Psalm 66:16-20 Come and hear, all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my soul.… I. SUCH AS FEAR GOD TAKE AN INTEREST IS HIS DOINGS TO THE SOULS OF MEN, and are those, therefore, to whom such communications will be made. They cannot but be interested therein. But the godless, or the formal, will feel no such interest; that which the believer has to tell will be an unknown and unwelcome truth to them. But those who sincerely fear God will welcome the experience of others, knowing that whatever stage of the Christian life be told of, the communication cannot but be profitable and helpful. II. THOSE TO WHOSE SOULS GOD HAS BEEN GRACIOUS DESIRE TO TELL OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR THEM. Not for the sake of ostentation or pride, still less from hypocrisy, but from irrepressible gratitude to God. And with the view of honouring God, to whom they are so much indebted. Also that they may do good to those to whom they tell of what God has done. It does do them good, for practical and experimental statements are well suited to help others in the heavenward way. And the telling does good to his own soul likewise. He receives sympathy, awakens delight, so that he and they to whom he speaks are comforted, and rejoice together. III. AND THOSE WHO THUS COMMUNICATE THEIR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE HAVE MUCH TO TELL. Not merely of God's general goodness to sinful men, but of what God has done specially for them — calling them, pleading with, converting, accepting, sustaining, helping them in every way. Let us then take this conduct of the psalmist as a model. Let no shyness or timidity hinder. But with seriousness, and sincerity, and simplicity do this. It is not essential to salvation, but it is greatly helpful thereto, for yourselves and for others. But what of those who have no such experience to tell? Should not this lead to serious thought? If you cannot talk of God's saving mercy here, how can you hope to enjoy it hereafter? (A. Thompson, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.WEB: Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul. |
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