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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
THE PORTION OF THOSE WHO FEAR GOD
WHERE, as in the psalm before us, different verses begin with the different letters of the Hebrew alphabet, we must not look for a very strict connexion between the different parts; if there be somewhat of an harmonious sentiment pervading the whole, it is as much as we have reason to expect. The general idea that pervades this psalm seems to be, that if (whether under the pressure of guilt or of affliction of any kind) we betake ourselves to God in prayer, and cast our care on him, he will administer to us such consolation and support as our necessities may require. In conformity with this idea, he, throughout the former part of the psalm, supplicates mercy for himself, and, in the words before us, declares the blessedness of all who truly fear God.
To bring the subject more fully before you, I shall,
I. Inquire after the character that is here described—
Where shall we find him? One would suppose that, in a Christian community at least, it should be difficult to find one who did not fear God: but, strange as it may appear, the character here described is by no means common. I am anxious, however, to find one; because it is to him, and to him only, that the glorious promises in my text are addressed. Assist me, then, every one of you, in this important inquiry; and descend into your own bosoms, to explore the records of conscience, and to see whether you can, in your own persons, present before me the character I am endeavouring to find. I want to know “What man amongst you feareth the Lord?”
1. Who is there amongst you that reverences God’s authority?
[There can be no question whether God’s authority should be revered: for we all acknowledge him to be the Governor of the Universe, and confess that all his creatures owe submission to his will. Indeed it is the common sentiment of all, that “he is greatly to be feared, and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him:” and it is obvious, that any man who disregards his authority can have no true fear of him in his heart.]
2. Who is there amongst you that dreads his displeasure?
[We all are sinners, and, as sinners, are obnoxious to the displeasure of the Most High. Whether our lives have been more or less moral, we are all transgressors of God’s holy law, and all have merited his wrathful indignation: all, therefore, ought, with deep humility of mind, to deprecate his impending judgments. Had we never sinned, we should never have needed this kind of fear: but to fallen creatures it is absolutely and indispensably necessary. Let me then ask, Who is there amongst you that mourns over his past transgressions, and implores mercy at the hands of his offended God, and seeks reconciliation with him through the Son of his love? I do not ask, Where is the person who, on some particular occasion, has wept for sin? but, Where is the person whose heart is habitually broken and contrite, so as to have no hope, no peace, but in the atoning blood of Christ; and who, notwithstanding God is reconciled towards him, still lothes himself for his iniquities and abominations? The man who had fled to a city of refuge ventured not out of the gates of the city any more (till the death of the High Priest), lest the pursuer of blood should fall upon him and destroy him. And if we, through fear of God’s displeasure, have fled for refuge to Jesus, as to the hope set before us, we shall be careful to “abide in him,” lest the sword of vengeance overtake us, and we perish.]
3. Who is there amongst you that unfeignedly and unreservedly endeavours to fulfil his will?
[A desire to please God cannot but be associated with a fear of his Divine Majesty. Say, then, where is the person who from day to clay endeavours to ascertain his will, and labours to perform it? I am not inquiring after one who never errs; for such a character as that I could have no hope to find on earth; since “in many things we all offend;” and “there is no man that liveth and sinneth not.” But one who labours conscientiously to approve himself to God, I may hope to find. Search amongst you, Brethren: see whether such an one be not to be found. I am not willing that the consolations in my text should be spoken in vain: I want to engage the attention of the person to whom they are addressed, and to pour them into the ear for which they are more especially designed. But do not too hastily obtrude yourselves, and say, ‘I am he.’ Consider once more. Are you so studious of God’s will, and so determined to perform it, that no consideration of ease, or interest, or pleasure, can induce you to violate any one of his commands? And, if in any thing a more perfect way can be pointed out to you, are you ready to walk in it, notwithstanding any difficulties you may have to encounter, or any trials to which you may be exposed?]
If there be one whose conscience bears witness to him that his state before God is such as I have described, then I have found the person for whose comfort the Psalmist made the declarations in my text, and for whose benefit I shall,
II. Unfold the benefits that are accorded to him—
Stand forth, my Brother; for in the name of the Most High God I declare unto you, that,
1. You shall be taught and guided in the way that God approves—
[It may be, that at present your views of divine truth are but obscure; and that you have but little capacity to comprehend the deep things of God, and but little opportunity to investigate them. Yet I say to you, in the name of the Lord, that you shall be guided into all truth, as far as shall be necessary for the welfare of your soul; and that God’s way shall be made so plain before your face, that, notwithstanding you be “a wayfaring man, and, in respect of human sciences, a fool, you shall not err therein [Note: Isa_35:8.].” In particular, you shall have the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to you, as “the Way, the truth, and the life:” and, “having received him” into your hearts, you shall “walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving [Note: Col_2:6-7.].” This is the very first step to which the teaching of Almighty God will lead you; as our Lord has said: “It is written in the prophets, All thy children shall be taught of God. Every one, therefore, that hath heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me [Note: Joh_6:45.].” In the course of your pilgrimage many difficulties will arise, wherein you will need direction from above: but God engages that in all those emergencies “you shall hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when you would otherwise be turning to the right hand or to the left [Note: Isa_30:21.].” As the pillar and the cloud went before the Israelites throughout all their journeyings in the wilderness for forty years, till they arrived safe in the Promised Land, so will “God guide you by his counsel, till he has safely brought you to glory [Note: Psa_73:24.].”]
2. “Your soul shall dwell at ease”—
[It may be that your former iniquities have been great and manifold; so that, unless God interposed in a more than ordinary way to support your soul, you would sink into despair. But “where sin has abounded, his grace shall much more abound:” and he will say to you, as to the woman of old, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” “Being justified by faith, you shall have peace with God;” and in your own conscience, even that “peace of God which passeth all understanding.” It is possible, also, that you may be exposed to many trials and temptations, even such as without divine aid would utterly overwhelm you. But you shall “know in whom you have believed; and feel assured that He is able to keep that which you have committed to him [Note: 2Ti_1:12.],” and that “He will preserve you unto his heavenly kingdom.” Thus, as Peter, the very night before his intended execution, though bound with chains, and doomed to a cruel death, was sleeping as serenely as if no such event had awaited him, so shall “your soul dwell at ease,” yea, “it shall be kept in perfect peace [Note: Isa_26:3.]:” for, “if God giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” [Note: Job_34:29.]
But, in the margin of our Bibles the sense of the original is more fully and literally expressed thus: “His soul shall lodge in goodness.” What a rich and glorious idea is this! The Scriptures abound in expressions of this kind: Isaiah, commending the truths of the Gospel to us, says, “Eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness:” and David says, “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, whilst my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.” So, in my text he tells us that the Believer’s soul shall “lodge in goodness.” Yes, verily, “God himself is the habitation” of them that fear him: his bosom is the place in which they are safely lodged, far beyond the reach of harm [Note: Psa_91:1; Psa_91:9-10.], and fondled with more than maternal tenderness [Note: Isa_66:10-13.]; insomuch that God himself “rejoices over them to do them good, and rests in his love, and joys over them with singing [Note: Zep_3:17.].”
Thus, my Brother (for I am speaking to that particular individual who feareth God), it shall be with thee in this world: and who shall describe thy lodging in the world above? Oh! the joys that await thee there! how passing all expression or conception! The kingdom, the glory, the felicity of God himself shall be thine, even thy portion, and thine inheritance, for ever and ever.]
Application—
Now will I pause; and, from addressing thee who fearest God, turn,
1. To the unhappy multitude, who fear him not—
[Painful it is to make this distinction: but this distinction must be made. We are commanded to “separate the precious from the vile [Note: Jer_15:19.]:” and if we forbear to do it, God will not: He will put “a difference between them that serve him and those who serve him not [Note: Mal_3:18.].” It cannot but be known to you, that the generality, even of the Christian world, have not, in truth, “the fear of God before their eyes.” Say, beloved, did not your own consciences attest, that, in many of you at least, the marks of holy fear did not exist, or, not in such a degree as to identify you with the character described in my text? Whilst we spoke of those who reverenced the authority of God, and trembled at his displeasure, and made it the one object of their lives to do his will, were not many of you constrained to say, “If this be the character of those who fear God, I am forced to confess that it does not belong to me?” Then, Brethren, by your own confession, you have no part in the promises annexed to that character. And, indeed, your own experience confirms this: for at this moment you cannot comprehend those mysteries of grace which are made clear to the believing soul. You have not that spiritual discernment, whereby alone you can understand and appreciate the things of the Spirit [Note: 1Co_2:12; 1Co_2:14.]. And, as for “your soul dwelling at ease,” you know nothing of it: the very thought of death and judgment is so appalling to you, that you can find no rest till you dismiss it from your mind. God himself tells us, that “you are like the troubled sea, whose waters cast up mire and dirt; and that there is no peace to the wicked [Note: Isa_57:20-21.].”
Will you not, then, seek to fear God? Will you not entreat him to “put his fear into your hearts,” ere it be too late? I tremble at the thought of the lodging prepared for you. Oh! “who can dwell with everlasting burnings?” I pray you, Brethren, realize in your minds the different states of the Rich Man and Lazarus; and “labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give unto you.”]
2. To any one who, though really fearing God, does not yet experience the full comfort of it in his soul—
It may be that such an one is here present, even one who, because he feels not yet all the consolations of religion, is led to doubt its existence in his soul. We read of some in the primitive Church, who were “in heaviness through manifold temptations:” and, no doubt, there may be persons so circumstanced amongst ourselves at this time. But for such God has provided peculiar encouragement. He has stated the very case, and addressed appropriate counsel to the person under it: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God [Note: Isa_50:10.].” Do not imagine that God has forgotten his word, or that he will not fulfil it to you: for “not one jot or tittle of it shall ever fail.” “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” The corn that is sown in the earth does not rise up immediately: nor must you be discouraged, if you have some time to wait before the harvest that is prepared for you appear. “The vision may tarry; but it is only for the time appointed of your God; and then it shall come, and shall not tarry [Note: Hab_2:3.].” Only wait his leisure; and you shall find, in due season, that, “in every nation under heaven, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness shall be accepted of him.”]