strain, gratefully flings himself down to rest. We are to put ourselves in God's care, as people in war flock into the forts, or as a householder will deposit his valuables in the hands of his banker, and then sleep care- less of thieves or fire. God will take good care l?f all that is deposited in bis custody. No violence can force his safe where his jewels are kept. If we recognize our own importance, and, abandoning all self-reliance, trust wholly to him, we shall suffer no harm and fear no foe; but if we will live in the open country, and refuse the shelter of his stronghold, because we either do not believe the peril, or think we can keep our- selves safe by our own arms, some night or other we shall be roused from dreams to see the faces of the savage foes all about our bed, and shall know thi, sharpness of their arrows and the implacaNeness of their hearts. These two things, which are but the positive and the negative sides of one-self-distrust and reliance on God-o.re the secret of all tranquillity as well as of all safety. That heart may well be at rest which has shifted the responsibility of its defence from its own weak self to God. If we once can come to feel that it is more his business than ours to take care of us, a whole cloud of cares falls like some black precipitate to the bottom, and leaves the heart clear. Confidence is not enough without oubmission. To commit our souls to God includes "Do what thou wilt," as well as "Thou wilt do lovingly and well." Only when the will yields, and, though it may be with tears bitter as death, and lasting as life, accepts and conforms itself to God's will, do wa really know the blessedness of faith. 'fhat which we no longer kick against no longer pricks us. The cell out of which we do not wish to go ceases to be a prison, and becomes an oratory or a study. The horse that plunges feels the restraint of his harness, which would not gall if be went quietly. "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good," is a talisman which changes bitter into sweet, darkness into light, sorrow into content, and death into lire. II. THE PRAOTI0AL ACCOMPANIMENT OF THIS TEMPER. .. In well-doing." There are many important truths suggested by that significant addition. 1. The familiar truth is suggested that our committing our souls to God does not mean ~h~t we are to fold 1S6 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [cu. tv. 1-19,