Romans 7:21-25 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.… I. DIFFERENT SENSES OF THE TERM "LAW." 1. That which binds: hence the law of God as a rule of life whether revealed in the Scriptures or in the heart. 2. The law as distinguished from the prophets. 3. The law as distinguished from the gospel. 4. The whole revelation of God as contained in the Scriptures. This is the sense in which the word is often used in the Psalms, and in which we now take it. II. WHAT IS MEANT BY DELIGHTING IN IT. In general this is "to regard with lively satisfaction and pleasure." But what the expression really implies, depends on the nature of the object. To delight in a landscape expresses a different state of mind from delighting in a friend, and delight in a poem from delighting in the law of God. There is — 1. An aesthetic delight in the Scriptures such as Lowth strongly expresses in his "Hebrew poetry." Many admire the histories, prophecies, and portraiture of character in the Bible. 2. An intellectual delight in the wisdom of its laws and institutions. The principles of its jurisprudence and government have been the admiration of statesmen. 3. A mere delight in the purity of its precepts. This is exhibited by those who deny its Divine origin. All this is different from what is meant in the text. III. TRUE DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD IS DUE TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT. 1. This influence is — (1) A subjective change in the mind analogous to opening the eyes of the blind; such a change as imparts the power of spiritual vision. This is not enough. A man may have the power of vision in a dark room. (2) It produces a revelation of the truth in its true nature and relations. This is experienced much more abundantly at some times than at others. 2. The effect of these operations is — (1) An apprehension of the truth and, consequently, of the Divine origin of the law. (2) An appreciation of its excellence. (3) An experience of its power to sanctify, console, guide, etc. (4) An acquiescence in it and rejoicing in it as an exhibition of God's character, the rule of duty, the plan of salvation, the person and work of Christ and the future state. Conclusion: The more we delight in the law of God the more we shall be conformed to it, and the better able to teach it. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.WEB: I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. |
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