Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long. Scarcely anything has a more immediate influence upon our duty or comfort than the due government of our passions. Hence the wise and virtuous, in all ages, have employed themselves in forming rules for their regulation. But it is found more easy to prescribe, than to reduce these rules to practice. The religion of Jesus provides the assistance requisite to enable us to comply with rules. I. WHAT IS IT TO BE IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD ALL THE DAY LONG? Fear is a passion of the human mind, and stands opposed to hope. It always has for its object some evil, real or supposed. Here its object is the evil and danger of sinning against God, and the just displeasure of God, in consequence of offending Him. To fear these is to fear the Lord in the best sense of the phrase. We should live under the habitual influence of this holy temper, and carry it with us into all the duties of the religious and social life. II. WHY SHOULD WE STUDY TO BE IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD ALL THE DAY LONG? 1. It is an excellent guard against the commission of sin. The man cannot knowingly and deliberately sin against God who has a suitable sense of His being, perfections, character and government. 2. It really assists us in the right performance of duty. It greatly tends to invigorate the graces of the Spirit in the soul, and to call them forth into lively exercise. 3. It excites us to the important duty of watchfulness, and greatly assists us therein. 4. God recommends this duty to our study and practice, by His Divine authority. Then if you would be in the fear of the Lord — (1) Study to acquire more and more of the knowledge of God: the knowledge of His perfections, character, and government; especially as they are manifested in and through His Son Jesus Christ. (2) Be much frequent in meditating upon the Divine perfections. (3) Be much in the great duties of prayer and watchfulness. (John Rodgers, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.WEB: Don't let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long. |
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