Homilist Psalm 37:3-8 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed.… I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF GENUINE PIETY. Here it is represented as operating-1. In a practical trust in the Lord. Not a passive, but an active state of mind. True philanthropy is piety in daily life. 2. In a personal delight in the Lord. Thin is infinitely more than to delight in our theology or our church. 3. In a settled reliance upon the Lord. This is a righteous, a necessary and a blessed work. 4. In a patient waiting upon the Lord. Be silent, and devoutly active. II. ITS BLESSEDNESS. 1. Settledness. Piety makes a man feel at home in the world wherever he is, everywhere he feels that he is in his father's house, and though legally he cannot claim a foot of land, morally he inherits all. 2. Sustenance. "Verily thou shalt be fed," — fed not merely by bodily provisions, but by the higher provisions of soul — fed on truth. Nothing but truth can satisfy the cravings of the soul; nothing but truth can invigorate its powers. Man's spiritual nature grows in the atmosphere of genuine piety, but in all other climates it sickens and decays. 3. Realization. "He shall give thee the desires of thine heart," and "He shall bring it to pass." What do these expressions mean but this: Thou shalt realize both the cravings of thine heart and the objects of thine hope, the ideals thou art struggling after shall become grand realities in thy life? 4. Vindication. "He shall bring forth thy righteousness," etc. Whilst good men are unknown to most, and misunderstood by many, they are misrepresented by not a few. But one day they shall be revealed to all, they shall blaze as orbs on the vision of mankind. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.WEB: Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. |
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