The Mighty Hand of God

I PETER, v. 6, 7.

THE Apostle Peter towards the close of his first Epistle addressed the Christian strangers, scattered abroad in Asia Minor, concerning a certain “fiery trial” which was about to try them. It may be plainly gathered from his references to this trial that it consisted in some form of persecution, promoted by the enemies of Christ’s cause. The infamous Nero at this time occupied the imperial throne at Rome, and his reign was marked by a succession of fiery persecutions directed against the Christian people. The Apostle first exhorts them not to think this trial a strange or an uncommon thing, so as to be overwhelmed with despondency on its account, but rather, on the other hand, to rejoice as suffering in a glorious cause. “Rejoice,” he says, “inasmuch as ye are partners of Christ’s sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Further on, he strikes a different but a perfectly harmonious note. He speaks of the trial as judgment beginning at the house of God, thereby indicating that the Most High was about to justly chastise His own children for their sins, by means of the very sufferings inflicted by their enemies, and it is in this connection that he delivers the affectionate admonition: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” The Apostle’s message in these words is a message for us, as a professing Christian people and nation to-day.

1. Let us observe, first, that God displays “the mighty hand” of His power in a great variety of ways, benevolent as well as severe. As Creator, He displayed His mighty hand in the making of the world and all that it contains, and in the setting of sun, moon, and stars in their appointed spheres, while by the same powerful hand, He continues to uphold these works in existence. As Lawgiver, He was able at the beginning to fulfil the promise of eternal life to our first parents, if they had kept the covenant of works, and by the same mighty hand, He is able also to execute the penalty of eternal death which sin has incurred. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples: “Fear not them that are able to kill the body and have no more that they can do, but fear Him who is able to cast both body and soul into hell. Yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” As Saviour, God has, in the riches of His grace, manifested the mighty hand of His power in connection with the purchase and application of redemption. By the hand of His power He formed the holy humanity of the Redeemer in the womb of the Virgin, and by the same means, He upheld Him during the days of His flesh in the discharge of His redeeming work, until at last “through the eternal Spirit He offered himself without spot unto God.” By the hand of His almighty power, the Father raised the Son from the dead on the third day, and eventually set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Still again, as God has manifested the gracious hand of His power in connection with the purchase of redemption, so also He exercises the same hand in connection with its application. His people are all by nature dead in trespasses and sins, and He quickens them by His great power into newness of life, uniting them to Jesus Christ in an effectual calling. The hand of His gracious power is manifested in the whole work of applied redemption from first to last. Lastly, as universal Governor, the Lord has displayed His mighty hand in innumerable acts of mercy and of judgment towards the human race. He has from age to age loaded His creatures with temporal benefits—giving fruitful seasons and filling the hearts of men with food and gladness. His hand has also rested on them in a way of judgment or chastisement for sins, and in righteousness He has sent the sword, the famine, and the pestilence. In view of all these varied manifestations of God’s mighty hand towards the sons of men, the call of the text is most suitable: “Humble yourselves.”

2. We observe in the next place that God’s mighty hand is laid upon our own and other nations at the present time in a very special way in the dreadful scourge of War. As has been asserted more than once in these pages, we are fully convinced that our cause is a thoroughly good, just and Christian one. We entertain no doubt as to the justice of the cause, and feel sure that our soldiers and sailors are suffering and dying in an honourable conflict. At the same time, we are bound to recognise that War is a dreadful business at all times, involving as it does such grave consequences in suffering and death. The Lord Jesus clearly teaches us that “a sparrow cannot fall to the ground” without God. If such a small creature as a sparrow cannot fall without Him, it is certain that such a great thing as the loss of thousands of human lives cannot take place without His decree. The Apostle Peter taught the Christians in Asia Minor that God had a mighty and righteous hand in the sufferings they endured from their very enemies. The same lesson needs to be learned to-day.

It is of the greatest importance for us as a professing Christian people to recognise that God’s mighty hand is seen in the present War in a way of chastisement for our sins. True it is that the Prince of darkness has had a prominent hand in it and that wicked men have played an awful part in bringing it about, but unless we rise entirely above these secondary causes to observe that the First Cause, the Almighty Ruler of all nations, has a righteous hand in the matter, we shall not see this tremendous upheaval in its proper light, or learn the moral and spiritual lessons it is designed and fitted to teach us. The mighty hand of God lies heavily upon us, though not to so great a degree as some other nations, and it becomes us to consider how we should act in relation to Him in these circumstances, if we are to expect deliverance “in due time.”

1. Let us notice now the exhortation, “Humble yourselves.” Many people think that self-humbling is a form of degradation—even though it should be self-humbling before God as is the case in hand. A greater mistake could not be made. It was sin that brought pride into the human heart. Pride is the mark of degradation; humility, the mark of exaltation. “For God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” Adam in the estate of innocence was without doubt perfectly humble, as one who realised his complete dependence upon His Maker for every good. How much more does it become fallen creatures, who are to the dishonour of their Maker, to exercise the profoundest humility, in view of His holiness and goodness!

Now, let it be observed, in the first place, that the call to humble ourselves is a call to consider our sins. An eminent divine said that when God’s people pray for humility, they pray for a sense of sin. Each individual soul is called to consider personal sins as reasons for self-humbling. Wherein have I gone astray? In what respects am I coming constantly short of the glory of God? These are some of the questions which should be asked, and answered in the light of God’s Word. If, again, we ask such questions from the national standpoint, we need not find it difficult to answer them. We have many national sins in Church and State to consider. Is not the professing Church guilty of setting aside the infallibility and authority of God’s Word, and giving large place to the inroads of Rationalism and Ritualism? Infidelity and Romanism, which used to be outside the Protestant Church, are now within, and are working deadly havoc. Religion has become a dead form both in pulpit and pew. Real living Christianity, though there is abundant talk about good works, is extremely rare. Our State is guilty in its own sphere of giving place to the same evils. Thus we find the authority of God’s Word, and the claims of Christ as King of nations are set aside, and places of trust and power are given to those who are the enemies of divine truth. No wonder that practical ungodliness prevails to such a terrible extent among all ranks and classes of society. And the lamentable thing is that many, who consider themselves the most enlightened of their fellows, are blind to all this, and see no evil committed. “If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Our national sins are numerous and aggravated, and the hand of God is upon us on their account.

Further, the call to humble ourselves is a call to confess our sins with shame and sorrow. This, of course, will never be done until we are brought to see our sins. We will never confess as sin the things we do not believe to be evil. At the same time, God is speaking to us, and if we do not give heed to His voice, and search out our iniquities, we shall suffer the just consequences of our rebellion, both in time and eternity.

Again, the call to self-humbling is an admonition to renounce our sinful thoughts and ways. There is no genuine self-humbling on account of any evil where there is not a giving up of that evil. Even although we should be brought intellectually to see our sins, if we do not renounce them we do not truly humble ourselves. God calls us in Church and State to give up our sins of disloyalty to Christ and His truth. John Bunyan, under his first convictions, heard a voice saying, “Give up thy sins and go to heaven: keep thy sins and go to hell.” This is the alternative which God sets before us in His Word: “Except ye repent, ye shall perish.” He who calls us to self-humbling and repentance by His Word, is willing to supply us with the necessary grace to obey His voice out of the fulness that is in Christ. “Ask and it shall be given you.”

1. The last point we shall notice, meantime, is the promise of exaltation or deliverance: “that he may exalt you in due time.” The Lord promises to raise up from under the heavy weight of His mighty hand those who humble themselves. All other things being equal, the quickest road to success in the present War, and freedom from the scourge of it, is along the line of self-humbling before God. “Pride goeth before destruction.” Humility goeth before exaltation. Let us use all the natural skill and bravery we can command, but if we do not learn the lessons the Lord is seeking to teach us, and humble ourselves so as to give up our evil ways, we are raising a great barrier to success. If outward victory is granted apart from any repentance, it will be given more as a curse than a blessing. May the Lord, in His infinite mercy, bring high and low, rich and poor, among us to humble themselves in sincerity and truth, so that we may be exalted in due time as a nation, both in a way of freedom from distress and in a way of righteousness of life!