Morning, May 19
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Ecclesiastes 10:7
"I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon
the earth."
Ecclesiastes 10:7
Upstarts frequently usurp the highest places, while the truly great
pine in obscurity. This is a riddle in providence whose solution will
one day gladden the hearts of the upright; but it is so common a fact,
that none of us should murmur if it should fall to our own lot. When
our Lord was upon earth, although he is the Prince of the kings of the
earth, yet he walked the footpath of weariness and service as the
Servant of servants: what wonder is it if his followers, who are
princes of the blood, should also be looked down upon as inferior and
contemptible persons? The world is upside down, and therefore, the
first are last and the last first. See how the servile sons of Satan
lord it in the earth! What a high horse they ride! How they lift up
their horn on high! Haman is in the court, while Mordecai sits in the
gate; David wanders on the mountains, while Saul reigns in state;
Elijah is complaining in the cave while Jezebel is boasting in the
palace; yet who would wish to take the places of the proud rebels? and
who, on the other hand, might not envy the despised saints? When the
wheel turns, those who are lowest rise, and the highest sink. Patience,
then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time.
Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and carnal
appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust.
Grace must reign as a prince, and make the members of the body
instruments of righteousness. The Holy Spirit loves order, and he
therefore sets our powers and faculties in due rank and place, giving
the highest room to those spiritual faculties which link us with the
great King; let us not disturb the divine arrangement, but ask for
grace that we may keep under our body and bring it into subjection. We
were not new created to allow our passions to rule over us, but that
we, as kings, may reign in Christ Jesus over the triple kingdom of
spirit, soul, and body, to the glory of God the Father.