And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Saul had made a vigorous pursuit in his journey, for he drew near to Damascus we are told, which was a distance little short of an hundred and fifty miles from Jerusalem, when stopped in his mad career. Thus far the Lord permitted him to go, and no further; and here was the proud waves of his boiling anger restrained. I have often thought, when pondering over this history, what a trembling state the poor timid disciples of Jesus must have been in, at Damascus, when they knew that this dreadful persecutor was hastening towards them, and that he was just at hand! And I have as often thought how sweetly Jesus hath taught his people from it, upon all occasions of exercise,
to bring all their anxieties to him, and in such a view as this, (and many more there are in scripture to the same amount), leave every event with the Lord. See Isaiah 57:1; Daniel 3:17-18. And I believe, if the Lord's people would learn to make just calculations of the Lord's dealings with them, they would find that the seasons of more than ordinary distresses, have proved in the end, some more than ordinary seasons of special mercies. Jesus hath taken occasion from them, to make them more sensible of his presence and love. There is a time to favor Zion, Psalms 102:13. And what time so blessed, as when the enemy threatens? What hours more precious to hear the love-calls of Jesus, as when the world storms, or our own hearts are misgiving? See that sweet scripture, Mark 4:37-40
But to proceed. The first act of sovereign grace here said to have been manifested to Saul, was a light from heaven. He afterward, when speaking of it, described it as above the brightness of the sun, though it was now mid-day, Acts 26:13. And the next thing we hear was, that he fell to the earth. He was unhorsed at once, and the Lord struck him to the ground. And what a mercy that he had not struck him to hell. No doubt that in the after stages of life, when he looked back upon this transaction, he often thought so. Reader! so may every man; so may you, so may I, when we tremblingly look back, and ponder the days and years of our unregeneracy! Oh! the melting subject! To think of being preserved in Jesus Christ, while fighting against Jesus Christ, Jude 1:1
But what must have been the feelings of Saul when Jesus called him by name, yea twice, Saul! Saul! why persecutest thou me! That this was Christ, speaking in his human nature from heaven to Saul, is most evident by what followed, and which will presently be proved. But in the mean time, I pray the Reader not to overlook, nor hastily pass away from the very blessed manifestation, the Lord Jesus here made of himself. There is a great sweetness of expression, both in the Lord's calling Saul by name, and doing it twice, to express his earnestness and love. And there is a most blessed manner in our dear Lord's expostulation with Saul, in telling him, that his cruelties to his people were cruelties to himself. Saul! Saul! why persecutest thou me? Reader! never forget this. Jesus is himself persecuted whensoever one of his little ones is offended. Whoso toucheth you, toucheth the apple of his eye, Zechariah 2:8. If this was properly considered by the world, how would they tremble to afflict the Lord's people? The foot cannot be crushed, and the head not feel. And what a scripture of alarm is that, For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord! Psalms 12:5