This short chapter continues Spurgeon’s observations from the previous two chapters based on the story of Elijah and Obadiah. It begins with yet another observation on the benefits of early piety. Spurgeon notes:
“YOUTHFUL PIETY LEADS on to persevering piety.”
Obadiah observed that, “I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.” [1 Kings 18:12 KJV]” He was able to proclaim this because time had not changed him or waivered his faith in God. Obadiah had “run the race” and persevered. Many people exalt martyrs who die for their faith, but Spurgeon explains:
“It is not burning quick to the death in martyrdom that is the hard work; roasting before a slow fire is a far more terrible test of firmness…the grace of God to preserve a believer for ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years, is quite as great a miracle and deserves more of our praise than it usually commands.”
Rather than succumb to the popular notions of his day that included the worship of Baal, Obadiah stood firm in the belief in God that he had come to early in life. He also held fast to his piety despite his wealth and position. He worked in the court of the King, in the court of a King and Queen who were adverse to belief in God, and despite all that position offered, he remained faithful to God. Spurgeon observes:
“There is nothing more perilous to a man than to prosper in this world and become rich and respectable.”
Indeed in terms of our spiritual journey, success is often harder to deal with than failure. Finally, Spurgeon speaks to the “comfort” of early piety later in life:
“It will be a great comfort to people, when old, to look back upon a life spent in the service of God. You will not trust in it, you will not think that there is any merit in it; but you will bless God for it. A servant who has been with his master from his youth ought not to be turned adrift when he grows grey. A right-minded master respects the person who has served him long and well.”
Links to Complete Text
If you’re interested in reading the complete text of “Come Ye Children,” it can be found on at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc.htm
The complete text of Chapter Nineteen can be found at: http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cyc19.htm
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