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This is the philosophy of life for all Christians. If you do not know how to live, and do not know what to do with your life; the Holy Bible tells you these are what you should do at all times. At all times means all the times.
1) . Call on God at all times.
Job 27:10, “Or will he take pleasure in the Almighty?
Will he call on God at all times?”
Do you know believers have the right and privilege to call on our Heavenly Father at all times?
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Will he delight himself in the Almighty?…. That is, the hypocrite; no, he will not; he may seem to delight in, him, but he does not truly and sincerely; not in him as the Almighty, or in his omnipotence, into whose hands it is a fearful thing to fall, and who is able to destroy soul and body in hell; nor his omniscience, who, searches and knows the hearts of all men, and the insincerity of the hypocrite, covert to men soever he is; nor in his holiness, which at heart he loves not; nor in his ways and worship, word, ordinances, and people, though he makes a show of it, Isaiah 58:2;
will he always call upon God? God only is to be called upon, and it becomes all men to call upon him for all blessings, temporal and spiritual; and this should be done in faith, with fervency, in sincerity and uprightness of soul, and with constancy, always, at all times both of prosperity and adversity; but an hypocrite does not, and cannot call upon God in a sincere and spiritual manner; nor is he constant in this work, only by fits and starts, when it is for his worldly interest and external honour so to do. Now Job was one that delighted in God, was uneasy at his absence, longed for communion with him, sought earnestly after him, frequently and constantly called upon him, though he was wrongly charged with casting off the fear of God, and restraining prayer before him, and therefore no hypocrite. Some understand (f) all this as affirmed of the hypocrite, setting forth his present seeming state of happiness; as that he has a hope of divine favour, and of eternal felicity; has much peace and tranquillity of mind in life, and at death; is heard of God when trouble comes, and so gets out of it, and enjoys great prosperity; professes much delight and pleasure in God, and his ways, and is a constant caller upon him, and keeps close to the external duties of religion; and yet, notwithstanding all this, is in the issue, when death comes, exceeding miserable, as the following part of the chapter shows.”
A promise is for the children of God:
Psa 50:15, “Call upon Me on the day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Conciously for twice I called upon God when I was drowning and He saved me:
When I was a stupid boy with another boy went swimming in a lake of crocodiels when we did not know how to swim. When I was drowning, I physically shouted: Lord save me; not knowing one can pray with the heart and swallowed much water. This was the first time God saved me from drowning and not to be eaten by a crodile. The second time, was the son of a pastor who got my brother and I to a vast dry sea picking soft-shell crabs which was a totally new experience and new environment. The pastor’s boy unpon reflection not only did not inform us of the danger of the tide, he intently wanted to use the tide to drown us. Suddenly, water overflowing dry sea at flood tide high near my kneck, my angel was helping me to run in the water to the shore safely. So was my stupid brother. The pastor’s son did not report to his parents, we were too stupid and too polite to say anything. Unknowingly, I believe the good Lord has saved me many times. Another time, although I was a stupid boy not knowing how to swim, we went island hopping in a sampan. The first time I encounted so many mosquitoes in my life, and we could have drown and eaten by crocodiles. Parents, wathch out your stupid children. I hold the opinion, every child is born stupid except the baby Jesus, the Son of God.
2. ) God’s ways succeed at all times.
Psa 10:5, “His ways succeed at all times;
Yet Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he snorts at them.”
His ways are always grievous; his whole course and carriage is vexatious to all that are within his reach, but especially to the poor, who cannot right themselves; and to just and good men, whom he hateth and persecuteth. Or, His ways, i.e. his designs and enterprises, at all times are prosperous, or successful, or do bring forth; for this verb signifies, as the pains and trouble, so also the success and comfort, of child-bearing, or the bringing forth children, as Psalm 29:9 Isaiah 54:1 Jeremiah 4:31. And the accomplishment or disappointment of designs is frequently expressed by this metaphor; of which see 2 Kings 19:23 Psalm 7:14 Isaiah 59:4, &c. And this sense seems best to suit with the context.
Thy judgments; either,
1. Thy laws, which are oft called judgments. Or rather,
2. Thy threatenings denounced against and punishments inflicted upon sinners.
Are far above out of his sight; either,
1. He doth not feel them; thou removest them far from him; which indulgence of thine is the cause of his insolency. Or rather,
2. He doth not discern, nor regard, nor fear them, nor think of them, but goes on securely and resolvedly in his wicked courses. He hath not so much faith nor reason as to apprehend or consider them, but, like a brute beast, looks only downward to the earth, and minds not things above him. And thus it seems best to agree with the foregoing and following clauses. His devices succeed, and therefore he neither fears God’s judgments, nor the power of his enemies, but fancies his happiness to be unchangeable, as it follows, Psalm 10:6.
He puffeth at them, i.e. he despiseth them, being confident that he can blow them away with a breath. This is a gesture of contempt or disdain, both in Scripture, as Psalm 12:5 Malachi 1:13, and in other authors, as in Plautus; where one speaks thus to a proud and bragging captain, Thou hast blown away whole legions with thy breath, as leaves are blown away by a wind.”
It is God’s ways that brought me any success in this world. I am eternally grateful for what my Heavenly Father has done for me. I used to envy children of families who had much better success factors than mine, but now as an old man I would not exchange my lifef with any of them.
3.) Bless the Lord at all times.
Psa 34:1, “A Psalm of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
I will bless the Lord – I will praise him; I will be thankful for his mercies, and will always express my sense of his goodness.
At all times – In every situation of life; in every event that occurs. The idea is, that he would do it publicly and privately; in prosperity and in adversity; in safety and in danger; in joy and in sorrow. It would be a great principle of his life, expressive of the deep feeling of his soul, that God was always to be regarded as an object of adoration and praise.
His praise shall continually be in my mouth – I will be constantly uttering his praises; or, my thanks shall be unceasing. This expresses the “purpose” of the psalmist; and this is an indication of the nature of true piety. With a truly pious man the praise of God is constant; and it is an indication of true religion when a man is “disposed” always to bless God, whatever may occur. Irreligion, unbelief, scepticism, worldliness, false philosophy, murmur and complain under the trials and amidst the dark things of life; true religion, faith, love, spirituality of mind, Christian philosophy, see in God always an object of praise. People who have no real piety, but who make pretensions to it, are disposed to praise and bless God in times of sunshine and prosperity; true piety always regards him as worthy of praise – in the storm as well as in the sunshine; in the dark night of calamity, as well as in the bright days of prosperity. Compare Job 13:15.”
The good Lord had bestowed so many blessings on me which I was not worthy of. They remind me of the Scriptures: Rom 9:15, “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOMEVER I HAVE MERCY, AND
I WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO WHOMEVER I SHOW
COMPASSION.”
Rom 9:16, “So then, it does not depend on the person
who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.”
Psa 127:1, “A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
Unless the LORD builds a house, they who build it labor in vain;
Unless the LORD guards a city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
4). Trust in God at all times.
Psa 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
If you live to an advanced age, you will learn that no one is dependable. No one is trustworthy. ONLY God is trustworshu at all times. I had three trusted friends who became traitors. Remember, you enemies can never becoome your traitors.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Trust in him at all times, ye people,…. Of the house of Israel, as the Targum; or of God, as Aben Ezra; all that are Israelites indeed, and are the Lord’s covenant people; these are exhorted and encouraged to trust in him; not in a creature, nor in any outward thing, in riches, wisdom, strength, birth, privileges, the law, and the works of it; in their own righteousness, in their hearts, in themselves or in others; but in the Lord only, both for temporal and spiritual blessings: the Targum is, “in his Word”; his essential Word, by whom the world was made, and who, in the fulness of time, was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and who is a proper object of trust; in him should the people of God trust; in his person for acceptance with God, in his righteousness for justification, in his blood for pardon, in his grace for supply, and in his strength for support, deliverance, and salvation, and that “at all times”: there is no time excepted; there is not a moment in which the Lord is not to be trusted in: he is to be trusted in in adversity as well as in prosperity; in times of affliction, when he is present, and will not forsake; in times of temptation, when his grace is sufficient for them; and in times of darkness, when he will arise and appear unto them;
pour out your heart before him: as Hannah did, 1 Samuel 1:15; and as water is poured out, Lamentations 2:19; it means the desires of the heart, the complaints of the soul, the whole of their case which they should spread before the Lord, and make known unto him; see Psalm 102:1, title, and Psalm 142:2; the phrase denotes the abundance of the heart, and of its requests, and the freedom with which they should be made to the Lord; for through the blood and sacrifice of Christ a believer may come to the throne of grace with boldness and liberty, and there freely tell the Lord all his mind, and all that is in his heart;
God is a refuge for us; to whom the saints may have recourse in all their times of trouble, and where they find safety and plenty, Isaiah 33:16.
Selah; on this word; see Gill on Psalm 3:2.
5.) Practice righteousness at all times.
Psa 106:3, “How blessed are those who maintain justice, who practice righteousness at all times!”
I live to be an old age to realize righteousnes and justice do not exist in the world.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Blessed are they that keep judgment,…. Or “observe” (k) it; the righteous judgment of God on wicked men; by which he is known in his justice, holiness, truth, and faithfulness; and by which the inhabitants of the earth observing it, learn to do righteousness, as follows: or else it may intend the word of God, his laws, statutes, and ordinances, after called his judgments, Psalm 19:9, which should be observed and kept, as the rule of our actions, walk, and conversation.
And he that doeth righteousness at all times; continually believes in Christ for righteousness, and puts on that as his justifying righteousness; whereby he becomes righteous as he is, 1 John 3:7, and performs acts of righteousness from a principle of grace, as a fruit of regeneration, and an evidence of it, 1 John 2:29, that does it with right views, aims, and ends; not to be justified and saved by it, but because God requires it; and it is for his glory, and to testify subjection to him, and thankfulness for favours received from him. And this is to be done at all times; we should never be weary of well doing, but be always abounding in good works; and happy are those that will be found so doing, such are “blessed” persons: not that their blessedness lies in or arises from righteousness done by them; but this is descriptive of such that are blessed in Christ with the remission of sins, and his justifying righteousness. And these are the proper persons to show forth the mighty acts and praise of the Lord; they are most capable of it, and more likely to perform it with acceptance than any other; see Psalm 50:14.”
6). Long for God’s ordinances at all times.
Psa 119:20, “My soul is crushed with longing
for Your ordinances at all times.”
Ordinance in Hebrew is mišpāṭ which means judgment; verdict; decicion; formal decree; law; rule; precept; canon; — which occurs 424 times in the Old Testament.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
My soul breaketh for the longing,…. His heart was just ready to break, and his soul fainted; he was ready to die, through a vehement desire of enjoying the object longed for, after mentioned; “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, Proverbs 13:1; the phrase is expressive of the greatness, vehemence, and eagerness of his mind after the thing he desired, which follows:that it hath unto thy judgments at all times; not the judgments of God on wicked men, though these are desirable for the glorifying of his justice; nor his dark dispensations of providence, though good men cannot but desire and long for the time when these judgments shall be made manifest: but rather the righteous laws and precepts of God are designed, which he desired to have a more perfect knowledge of, and yield a more constant obedience unto; or, best of all, the doctrines of grace and righteousness, that should be more clearly revealed in the times of the Messiah; who was to set judgment in the earth, his Gospel; and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and glorify the justice of God; than which nothing was more earnestly and importunately wished and longed for by Old Testament saints; see Psalm 119:81.”
7). Love at all times.
Pro 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Verse 17. – A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Some find a climax in the two clauses, and translate the last as Revised Version margin, “And is born as a brother for adversity,” the same person being meant in both members of the sentence. A real friend loves his friend in prosperity and adversity; yea, he is more than a friend in time of need – he is a brother, as affectionate and as trusty as one connected by the closest ties of relationship (comp. Proverbs 18:24). Siracides gives a very cruel version of this proverb, “A friend cannot be known in prosperity; and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity. In the prosperity of a man enemies will be grieved; but in his adversity even a friend will depart” (Ecclus. 12:8, etc.). Cicero had a truer notion of the stability of friendship when he quoted Ennius’s dictum, “Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur” (‘De Amicit.,’ 17.). Misfortune, says our maxim, is the touchstone of friendship; and one Greek gnome enjoins –
Ἰδίας νόμιζε τῶν φίλων τὰς συμφοράς
“Thy friend’s misfortunes deem to be thine own;”
while another runs –
Κρίνει φίλους ὁ καιρὸς ὥς χρυσὸν τὸ πῦρ.
“The crisis tests a friend, as fire the gold.” Septuagint, “Have thou a friend forevery crisis, and let brethren be useful in adversities; for for this they are made.” Commenting on the expression, “is born,” Wordsworth fancifully remarks, “Adversity brings him forth. He comes, as it were, out of the womb of calamity, and seems to be born for it.” Proverbs 17:17,”
8. ) Pray at all times and not become discouraged.
Luk 18:1, “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And he spoke a parable unto them,…. To his own disciples, as the Ethiopic version reads, in order to encourage them to prayer, with perseverance in it; since such sore times of trial and affliction were coming upon the Jews, of which he had spoken in the preceding chapter; and such times more especially call for prayer; see Psalm 50:15to this end, that men ought always to pray. This is opposed to them, who pray not at all, or have left off prayer before God, or who pray only in distress; and suggests, that a man should pray as often as he has an opportunity; should be constant and assiduous at the throne of grace, and continue putting up his requests to God, though he does not presently return an answer:
and not to faint; by reason of afflictions, temptations, desertions, and delays in answering prayer; and prayer itself is an admirable antidote against fainting under afflictive providences: it is with the Jews an affirmative precept that a man should pray, , “every day” (k); it was usual with them to pray three times a day; see Psalm 55:17 there is no set time fixed by Christ; men should be always praying. This is not to be understood, that a man should be always actually engaged in the work of prayer; that he should be continually either in his closet, in private devotion to God, or attending exercises of more public prayer, with the saints; for there are other religious exercises to be performed, besides prayer; and besides, there are many civil affairs of life, it is every man’s indispensable duty to regard: nor does our Lord mean in the least to break in upon, or interrupt the natural and civil duties of life; but his meaning is, that a man should persevere in prayer, and not leave off, or be dejected, because he has not an immediate answer; and this is clear from the following case.”
9). Pray that you will have strength to escape.
Luk 21:36, “But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Watch ye therefore, and pray always,…. Watch against every sin, snare, and temptation; particularly, against the above things, surfeiting, drunkenness, and worldly cares; pray continually, for fresh supplies of grace: that ye may be counted worthy; not for watchfulness and prayer, but through the grace and goodness of God: to escape all these things that shall come to pass; the dreadful miseries and distress, that shall come upon the Jews:
and to stand before the Son of man; with intrepidity, confidence, and pleasure; and meet him at his coming in this way, with joy and comfort; and likewise at death, and at judgment; see 1 John 2:28.”
10.) Pray at all times in the Spirit.
Eph 6:18, “With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all
the saints.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
18. praying always] Lit., praying on every occasion, every incident of life, especially every incident of temptation. Cp. the yet broader and deeper precept, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without intermission.” See too Luke 18:1; Php 4:6; Colossians 1:3; Colossians 1:9; Colossians 4:2. The attitude of the believer’s mind is to be one of perpetual prayer, in the sense of continuously maintaining a trustful and humble reference of all parts of life to his Lord’s will and grace. This will express itself in acts, if only momentary and wholly internal acts, of adoration and petition at each felt crisis of need. See Hebrews 4:16.
with] Lit., by means of; the expressions being the instruments of the spiritual state.
all prayer and supplication] “All:”—every variety; deliberate, ejaculatory; public, private, secret; confessing, asking, praising. Or again, more simply, with a full, not partial and stubborn, employment of the privilege and resource of prayer.
“Prayer” is the larger word, “supplication” the more definite. The former includes the whole attitude and action of the creature’s approach to God; the latter denotes only petition. “Prayer,” however, is very often used in this narrower sense. See out of many passages Matthew 5:44; Luke 22:40.—The two words occur together, as here, Php 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Timothy 5:5.
in the Spirit] So also R. V. Lit., “in spirit;” but see last note on Ephesians 2:22 above.—The Holy Spirit was to be “the Place” of the prayer, in the sense of being the surrounding, penetrating, transforming atmosphere of the spirit of the praying Christian. Cp. Zechariah 12:10; Romans 8:26; Judges 20.
watching] Keeping awake. The Gr. word occurs also Mark 13:33; Luke 21:36; Hebrews 13:17. There was to be no indolent, somnolent oblivion of the need of prayer, or of the fact of offered prayer. For similar precepts (with another Gr. word) see Matthew 26:41; Colossians 4:2; 1 Peter 4:7.
with all perseverance] Lit., in (as R. V.).—“All:”—that is, “full,” “utmost;” so “all faith” (1 Corinthians 13:2).—For a close parallel to the thought see Romans 12:12; where lit., “in the (matter of) prayer, persevering.” Our Lord’s parable (Luke 18:1, &c.), makes it plain that persistency as well as trust has a mysterious value in the efficacy of prayer.
supplication] “All supplication;” the “all” being implied from the previous words. “All:”—with the full particularity and thoughtfulness proper to faithful intercessions.
for all saints] Lit., for all the saints. With a noble abruptness the thought, long detained upon the combat and resources of the individual, and of the single community, now runs out to the great circle of the Church. The inner connexion of ideas is close and strong. The Christian cannot really arm himself with Christ, and use his armour, without getting nearer in sympathy to the brotherhood of the saints of Christ. Cp. 1 Peter 5:9 for the same connexion otherwise indicated.
“Saints:”—see on Ephesians 1:1 above.”
11.) Fear sin and its consequences at all times.
Pro 28:14, “Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears sin and its consequence at all times, but he who hardens his heart and is determined to sin will fall into disaster.”
Verse 14. – Happy is the man that feareth alway. Some have taken the fear mentioned to be the fear with which God is to be regarded. Thus Aben Ezra. But it is rather the fear of sin which is meant – that tender conscience and watchful heart which lead a man robe prepared for temptation and able to resist it when it arises. Such a one distrusts himself, takes heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12), and works out his salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12; comp. Proverbs 14:16). “Grow not thoughtless of retribution” (‘Pirke Aboth,’ 1:8). A horror of sin cannot be instilled too early into the young. Septuagint, “Happy is the man who piously (δἰ εὐλάβειαν) fears all things.” St. Bernard (‘In Cant. Serm.,’ 54:9),” In veritate didici, nil aeque efficax esse ad gratiam promerendam, retinendam, recuperandam, quam si omni tempore coram Deo inveniaris non altum sapere, sed timere. Time ergo cum arriserit gratia, time cum abierit, time cum denuo revertetur; et hoc est semper pavidum esse.” He that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief; or, calamity (Proverbs 17:20). A man hardens his heart who attends not to the voice of conscience, the restraints of religion, the counsel of friends, the warnings of experience (comp. ver. 26; Proverbs 29:1; Exodus 8:15; Psalm 95:8). This man scorns the grace of God, loses his protection, and must come to misery. Proverbs 28:14.”
12.) Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant.
Col 4:6, “Let your speech at all times be gracious and
pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one who questions you.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
6. your speech] Talking, discourse. The precept here may well be applied to the Christian’s whole use of the tongue (see Ephesians 4:29). But the context gives it a special reference, surely, to his discourse about the Gospel with those “without.”
alway] Observe the characteristic absoluteness of the Christian precept.
with grace] Lit., in grace. See above, on Colossians 3:16. Lightfoot explains, “with acceptance, pleasingness”; and quotes from the Greek of Psalms 44 :(Heb. and Eng. 45)2; Sir 21:16. But would not this be a unique, and so unlikely, use of the word in St Paul?
seasoned with salt] which they were (Mark 9:50) to “have in themselves.” The reference of the metaphor is fixed by the practical parallel, Ephesians 4:29; “corrupt, decayed, discourse.” The “salt” is the power of Christ’s grace, banishing all impurity of motive, and all uncleanness of allusion, and at the same time giving the pleasant “savour” of sound and nourishing “food for thought.”—The classics, Latin and (less commonly) Greek, use the “salt” of speech as a metaphor; but almost always in the sense of wit, pleasantry, often of the very kind censured Ephesians 5:4. Seneca speaks of “poisoned salt,” venenati sales, meaning malicious jests.—“Seasoned &c.” here is constructed in the Greek with “speech.”
that you may know] As those will who, in the grace of God, remember this sound rule of discourse.
to answer every man] “who asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15), in whatever spirit. The thought is, surely, not so much of cleverly adjusted repartee, as of the clear, kindly candour and good sense which would so state the truth of Christ, in the “answer,” as to meet any and every questioner with conciliation.”
13.) May the Lord grant you His peace at all times.
2Th 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him, regardless of life’s circumstances. The Lord be with you all.”
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Conclusion of the Letter. Ch. 2 Thessalonians 3:16-1816. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means] Lit., But may the Lord, &c.; for there is a contrast between the directions just given and the peace for which the Apostle prays. Peace was disturbed by an irritating kind of disorder in the Church, by wild rumours and alarms respecting the Parousia (ch. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2), as well as by the unrelenting persecution from without. St Paul has done his best to tranquillize his readers’ minds, and bring them all to a sober and orderly condition. But he looks to “the Lord of peace Himself” to shed on them His all-controlling and all-reconciling influence. Christ is invoked as the Lord of peace (comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:5), just as God was called “the God of peace” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (see note; and on the import of “peace” in St Paul, note to 1 Thessalonians 1:1). Christ is Lord and Disposer of the peace which the Gospel brings (comp. Colossians 3:15, R.V.). This St Paul asks, first (ch. 2 Thessalonians 1:2) and last, for the troubled and harassed Thessalonians.
“Always” represents a different Greek adverb from that so often used in these letters (1 Thessalonians 1:2, &c.); it denotes not on every occasion, but through all,—“continually,” as the same adverb is rendered in Luke 24:53, Hebrews 13:15 : the Lord … give you peace at all times in all ways (R.V.).
Nor is it the Lord’s sovereign peace alone, but the Lord Himself, in His personal presence and authority (comp. Matthew 28:18; Matthew 28:20), Whom the Apostle invokes. The Lord be with you all, as in 2 Thessalonians 3:18,—not excluding the “brother walking disorderly,” who even more than others needs the presence of the Lord and the virtue of His peace. Comp. 1 Corinthians 16:24, 2 Corinthians 13:14, where the “all” of the Benediction has a like pointed significance; also note on 1 Thessalonians 5:27.”
14.) Let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise.
Heb 13:15, “Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
By him, therefore – The Jews approached God by the blood of the sacrifice and by the ministry of their high priest. The exhortation of the apostle here is founded on the general course of argument in the Epistle “In view of all the considerations presented respecting the Christian High Priest – his dignity, purity, and love; his sacrifice and his intercession, let us persevere in offering through him praise to God.” That is, let us persevere in adherence to our religion.
The sacrifice of praise – For all the mercies of redemption. The Jews, says Rosenmuller (Alte u. neue Morgenland, in loc.), had a species of offerings which they called “peace-offerings, or friendship-offerings.” They were designed not to produce peace or friendship with God, but to preserve it. Burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and trespass-offerings, were all on account of transgression, and were designed to remove transgression. But in their peace-offerings, the offerer was regarded as one who stood in the relation of a friend with God, and the oblation was a sign of thankful acknowledgment for favors received. or they were connected with vows in order that further blessings might be obtained, or they were brought voluntarily as a means to continue themselves in the friendship and favor of God; Leviticus 7:11-12; compare Jenning’s Jew. Ant. i.335.
That is, the fruit of our lips – The phrase “fruit of the lips.” is a Hebraism, meaning what the lips produce; that is, words; compare Proverbs 18:20; Hosea 14:2.
Giving thanks to his name – To God; the name of one being often put for the person himself. “Praise” now is one of the great duties of the redeemed. It will be their employment forever.”
15.) Be alert and cautious at all times.
1Pe 5:8, “Be sober, be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion , seeking someone to devour.”
Verse 8. – Be sober, be vigilant (comp. 1 Thessalonians 5:6). For the first word, νήψατε, see note on 1 Peter 4:7. The second γρηγόρησατε, is the word so often and so emphatically used by our Lord (Mark 13:35, 37; Matthew 26:40, 41, etc.). The imperatives are aorist, as in 1 Peter 4:7; and, as there, either imply that the exhortation was needed by the readers, or are used to express vividly the necessity of instant attention. Because your adversary the devil. The conjunction “because” is omitted in the best manuscripts. The asyndeten, as in the last clause, increases the emphasis. The word rendered “adversary” ἀντίδικος means properly an opponent in a lawsuit, as in Matthew 5:25; but it is also used generally for “adversary,” and so is a translation of the Hebrew word Satan. The word διάβολος, devil, means “slanderer,” “false accuser.” As a roaring lion. He is called a serpent to denote his subtlety, a lion to express his fierceness and strength. The word rendered “roaring” ὠρυόμενος is used especially of the cries of wild beasts when ravenous with hunger (see Psalm 104:21; and comp. Psalm 22:13, 21). Walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (comp. Job 1:7; Job 2:2). The words express the restless energy of the wicked one. He cannot touch those who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation; but he walketh about, looking eagerly after any lost sheep that may have wandered from the fold. He roars in the craving of his heart for prey, like a hungry lion, seeking whom he may devour, or (for the reading here is somewhat uncertain) to devour some one, or simply to devour. The Greek word means literally “to drink down;” it implies utter destruction. It is the word in 1 Corinthians 15:54, “Death is swallowed up κατεπόθη in victory.” Satan now seeks whom he may destroy: “The Lord will destroy him that hath the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). 1 Peter 5:8.”
Walter Scott said, “Caution comes too late when we are in the midst of evils.”
Joseph Addison said, “If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune, and when you have it, it requires ten times as much skill to keep it.”
William James said, “Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things. In a world where we are so certain to incur them in spite of all our caution, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousness on their behalf.”
Charles Brockden Brown said, “Confide not in the firmness of your principles, or the steadfastness of your integrity. Be always vigilant and fearful. Never think you have enough of knowledge, and let not your caution slumber for a moment, for you know not when danger is near.”
Epictetus said, “Confident because of our caution.”
Charlotte Bronte said, “Look twice before you leap.”
Edmund Burke said, “Whenever our neighbour’s house is on fire, it cannot be amiss for the engines to play a little on our own.”
Henry Ward Beecher said, “Caution and conservatism are expected of old age; but when the young men of a nation are possessed of such a spirit, when they are afraid of the noise and strife caused by the applications of the truth, heaven save the land! Its funeral bell has already rung.”
Victor Hugo said, “Caution is the eldest child of wisdom.”
Miguel de Cervantes said, “Be slow of tongue and quick of eye.”
Edmund Burke said, “There is a courageous wisdom; there is also a false, reptile prudence, the result not of caution but of fear.”
Euripides said, “Among mortals second thoughts are wisest.”
Marcus Aurelius said, “In one way an arrow moves, in another way the mind. The mind indeed, both when it exercises caution and when it is employed about inquiry, moves straight onward not the less, and to its object.”
St. Jerome said, “The scars of others should teach us caution.”
Sun Tzu said, “The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Every step of life shows much caution is required.”
Publilius Syrus said, “It is a good thing to learn caution from the misfortunes of others.”
Otto von Bismarck said, “A little caution outflanks a large cavalry.”
Thomas Carlyle said, “Caution is the lower story of prudence.”
Benjamin Franklin SAID, “By playing at Chess then, we may learn… First: Foresight. Second: Circumspection. Third: Caution.”
Edmund Burke said, “Circumspection and caution are part of wisdom.”
Horace said, “When I caution you against becoming a miser, I do not therefore advise you to become a prodigal or a spendthrift.”
Hesiod said, “Do not put all your goods in hollow ships.”
J. Oswald Sanders said, “A great deal more failure is the result of an excess of caution than of bold experimentation with new ideas. The frontiers of the Kingdom of God were never advanced by men and women of caution.”
Thomas a Kempis said, “Caution is crediting, and reserve in speaking, and in revealing one’s self to but very few, are the best securities both of a good understanding with the world, and of the inward peace of our own minds.”
John Locke said, “General observations drawn from particulars are the jewels of knowledge, comprehending great store in a little room; but they are therefore to be made with the greater care and caution, lest, if we take counterfeit for true, our loss and shame be the greater when our stock comes to a severe scrutiny.”
Victor Rothschild, 3rd Baron Rothschild said, “Be cautious and bold.”
William Shakespeare said, “With caution judge of probability. Things deemed unlikely, e’en impossible, experience oft hath proved to be true.”
THE WORST OF ALL ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NO CAUTION FOR BEING THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. YOU CAN AVOID THE ETERNAL SUFFERINGS BY SIMPLY REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS AS YOUR GOD AND SAVIOR. DO IT NOW WHILE YOU CAN.
To know the truth is not enough, you must act upon it.
Will you now accept and believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to be your Lord and Savior. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. Would you do it now?
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
AUGUST 5, 2025
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