Every morning I will remove all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD. Sermons
I. THE UNTRUTHFUL MAN SINS AGAINST HIMSELF. He confuses his own sense of right and wrong; destroys his moral sense, until he discovers that he cannot trust himself. "To thine own self be true, II. THE UNTRUTHFUL MAN SINS AGAINST HIS FELLOW MAN. For only truth can guide us aright. If those whom we trust and obey are not true, our way cannot be safe. Illustrate by the man who goes an unknown road, and receives untruthful directions. See in business affairs what mischiefs untruthfulness can make. Every man has an absolute right to demand from his fellow man a precise accordance between statement and fact. Show that secrecy, withholding, may be as effectually untruthful as any statement. We are bound to be true in every form in which we express ourselves to our fellows. Point out what self-restraints are required, if we are to be absolutely true in tones, and looks, and silences, and speech. III. THE UNTRUTHFUL MAN SINS AGAINST GOD. Who "requireth truth in the inward parts." This introduces familiar considerations, on which no special suggestions arc needed. - R.T.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. On one occasion Sir Thomas Lawrence, the great painter, then President of the Royal Academy, visited the studio of a struggling young artist. He had noticed the young man's work, and thought it had some promise; but when he saw the sketches tacked up on the walls of the bare little room, he shook his head. They were rough, clever examples of the Flemish school, striking but coarse. "If I were you," said the great painter to the beginner, "I would not allow my eye to be familiarized with any but the highest forms of art. If you cannot afford to buy oil paintings, buy good engravings of great pictures. If you allow your eye to become familiar with what is vulgar in conception, however free and dashing the handling, and however excellent the feeling for colour, your taste will insensibly become depraved; whereas, if you habituate your eye to look only upon what is pure and grand, or refined and lovely, your taste will insensibly be elevated." It was sound artistic advice, and the young painter profited by it. It remains, also, sound moral advice for all young people. Our mind's eye needs training as much as our physical vision. If we hang pictures in the halls of our brain that are not elevating, our moral perceptions will become lowered. The best thoughts are within our reach. Why should we choose, instead, thoughts that are flippant, vulgar, or worse? Every time we put an undesirable picture in our mind's eye, where it will be often in view, we deprave our own understanding. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If we wish to elevate and strengthen our souls, we must be careful in our choice of habitual thoughts. "Whatsoever things are true," etc. It is well-known advice — but can it be bettered?(Free Church Record.) I hate the work of them that turn I. DESCRIBE THEIR CHARACTER. The phrase, "turn aside," denotes three things —1. That there exists a way, path, or road in which we have to go. 2. That we have been in that way. 3. That there has been an awful departure from it.(1) Some turn aside cowardly (Numbers 21:4).(2) Some turn aside incautiously (1 Samuel 12:23). Bunyan's Pilgrim, with his companion Hopeful, wandered into the grounds of Giant Despair, and ultimately found themselves in the dungeons of Doubting Castle. He discovered a stile which led into a meadow, where was a footpath that seemed to run parallel with the high-road; into this path he went, thinking that it would prove easier for his feet. Let this illustrate what is meant to be conveyed by the term turning aside incautiously.(3) Others turn aside courteously and complaisantly.(4) Some turn aside through unwatchfulness (Matthew 26:41). II. ILLUSTRATE THEIR WORK. 1. An evil work (Jeremiah 2:19). 2. A disgraceful and dishonourable work (Proverbs 14:34). What a disgraceful reflection it is upon the wisdom and economy of a man who begins to build, and is not able to finish! (Luke 14:28-30). How scandalous to forsake God, and associate with the devil; to exchange Christ for Belial, light for darkness, truth for error, liberty for bondage, heaven for hell! 3. It is a diabolical work; because it displays more of the devil than any other engagement pertaining to earth. It is following the example which apostate fiends have set. What was their original transgression but turning aside? 4. It is a ruinous work (Hebrews 10:28, 29). III. EXHIBIT THE ABHORRENCE OF THE PSALMIST. 1. Our hatred of this work should be sincere. 2. It should be publicly professed. Though the Christian ought to avoid the very appearance of ostentation, there are times when silence or neutrality would be highly criminal. 3. It should be constantly and cordially cherished. Pray that you may increase in the love of God; for in proportion as you love God, you will hate evil. Meditate also on the tremendous consequences which will not fail to follow. 4. It should be practically exemplified. Do not forget how possible it is for those who now profess to detest the evil, by slow, and almost, imperceptible, degrees to become familiarized with it, and ultimately being led to practise that which now they hate. David fell into this snare. Also Peter. How frail is human nature! Exemplify your detestation of the evil in question, by attending to the injunction of the apostle (Philippians 3:16). Persevere in the good way. (R. Treffry.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics 102, Complaint, Cut, Cutting, Death, Destroy, Doers, Early, Evildoer, Evildoers, Evil-doers, Iniquity, Jerusalem, Morning, Overwhelmed, Poureth, Practice, Prayer, Psalm, Silence, Sinners, Wicked, Wickedness, WorkersOutline 1. David makes a vow and profession of godliness.Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 101:5-8Library Why Should we not Believe These to be Angelic Operations through Dispensation of The...16. Why should we not believe these to be angelic operations through dispensation of the providence of God, Who maketh good use of both good things and evil, according to the unsearchable depth of His judgments? whether thereby the minds of mortals be instructed, or whether deceived; whether consoled, or whether terrified: according as unto each one there is to be either a showing of mercy, or a taking of vengeance, by Him to Whom, not without a meaning, the Church doth sing "of mercy and of judgment." … St. Augustine—On Care to Be Had for the Dead. Epistle xxxii. To Narses the Patrician. The Difference Between Union and Rapture. What Rapture Is. The Blessing it is to the Soul. The Effects of It. The Barren Fig-Tree. The King --Continued. Of Civil Government. Sermons of St. Bernard on the Passing of Malachy Psalms Links Psalm 101:8 NIVPsalm 101:8 NLT Psalm 101:8 ESV Psalm 101:8 NASB Psalm 101:8 KJV Psalm 101:8 Bible Apps Psalm 101:8 Parallel Psalm 101:8 Biblia Paralela Psalm 101:8 Chinese Bible Psalm 101:8 French Bible Psalm 101:8 German Bible Psalm 101:8 Commentaries Bible Hub |