. What are you doing? George Milne,
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. 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