During King George the Third’s visits to the royal stables one of the stable boys attracted his attention. Something about the boy won his master’s favor, and the King treated him kindly in many ways.
But a time of temptation came, and the poor lad fell into disgrace. He had stolen some oats from the royal bins, and being detected, the head groom had him discharged. There seemed to be no idea of speaking to the poor lad about the sin of stealing the oats, and abusing the confidence of his master, but only a dermination to treat him as he deserved, and dismiss him. How good that God “hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities,” Psa. 103:1010He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10), or He would have turned us from His presence forever, and consigned us to everlasting judgment, for we “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
Not long afterward, when the King again visited his stables, he noticed that the boy was absent, and asked one of the men what had become of him. The man, fearing to tell the truth, yet not liking to tell a falsehood, said he had left. His Majesty was not satisfied with the groom’s reply, and, suspecting something wrong, called the head groom to him, and made the inquiry again.
“I have discharged the boy, sir,” answered he.
“For what reason?” asked the King.
“He was discovered stealing the oats from one of the bins,” was his reply, “and I sent him away.”
The King felt sorry for the poor boy who had disgraced himself thus, but determined not to give him up, and ordered him to be sent for immediately. The order was obeyed; without loss of time the boy was brought to the king. What a scene that was! Face to face with Britain’s King stood the boy, a convicted thief!
“Well, my boy,” said his Majesty, when the poor lad, not knowing what awaited him, stood before him, trembling and looking very pale; “is this true that I hear of you?”
The lad could not look up into the King’s face, but, with his head bent down, his only answer to the kind inquiry was a flood of tears. His mouth was stopped, for he knew he was guilty; he stood condemned, without excuse.
The King, seeing the stable boy was truly sorry on account of his sin, spoke to him of the evil, how he had not only taken what was not his own, but abused the confidence reposed in him.
“Well, my lad,” said his Majesty, putting his hand kindly upon the boy’s head, “I FORGIVE YOU.” Then, turning to the head groom, he said, “Let the boy have his former place, and let him be cared for.”
What a thrill of joy the lad’s heart felt as the King uttered those three words, “I FORGIVE YOU.” Instead of being ordered off to prison and punished and disgraced, he was restored to favor, and reinstated in the place he had lost.
As his Majesty was leaving, he turned round, looking steadfastly at the boy, and in the hearing of the grooms and servants about him said, “If any one says a word to you about those oats, TELL ME!” Now this was a double assurance to the boy. Not only was he forgiven, and that publicly, but not a word was to be said to him about his past sin; it was to be forgotten. Who would incur the royal displeasure by telling the boy of his fault? This act of grace had a greater effect upon the boy than any punishment would have had. How, after such kindness and forgiveness, could he again wrong so gracious a master who had so deeply interested himself on his behalf? Nay, rather would it call forth devotedness of heart in his service, and a fear of grieving him any more.
Is not this a beautiful illustration of divine grace, of God’s ways with sinners like ourselves? It may be, like the poor stable boy, we are thoroughly conscious of our guilt, and with a broken heart, finding no words to tell out its contrion and godly sorrow. Now God frany and freely forgives all who believe on His Son, who died for sinners. Saation, free and full is offered to all.
Just as the King said to the boy as he left the stables, “If any one says a word to you about those oats, tell me!” so God speaks to His children. He says (Born. 8): “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” God who justified? No! Christ who died? No! They can say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
If Satan distresses me about what I have been or what I have done, I go to the Lord and tell Him about it. It’s all true perhaps what he says about me, but then, “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
The King restored the stable boy to his position. God has done far more than this. He has united us to Christ by a link that never can be broken, and we not only have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, through the riches of His grace, but He says we shall in a little while be taken away to be forever with the Lord Jesus, where there will be none to tell us of our past sins, but every tongue will be employed in the praise of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.
ML 03/15/1959