38. Stablish thy word unto thy servant. Make me sure of thy sure Word. If we possess the spirit of service, and yet are troubled with skeptical thoughts, we cannot do better than pray to be established in the truth. Times will arise when every doctrine and promise seems to be shaken, and our mind gets no rest: then we must appeal to God for establishment in the faith. Practical holiness is a great help towards doctrinal certainty: if we are God’s servants he will confirm his Word in our experience. Atheism in the heart is a horrible plague to a God-fearing man; it brings more torment with it than can well be described; and nothing but a visitation of grace can settle the soul after it has been violently assailed thereby. Vanity or falsehood is bad for the eyes, but it is even worse when it defiles the understanding and casts a doubt upon the Word of the living God.
Who is devoted to thy fear, or simply “to thy fear.” That is, make good thy Word to godly fear wherever it exists; strengthen the whole body of reverent people. Or, again, it may mean, “Stablish thy Word to thy fear,” namely, that people may be led to fear thee, since a sure faith in the divine promise is the fountain and foundation of godly fear. People will never worship a God in whom they do not believe. We cannot look for the fulfillment of promises in our experience unless we live under the influence of holy watchfulness and prayerful energy. We shall never be rooted and grounded in our belief unless we daily practice what we profess to believe. Full assurance is the reward of obedience.
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