Psalm 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace to his people, and to his saints… 1. Sin, in every form of it, is the greatest folly and madness. 2. The whole world, God's people and saints as well as others, are naturally under the power of this folly. 3. When men first become God's people and His saints, they are in some degree turned from the folly of sin. 4. The people of God, after their first conversion from folly, do yet frequently relapse into it. 5. Such is the great grace of God unto His people, that He often speaks peace to them, even when they have been playing the fool remarkably; and this is the way in which He makes them turn to Himself. 6. God's people are very apt to return unto folly, soon after He has spoken peace to them. 7. God's speaking peace to His people, lays them under particular obligations not to turn again to folly. There is no vice held in more general abhorrence amongst men than ingratitude; and its enormity riseth in proportion to the importance of the benefits received, and to the dignity of him who confers, and the ill desert of him who receives them. Judging by this rule, how black the ingratitude of returning again to folly, after God has spoken peace to our souls! 8. A relapse into folly, after God has spoken peace to our souls, may be attended with very dangerous consequences to ourselves. We may perhaps hear again the voice of war, which formerly gave so much disquiet. 9. Those to whom God hath spoken peace ought to be particularly watchful, lest they return again to folly. Learn — (1) How much it is our duty to read, hear, and meditate upon the Word of God; seeing in it, when explained and applied by His Spirit, He speaks peace unto His people. (2) What it is that enables the people of God to bear up under all outward crosses and troubles in this world. It is God's speaking peace to their souls. (3) That believers are not to be discouraged from entertaining an assurance of the love of God, from an apprehension that such assurance tends to licentiousness. (4) This subject reproves all those who enjoy a peace which God doth not speak to them in His Word. Those, for instance, who, when their consciences are disquieted with guilt, seek to suppress their clamours by vain amusements, or by a hurry of business. This peace is not founded in the faith of God's Word, and therefore it is false; and if it is rested in, it will issue in war and wrath. (A. Swanston.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. |
    |