Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments… Philosophically speaking, it has been said that nature abhors a vacuum; and morally speaking, it may also be said that the absence of the fear of God is revolting to the human soul. I. TO LIVE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF GOD, OR, IN OTHER WORDS, WITHOUT RELIGION, MUST BE A DANGEROUS THING. Whether we consider the character of God, or the sinfulness of man — whether we contemplate the sacrifice which God has made, in laying a foundation for our religious homage — whether we fix our views on the riches of God's love, or on the terrors of His wrath, — whether we look to time or to eternity, to death or to doom: Is it not, we would ask, yea, must it not be a dangerous thing to be at war with Heaven? And what, but this, is the position of man without religion? Verily, God is to be feared and held in reverence of all His creatures. His might in creation, and His majesty in providence — our own weakness and our own wants, all combine in enforcing on us this important truth. And yet how strange that we above all His other workmanship should refuse Him a willing homage! Let it not be forgotten that the want of religion is sin, and for sin the Son of God died. Can the irreligious, therefore, the sinful man, be safe? II. TO LIVE WITHOUT RELIGION IS TO EXEMPLIFY THE VERY PERFECTION OF FOLLY. 1. Is he not a fool who overlooks the end of his existence — who forgets and forgets entirely the purpose for which he was sent into the world? 2. Is he not a fool who sacrifices the ethereal, the immortal mind that is in him, to the appetites and desires of the material body in which that mind is enshrined? 3. Is he not a fool who willingly foregoes all that can give a charm to worldly prosperity — a relish to the joys that Providence dispenses in this vale of tears. 4. Is he not a fool who willingly and of his own accord, and recklessly, makes a sacrifice of all that can soothe him in sorrow — support him in trial — comfort him in adversity, or give him hope in death? (W. Craig.) Parallel Verses KJV: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. |
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