They made Princes, and 1 knew it not

They made Princes, and I knew it not.

They made some very desperately, and God might well say, I knew not them: but God speaks of them all, not only of those, but even of Jeroboam himself, and Jehu, though they were in some regard set up by God, yet says God, I knew it not; that is, I approve it not, I approved it not in that way they did it, I let them alone in their way and let them go on; as if God should say, I neither did nor will take cognizance of what they do to bless them in it. When we seek not God for a mercy, when we enjoy it, God will not so much as own it to be His.

The Seventy translate the words, They have not made it known to me. When we ask not God's mind and seek not a mercy from God, we do as if we would get it without God's knowledge; we must tell God what we would have before we presume to take it, and by this means we may go to God with more comfort (if we meet with straights) for help and direction; whereas otherwise, whatever straights we meet with, if we should seek to God to help us in such a business, God would say, I knew nothing of it, you undertook it without me, and you must shift in it; but now look to it as you can, sink or swim I will have nothing to do with it. We use to put off men in this manner that have any reference to us, if they will go and undertake a business of their own heads, and if they come to any straights and then they should come for our help, no, as you undertook it without me so go on without me. So now I make no question but many thousands of the servants of God in this great business of the state where they meet with so many difficulties, they can go to God and say, Lord, we did advise with you, and we undertook this in obedience to you, and now, Lord, help us in our straights. Oh! it is a comfortable thing for to have the use of our seeking God when we meet with straights in a business.

And I knew it not.] Further there are these two notes from this.

First, God knows how to make use of men's sins, they sinned and yet God brought about His own ends by it.

Secondly, Many things are done in a sinful way, and yet God suffers them to prosper a long time: even this Kingdom of Israel that was thus set up without God did prosper outwardly for 200 years together, therefore this is no argument of God's owning a business because it prospers, it is but as a cipher, add a figure to it indeed then it will make somewhat, if you can warrant it is God's work then you may when it prospers have comfort. It follows.