Sovereign and Merciful

1 Samuel 3:18

“So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

Destiny is a very interesting thing. In the course of human events it is often put in men’s minds that no matter what they do a particular thing is what was meant to be. Much like the “hyper-Calvinism” of the 18^th Century this is a truly abhorrent doctrine. Precisely what makes it so abhorrent is the corruption of something incredibly beautiful.

As God is calling Eli out for his failure to restrain his son’s Eli’s only response is that God will do what he wants. Eli has known of the cheats his son’s have become, the philanderers that they are, and how all Israel knows it. Yet, he chose to not create family strife and do anything about it. When confronted in chapter two Eli took no action. Here he is confronted again by God through a small boy and Eli simply remarks that God will do as he wants. Quite frankly he is not willing to repent of his actions. He does not like what is happening. He does not want it to continue (1 Samuel 1:22-26), but he is not willing to go beyond reprimanding his son’s and therefor God sees he loves his son’s more than he does God.

As the reader turns the pages of Scripture he can find very different responses to God’s edicts. What does Hezekiah do when he is told of his death. He does not simply say so be it, but rather turns and prays, begging God with tears and God relents. God gives him fifteen more years. Did Eli then have a higher view of God’s Sovereignty than Hezekiah? By no means! He had a smaller view of God, and therefor of God’s Sovereignty!

Hezekiah knew God’s sovereignty enough to know he was sovereign! He could do as he pleased and if he pleased he could extend his life! Eli knew nothing of God. He knew nothing of his mercy and grace! We do not read tears or prayers from Eli! Even David when he is confronted with his sin and is told his child will die, seeks the Lord with Fasting and weeping, saying “who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?”

David and Hezekiah were men who did not doubt God’s sovereignty and at the same time they were not deterministic. Think that all things were predetermined and that they had no influence on what would transpire. We like they must hold these things in tension. God is sovereign and will accomplish all that he says but some of what is said is given as warning that if we don’t change this is what will happen, and some is given such that God already knows the day and hour that judgement will come. Hezekiah eventually fell from this understanding when he is told of the future fall of his nation to Babylon he simply says “at least there will be peace in my time” no tears or prayers.

How will we respond when sin is found at our door? When our faults are made plain to all, and the end is laid before us? Will we cry out to God, will tears spew forth from our eyes like fountains, will we even miss one meal that God may hear our petition? There is no parent that has not failed to raise their children perfectly, Eli, chose to simply move on, will we repent and beg God for mercy (not giving us what the fruit of our parenting deserves)? Do you know God to be gracious and holy, sovereign and merciful?

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO