Honoring God # 1

Honoring God # 1

"Those who honor Me - I will honor" (1 Sam. 2:30).

Those words were addressed unto Eli after he had failed lamentably in his duty both as a father and as the high priest of Israel. His sons were wild and wayward, and he "restrained them not" (1 Sam. 3:13) - no, not even when they "made themselves vile," and by their evil example, "made the Lord's people to transgress" (1 Sam. 2:22-24). Interpretatively, Eli had "honored his sons above Jehovah" (1 Sam. 2:29); and therefore, a terrible judgment from heaven fell upon himself and his house.

Therein we behold a most striking contrast. When Israel committed idolatry at Shittim and one of them was caught in the act, the grandson of Aaron took a javelin and slew the man of Israel and his heathen paramour. In consequence, the Lord said, "Phinehas...has turned My wrath away." But more, "Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God" (Num. 25:10-13). Phinehas the priest had honored God - and God highly honored him and his family. Eli had dishonored God - and he and his sons brought down condign judgment onto themselves (1 Sam. 2:31-36).

What has been pointed out above illustrates a fundamental principle in the governmental ways of God - namely, that He regulates His providences - according to our conduct. Those who give Him His proper place in their lives - are richly rewarded here, as well as hereafter. God's dealings with us in this life - are largely determined by the manner and measure in which we esteem and magnify Him.

What is signified by honoring the Lord is clearly exemplified by the case of Phinehas: he put the glory of God's name above all personal and sentimental considerations, being zealous in promoting and protecting His interests here on earth. Conversely, what is meant by not honoring the Lord, appears in the sad failure of Eli and his sons, who thought more of personal and family concerns - than of hallowing God. In what follows, we seek to show some of the most important things that are included in this expression, "those who honor Me."

God Himself. This requires that we have right views of Him. Unless our thoughts about Him are shaped by what Scripture reveals concerning God's being, character, and perfections - we shall entertain the most erroneous and degrading ideas about Him. Such, alas, is the case with the great majority today even in Christendom: to them the Deity of Holy Writ is "the unknown God." The popular conception now prevailing is that God is fickle, sentimental, and weak - so that He has much cause to complain "you thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself!" (Psalm 50:21). His absolute sovereignty, His ineffable justice, His awe-inspiring majesty, His ineffable holiness - are unperceived by multitudes of professing Christians!!

God is to be honored, by ascribing to Him the glory of His matchless excellency (Ex. 15:11; Psalm 104:1). He is to be honored by sanctifying Him in our hearts ((Isaiah 8:13). By trusting, adoring, and obeying Him. He is to be honored in our public worship: "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints" (Psalm 89:7). "Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious" (Psalm 66:2).

His Son.  Nothing is so dear unto God, as the honoring of Christ. No sooner was He laid in the manger than a multitude of the heavenly host was sent over Bethlehem's plains to proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). When in Servant form, He was baptized in the Jordan, the heavens were opened, and the voice of the Father was heard saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). When suffering unspeakable humiliation upon the Cross, He moved the centurion to testify, "Truly this was the Son of God!" (Matt. 27:54). After His mission on earth was completed, God highly exalted Him by seating Him at His own right hand. It is His express will, "that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (John 5:23): all manner of worship which is due to the Father is due to the Son (Rev. 5). We honor Christ by resting on His finished work, by taking His yoke upon us, by obeying His precepts, by following the example he has left us, by showing forth His praises.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)