"It Is The LORD! Let My LORD Do What Seems Good In HIS Eyes!"

What are You doing?

(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"Where the word of a KING is, there
is power! Who may say to HIM:
What are YOU doing?" Ecclesiastes 8:4

What word, what power, are like 

the LORD'S? With earthly kings 

words may be loud--

and power small. Not so with GOD. 

HIS purpose knows no hindrance. 

HIS word can never fail. Who can
resist HIS power? With GOD, purpose,
and word, and power are but one.

Who, then, may say to GOD: 

"What are YOU doing?" 
To hinder HIS purpose, you 
must be able to overcome 
Omnipotence! Infinite, 
unchangeable, almighty--
with GOD to will, is to perform; 
to speak, is to proclaim HIS past 
eternal purpose, and HIS endless might. 

Who can arrest HIS hand, or thwart 
HIS providence? Who can? That is not 
the word. Rather, who ought to wish it? 
Who ought to quarrel with HIS will, or 
say, either with bold or fretful opposition, 
"What are You doing?"

Your child has died; or perhaps 

a shipwreck has bereft you at one 

stroke, of all your family; or other 

ills untold, unspeakable, have made 

you drink the wine of desperation. 

My friend, these things were ordained 

by GOD "before the world began." In 

GOD'S eternal mind it was written--

it was settled long ago. How vain 

to say, "What are You doing?" 

And when the time was come, 

GOD sent HIS messengers--

noiseless, unseen, invisible--

to do HIS righteous will. 

Could you have said, 

"What are YOU doing with my 

child? What are YOU doing with 

the winds and waves? Forbear!"

Your will was not consulted--

your permission was not asked. 

Do not say, "What are You doing?" 

Be silent before the omnipotent 

Disposer! 

"I was silent; I would not open 
my mouth, for YOU are the one 
who has done this!" (Psalm 39:9.) 

"But what can I say? HE HIMSELF 
has done this! I will walk humbly 
all my years because of this 
anguish of my soul." (Isaiah 38:15.) 

Go softly all your years--

yet not "in anguish of soul." 

If you have faith in CHRIST, 

you are better taught than this. 

Go softly--

yet in faith, in patience. Looking 

to JESUS, let your language be:

"It is the LORD! Let my LORD 
do what seems good in HIS 
eyes!" (1 Samuel 3:18.)

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published J.C. Ryle's insightful article,
 "Repentance".