Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. Fond of conversation as we are, few of us converse with our own selves. Men are glad of anything — pleasures, cares, occupations, employments of whatever kinds, that will but step in between them and an uneasy conscience. I. WHAT IS IT TO COMMUNE WITH OUR OWN HEARTS? It is "to examine our lives and conversations" by the rule of God's commandments," that we may perceive "wherein we have offended, either by will, word, or deed." From day to day, and more especially in his private and solitary moments, the serious man "searches and tries his ways," and makes himself to render in a serious account of his tempers, feelings, and affections. II. USES AND BENEFITS OF THIS SELF-EXAMINATION. By this means a man arrives at a knowledge of his own character. By this means we attain to a better knowledge of the Saviour — of the preciousness of His salvation. Who can be aware of the value of Christ crucified whilst he conceives he has few sins to be forgiven? Equally does that man rejoice in the blessed offices of God the Holy Spirit, by whose holy inspiration the thoughts of a vile heart are cleansed. Another use of a man's talking with his heart is, that it puts him upon prayer. It is the parent, too, of self-distrust. Such a man may also derive from heart examination an assurance of sincerity, and that he is indeed a subject of the grace of God. (A. Roberts, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.WEB: Stand in awe, and don't sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. |
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