Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long. The fear of the Lord is sometimes the whole duty of man; sometimes the devotional duties of religion. I. THE TRUE NOTION OF FEARING GOD. 1. It must be such a fear as includes in it a high degree of love. Then we shall make a difficulty of nothing He commands. Then our service of Him will be rendered more acceptable. 2. It includes it in a generous hope and confidence. Hope is the spring of industry. II. THE INFLUENCE THIS FEAR HAS TO SUPPRESS IN US ALL ENVIOUS AND DISQUIETING THOUGHTS. By a holy fear we secure to ourselves an interest in His special providence and protection and grace here, and in the promises of glory and eternal life hereafter. III. PROPER MOTIVES AND ARGUMENTS TO ENFORCE THIS DUTY OF FEARING GOD. 1. From the consideration of His infinite power and majesty. 2. From His intimate knowledge of all our thoughts, words, and actions, and of the secret springs of them. 3. The consideration of God's justice. He hath appointed a day wherein He will judge the world in righteousness. This is an irresistible argument to excite us to the practice of piety. (R. Fiddes, 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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