1. Praise ye the Lord. This exhortation is never given too often; the Lord always deserves
praise, we ought always to render it, we are frequently forgetful of it, and it
is always well to be stirred up to it. The exhortation is addressed to all
thoughtful people who observe the way of life of those who fear the Lord. If
there be any virtue, if there be any praise, the Lord should have all the glory
of it, for we are his workmanship. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10); this man, therefore, has begun to be wise, and wisdom has
brought him present happiness, and secured him eternal felicity. Jehovah is so
great that he is to be feared and had in reverence of all them that are round
about him, and he is at the same time so infinitely good that the fear is
sweetened into filial love, and becomes a delightful emotion, by no means
engendering bondage. That delighteth greatly in his commandments. This
man not only studies the divine precepts and endeavors to observe them, but
rejoices to do so: holiness is his happiness, devotion is his delight, truth is
his treasure. He rejoices in the precepts of godliness; indeed he rejoices greatly
in them. We have known hypocrites to rejoice in the doctrines, but never in the
commandments. Ungodly people may in some measure obey the commandments out of
fear, but only a gracious person will observe them with delight.
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