I. THE IMPORT OF THE PROMISE.

1. Such a promise can apply to none but the people of God.

2. The Lord's people are apt to fear He should do them hurt, and hence He kindly assures them of the contrary. We want more of that love to God which beareth all things at His hand, which believeth all good things concerning Him, and hopeth for all things from Him.

3. As God will do no hurt to them that fear Him, so neither will He suffer others to hurt them. If God does not change their hearts, He win tie their hands; or if for wise ends He suffers them to injure you in your worldly circumstances, yet your heavenly inheritance is sure, and your treasure is laid up where thieves cannot break through nor steal.

4. More is implied in the promise than is absolutely expressed; for when the Lord says He will do His people no hurt, He means that He will really do them good. All things to God's people are blessings in their own nature, or are turned into blessings for their sake; so that all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies to do them (Genesis 50:20; Jeremiah 24:5, 6; Romans 8:28).

II. THE ASSURANCE WE HAVE THAT THIS PROMISE WILL BE FULFILLED.

1. The Lord thinks no hurt of His people, and therefore He will certainly do them no hurt. His conduct is a copy of His decrees: He worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will, and therefore where no evil is determined, no evil can take place.

2. The Lord threatens them no hurt; no penal sentence lies against them.

3. He never has done them any hurt, but good, all the days of their life. Former experience of the Divine goodness should strengthen the believer's confidence, and fortify him against present discouragements (Judges 13:23; Psalm 42:6; Psalm 77:12; 2 Corinthians 1:10).

(B. Beddome, M.A.)

I. GOD PLEADS WITH MEN CHIEFLY THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST. This part of our life is a probation, like being at school; it is an apprenticeship to eternal life, a life in which we are to be journeymen and masters of the work of being good and doing good. We are learners here. Some learn their life's lesson thoroughly, and others only partially. God means us to learn; and if a man will not do God's will, he can only learn by the bitter pain of experience. There are only two ways of learning — either by doing God's will, or by disobeying it; either way will bring us to our senses at some time or other, either in this world or in that which is to come.

II. CHRISTIANITY URGES THAT IF WE BE WISE EVERY ONE WILL CHOOSE THE HIGHEST AIM OF LIFE. Unless we have some great object in view, our life is a task which is hard to bear; it is like being rubbed with sandpaper, everything seeming to be in unpleasant friction with us. Yet you cannot get a polish without friction; and so the friction of daily life that vexes and torments us, is an experience which is good for us. It is one of God's means of polishing us; but it is unpleasant, like having small pebbles in one's boots. It is, however, a needful discipline. But were we humbly and lovingly to do God's will, as you would have your little child do your will, life would not be a painful task, nor would it be a state of perpetual friction.

III. CHRISTIANITY ALSO TEACHES US THAT GOD IS WORTHY TO BE BOTH ESTEEMED AND LOVED.

IV. CHRISTIANITY SWEETLY TEACHES US OF THE OTHER LIFE. Have you ever lived in the country, and after being away for a time felt the joy of returning home?

(W. Birch.).