Practical Commentary of 1 Peter Volume 2, Commentary · Chapter 3 · Verse 5
Verse 6.
Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
THIS is prest by a reason of equity and necessity, both in that word (the mighty hand of God) he is Sovereign Lord of all, and all things do obeisance to him. Therefore it is just that you his People professing Loyalty and Obedience to him be most submissive, and humble in your subjection to him in all things. Again, the necessity, his mighty hand: There is no striving; it is a vain thing to flinch and struggle, for he doth what he will, and his hand is so mighty, that the greatest power of the creature is nothing to it; yea, it is all indeed derived from him, and therefore cannot do any whit against him; if thou wilt not yield, you must yield, if thou will not lead, you shall be palled and drawn, therefore submission is your only course.
The third reason is of Utility or certain Advantage, as there is nothing gain'd, yea, you are certainly ruin'd by reluctance, so this humble submission is the only way to gain your point. What would you have under any affliction, but be delivered, and raised up, thus alone you attain that, humble your selves, and he shall raise you up in due time.
This is the end why he humbles you, lays weights upon you, that you may be deprest: Now when it is gained, that you are willingly so, then the weights are taken off, and you are lifted up by his gracious …and otherwise it is not enough, that he hath humbled, you by his hand, unless you humble your selves under his hand, many have had great and many pressures, … af…liction after another, and been humbled, and yet not humble, as they commonly express the difference: humbled by force in regard of their outward condition, but not humbled in their inward temper; and therefore as soon as the weight is off as heaps of Wool, they rise up again, and grow as big as they were.
…nf. If we would consider this in our particular trials, and aim at this deportment, it were our wisdom; are they not mad that under any stroke, quarrel or struggle against God: what gain your Children thus at your hands, but more blows? not only is this an un…eemly and unhappy way openly to resist and strive, but even secretly to fret and grumble; for he hears the least whisp…ing of the heart, and looks most how that behaves it self under his hand. Oh! humble acceptance of his chastisement, is our duty and our peace, that which gains most on the heart of our Father, and makes the rod soonest fall out of his hand.
And not only would we learn this, in our outward things, but in our spiritual condition, as the thing the Lord is much taken with in his Children; there is a stubbornness, and freting of Heart concerning our Souls, that arises from pride and untamedness of our nature; and yet some take a pleasure in it, touching the matter of comfort and assurance, if it be with held, or which they take more liberty in, be it sanctification, and victory over sin; they seek, and yet find little or no success, but the Lord holding them at under in these; they then vex and walk more discontented, and nothing pleases them, as peevish Children upon the refuse of somewhat they would have, take displeasure and make no account of the daily provision made for them, and all the other benefits they have by the care and love of their Parents: This is a folly very unbeseeming the Children that are the Children of Wisdom, and should walk as such: And till they learn more humble respect of their Father's Will, they are still the further off from their purpose; were they once brought to submit the matter, and give him heartily his Will, he would readily give them theirs, as far as were for their good, as you say to your Children of any thing they are too stiff and earnest in, and keep a noise for, cry not for it, and you shall have it.
And this is the thing we observe not, that the Lord often by his delays is aiming at this, and were this done, we cannot think how graciously he would deal with us, his gracious design is to make much room for grace by much humbling, especially some Spirits that need much trying, or that he means much enabling to, for a singular service, and thus the time is not lost as we think it, it furthers our end, while we think contrary; 'tis necessary spent time and pains that is given to the unballasting of a Ship, casting out the Earth and Sand, when it is to be loaden with Spices: we must be emptied more, if we would have of that fullness and riches that we are longing for.
So long as we some and chafe against his way, though it be in our best suits; we are not in a posture for a favourable answer: would we wring things out of his hand by fretfullness? that is not the way, no, but present humble submissive suits. Lord this is my desire, but thou art wise and gracious, I refer the matter to thy will for the thing, and for the measure, and time, and all; were we molded to this composure, then were mercy near, when he hath gained this, broke our will, and tamed our stoutness, then he relents and pities, See Ier. 30. 18.
This I would recommend in any estate, the humble folding under the Lord's hand, kissing the rod, and falling low before him: and this the way to be raised: but it may be one that thinks, he hath tried this a while, and is still at the same point, hath gained nothing, and therefore falls back to his old repinings: Let such a one know his humbling and compliance was not upright, it was a fit of false constrained submission, and therefore lasts not, it was but a tempting of him instead of submitting to him Oh! will he have a submission: I will try't but with this reserve, that if after such a time I gain not what I seek, I shall think it is lost, and that I have reason to return to my discontent; though he says not thus, yet this is secretly under it. No, but wouldst thou have it right, it must be without condition, without reserve, no time, nor nothing prescribed; and then he will make his word good, He will raise thee up, and that
In due time.] Not thy fancied time, but his own wisely appointed time. Thou that thinkest, now I am sinking if he help not, now 'twill be too late, yet he sees it otherways, he can let thee sink yet lower, and yet bring thee up again; he doth but stay till the most fit time, thou canst not see it yet, but thou shalt see it, that his chosen time is absolutely best; he waiteth to be gracious; doth he wait, and will not thou? Oh! the firm belief of his Wisdom, Power, and Goodness, what difficulty will it not surmount? So then be humble under his hand; submit, not only thy goods, thy health, thy life, but thy soul. Seek and wait for thy pardon as a condemned Rebel, with thy rope about thy neck; lay thy self low before him at his feet, stoop and crave leave to look up and speak, and say; Lord, once I am justly under the sentence of death; if I fall under it, thou art righteous, and I do here acknowledge it; but there is deliverance in Christ, thither I would have recourse: yet if I be beaten back, and held out, and faith with held from me, and I perish as it were in view of salvation, see the rock, and yet cannot come at it but drown: what have I to say; in this likewise thou art righteous, only if it seem good unto thee to save the vilest, most wretched of sinners, and shew great mercy in pardoning so great debts; the higher will be the glory of that mercy: however here I am resolved to wait till either thou graciously receive me, or absolutely reject me, if thou do this I have not a word to say against it, because thou art gracious, I hope; I hope yet thou wilt have mercy on me. I dare say that this promise belongs to a Soul, and it shall be raised up in due time.
And what though most or all our life should pass without much sensible taste even of spiritual comforts; a poor all it is: let us not over esteem this moment, and so think too much of our better or worse condition in it either in Temporals, yea, or in Spirituals, such as are more arbitrary and accessary to the name of our Spiritual Life; providing we can humbly wait for free grace, and hang on the word of promise, we are safe; if the Lord will clearly shine on us, and refresh us; this is much to be desired and prized, but if he so think fit, what if we should be all our days held at a distance, and under a cloud of wrath, it is but a moment in his anger; then follows a life time in his favour, an endless life time; 'tis but sorrow for a night, and joy comes in the morning, that clearer morning of Eternity, to which no evening succeeds.