To uphold truth means not only not to deceive, not to hide, not to act hypocritically, not to flatter. It also means not to hide ourselves. Very often we hide our sins and our feelings from people and from ourselves. To uphold truth means...
To uphold truth means not only not to deceive, not to hide, not to act hypocritically, not to flatter. It also means not to hide ourselves. Very often we hide our sins and our feelings from people and from ourselves. To uphold truth means to stand before people and before Christ. Not to try to hide our face behind a mask of self-justification.
This is hard. It is almost impossible if we are aggressive. If we expect people's judgment and fear it. Our turtle-like ability to hide in our shell makes us constantly expect judgment and accusation. We close ourselves off from mercy. We do not surrender, like criminals who are sure their guilt will not be proven. That is why there is the feeling of being constantly cornered, the constant fear with which it is impossible to live and from which we lock ourselves into depression. Because of it, we also constantly accuse everyone and everything around us.
The mercy we are called to practice is the ability to see other people worn down by fear of condemnation, fear that their real self will be exposed. It is the ability to receive people without distorting real feelings and relationships by this fear. Fear of human warmth. Fear of someone else's love, attention, and patience, which we think we do not need.
We agree to distance ourselves from all that is best in people, driving ourselves into a far and cold corner of the universe. There, it seems to us, the light of Christ, the light of His love that illumines people, will not reach us and will not make us suffer from shame and our own smallness. But when, through the pain of having the mask of deceit torn from us, we gain the whole world, then we gain life, the truth about ourselves, the image of Christ in every person, and the glory of those who have overcome sin and despair.
21
21:1 The kings - He names kings not to exclude other men, but because they are more arbitrary and uncontrollable than others.As rivers - Which husband - men draw by little channels into the adjacent grounds as they please.
21:4 The plowing - Even their civil or natural actions, which in themselves are lawful, are made sinful as they are managed by ungodly men, without any regard to the glory of God, which ought to be the end of all our actions.
21:5 Hasty - Who manages his affairs rashly.
21:6 Lying tongue - By any false or deceitful words or actions.Is tossed - Is like the chaff or smoak driven away by the wind.Of them - That take those courses which will bring destruction upon them.
21:8 The way - Of every man by nature. Strange - Estranged from God.Right - But he whose heart is pure, his conversation is agreeable to it.
21:10 Desireth - To do mischief. No favour - He spares neither friend nor foe.
21:11 The wise - The simple learn wisdom, both from the punishment of wicked men, and from the prosperity of good men.
21:12 Considereth - He looks through its present glory to that ruin for which it is designed.
21:14 In secret - Which makes it more acceptable.In the bosom - Secretly conveyed into the bosom.
21:16 Shall remain - Shall, without repentance, be condemned to eternal death.
21:17 Wine and oil - Delicious fare and luxurious feasting. Wine and oil were much used in feasts in those parts.
21:18 A ransom - The wicked shall be brought into those troubles, which were designed by wicked men for the righteous: thus Haman was a ransom for Mordecai.
21:20 The wise - Wise men lay up desirable treasures for their own use, and for their families. Oil is particularly mentioned, because that was a considerable part of their wealth and treasures in those countries.
21:22 The strength - The strongest sorts to which the citizens trust.
21:25 Killeth - Torments him to death, while he passionately desires what he sees, he shall not enjoy, and will not take pains to procure.
21:26 Coveteth - Spends his whole time in vain and lazy desires.Giveth - By God's blessing upon his industry he procures enough, not only for his own support, but for the relief of others.
21:27 The sacrifice - All the most costly services which they offer to God. Because - As all the ancient translators render it, the Hebrew particle, aph, being expletive: or, even because; so the following clause gives the reason. A wicked mind - Not in obedience to God's command, but either to cover, or countenance, or promote some wicked design.
21:28 Heareth - He witnesses nothing but what he has heard or seen.Constantly - Always affirms the same thing.
21:29 Hardeneth - Continues in evil with obstinacy and impudence.Directs - He orders his steps aright.
21:31 The horse - Under which all war - like provisions are comprehended.