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AGAINST SELF-CONFIDENCE
HOWEVER blinded men are in reference to their own sins, they can easily discern sin in others, and declare sagaciously enough what true wisdom requires. We should certainly not have expected Ahab, of all men, to become a monitor: the dictates of wisdom seem but ill suited to his lips. But the counsel, which he here gave to the king of Syria, was excellent, and is deserving of all the attention that can be paid to it.
In considering this counsel, it is my intention to point out,
I. The wisdom of it—
It may be noticed either,
1. As a political maxim—
[The history of all mankind attests the propriety of this advice. In every age there will be found unnumbered instances to prove that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill [Note: Ecc_9:11.].” The event of Benhadad’s boasting, as recorded in the chapter before us, is a remarkable illustration of this truth. So numerous were his forces, that he declared the very dust of Samaria would not suffice for each man to take au handful: yet were they all put to flight by a very small force (the whole of Ahab’s army scarcely exceeding seven thousand men); and not by experienced warriors, but “by the young men of the princes of the provinces,” and those amounting to no more than two hundred and seventy-two [Note: ver. 13–21.]. Whether in public or in private life, undue confidence will be sure to entail on us the most bitter disappointments — — —]
2. As a religious theorem—
[For man to boast of any thing that he will do, argues an utter forgetfulness of what human nature is, (imbecility itself — — — [Note: 2Co_3:5.]): of what God is, (the sole Governor of the universe, who “worketh all things after the counsel of his own will [Note: Dan_4:35; Eph_1:11.]” — — —): and of what he himself is; (for who has not, from bitter experience, learned, that “he who trusteth in his own heart is a fool [Note: Pro_28:26.]?”) Indeed, an overweening conceit of our own powers is the most ready way to arm God himself against us, and to ensure the defeat of our own purposes [Note: Isa_10:13-19.] — — — With God on his side, a stripling, with his sling and stone, may overcome a vaunting Goliath [Note: 1Sa_17:44-47.]: but, without God’s assistance, the strongest man on earth can effect nothing [Note: Joh_15:5; Jer_10:23.].]
That we may see the practical utility of this advice, I will proceed to mark,
II. The importance of it—
It is of special importance,
1. To those who are just entering on their spiritual course—
[Persons in this situation are often ready to imagine, that their warfare is almost accomplished, when it is, in fact, scarcely yet begun. But, if God, as in the case of Israel coming out of Egypt [Note: Exo_13:17.], keep off those trials which you are not yet prepared to encounter, do not think that you have no warfare to maintain. The way to heaven will not prove so easy as you imagine. If you become “a soldier of Jesus Christ,” you must prepare for war, and be ready to “fight the good fight of faith.” Sooner or later, you shall have occasion for all the armour that he has provided for you [Note: Eph_6:10-18.].]
2. To those who are going on victorious—
[Satan’s devices are more than can be numbered. He may, and no doubt often does, recede for a time, that he may renew his assaults to greater advantage. See the stratagem of Joshua against the men of Ai — — —, and you will have a just picture of the wiles by which Satan, that subtle serpent, is labouring to destroy you [Note: 2Co_11:3; 1Pe_5:8.]. Your only safety is in watchfulness and prayer [Note: Mar_14:38.] — — —]
3. To those who are most advanced in the divine life—
[To you, no less than to others, is this counsel of great value. Did Lot, after withstanding the temptations of Sodom, fall in the cave? Did David, after all his high attainments, fall; and Solomon, “after the Lord had appeared to him twice?” Did Peter violate all his resolutions; and Demas, after his long course of steadfastness, relinquish at last all his professions? Who, then, are you, that you shall be secure? “Let him that thinketh he standeth, whoever he be, take heed lest he fall [Note: 1Co_10:12.]:” let him “not be high-minded, but fear [Note: Rom_11:20.]:” “blessed is the man that feareth always [Note: Pro_28:14.].” If Paul needed to keep his body under, “lest, after preaching to others, he himself should become a castaway [Note: 1Co_9:27.],” there is no creature under heaven to whom the counsel in my text is not altogether suitable and necessary. To all, then, I say, “Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things that ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward [Note: 2 John ver. 8.].”]