Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Parallel Translations
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Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
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Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
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Happy is the man that feareth alway; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Proverbs 28:14 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 23:17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
- Psalms 2:11 Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
- Isaiah 66:2 For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says Yahweh: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
- Jeremiah 32:40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good. I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.
- Romans 11:20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith. Don’t be conceited, but fear;
- 1 Peter 1:17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
- Psalms 112:1 Praise Yah! Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh, who delights greatly in his commandments.
- Proverbs 29:1 He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
- Hebrews 4:1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.
- Job 9:4 God who is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
- Psalms 95:8 Don’t harden your heart, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
- Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
- Exodus 7:22 The magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their enchantments. So Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he didn’t listen to them, as Yahweh had spoken.
- Psalms 16:8 I have set Yahweh always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
- Exodus 14:23 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Which standeth in awe of God, and is afraid…
Which standeth in awe of God, and is afraid to offend him.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 28:14 Happy [is] the man that feareth alway:…
Pro 28:14 Happy [is] the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Ver. 14. Blessed is the man that feareth always.] That is "in the fear of the Lord all day long." {Pro 23:17} Duo sunt timores Dei, servilis et amicalis, saith Bede: There is a twofold fear of God - servile and filial; perfect love casts out the former, breeds and feeds the latter. By this "fear of the Lord it is that men depart from evil," that they shake off security, that they abound in God’s work, that they may abide in his love, that they set a jealous eye upon their own hearts, and suspect a snake under every flower, a snare in every creature, and do therefore "feed with fear," and "rejoice in fear," "pass the whole time of their sojourning here in fear," yea, "work out their whole salvation with fear and trembling." Oh the blessedness of such!
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But he that hardeneth his heart.] As a perfect stranger to God’s holy fear. The contrite heart ever "trembles at God’s word" {Isa 57:17} "Why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy fear," {Isa 63:17} which, as fire doth iron, mollifies the hardest heart, and makes it malleable. Fear is a fruit of repentance, {2Co 7:11, "yea, what fear"} which intenerates the heart, and makes it capable of Divine impressions, as Josiah. On the other side, the Jews feared not God because of a rebellious heart. {Jer 5:22-23}
Shall fall into mischief.] Manifold mischief, ruin without remedy {Pro 29:18} The incestuous person, though delivered up to Satan, repented and recovered: but he that is delivered up to a hard heart, to a dead and dedolent disposition, is in a manner desperate and deplored; he "heaps up wrath against the day of wrath." {Rom 2:5} This made a reverent man once say, If I must be put to my choice, I had rather be in hell with a sensible heart than on earth with a reprobate mind. A hard heart is, in some respect, worse than hell: since one of the greatest sins is far greater in evil than any of the greatest punishments, as one hath well observed.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Happy is the man, because he shall thereby avoid…
Happy is the man, because he shall thereby avoid that mischief which befalls fearless sinners, which is expressed in the next clause, and procure that eternal salvation which they lose.
That feareth, to wit, the offence and judgments of God; who having confessed and forsaken his sins, as was now said, is afraid to return to them again, and careful to avoid them, and all occasions of them.
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Alway; in all times, companies, and conditions; not only in the time of great trouble, when even hypocrites will in some sort be afraid of sinning, but in times of outward peace and prosperity.
That hardeneth his heart; that goeth on obstinately and securely in sinful courses, casting off due reverence to God, and just fear of his threatenings and judgments.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Here is, 1. The benefit of a holy caution.…
Here is, 1. The benefit of a holy caution. It sounds strangely, but it is very true: Happy is the man that feareth always. Most people think that those are happy who never fear; but there is a fear which is so far from having torment in it that it has in it the greatest satisfaction. Happy is the man who always keeps up in his mind a holy awe and reverence of God, his glory, goodness, and government, who is always afraid of offending God and incurring his displeasure, who keeps conscience tender and has a dread of the appearance of evil, who is always jealous of himself, distrustful of his own sufficiency, and lives in expectation of troubles and changes, so that, whenever they come, they are no surprise to him. He who keeps up such a fear as this will live a life of faith and watchfulness, and therefore happy is he, blessed and holy. 2. The danger of a sinful presumption: He that hardens his heart, that mocks at fear, and sets God and his judgments at defiance, and receives not the impressions of his word or rod, shall fall into mischief; his presumption will be his ruin, and whatever sin (which is the greatest mischief) he falls into it is owing to the hardness of his heart.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Happy is the man that feareth alway,.... Not men,…
Happy is the man that feareth alway,.... Not men, but the Lord; there is a fear and reverence due to men, according to the stations in which they are; but a slavish fear of man, and which deters from the worship of God and obedience to him, is criminal, and brings a snare; and a man, under the influence of it, cannot be happy: nor is a servile fear of God intended, a fear of wrath and damnation, or a distrust of his grace, a continual calling in question his love, and an awful apprehension of his displeasure and vengeance; for in such fear is torment, and with it a man can never be happy; but it is a reverence and godly fear, a filial one, a fear of God and his goodness, which he puts into the hearts of his people; a fear, indeed, of offending him, of sinning against him, by which a man departs from evil, and forsakes it, as well as confesses it; but is what arises from a sense of his goodness: and it is well when such a fear of God is always before the eyes and on the hearts of men; in their closets and families, in their trade and commerce, in all companies into which they come, as, well as in the house of God and the assembly of his saints, where he is to be feared; as also in prosperity and adversity, even throughout the whole course of life, passing the time of their sojourning here in fear: and such a man is happy; the eye of God is on him, his heart is towards him, and he delights it, him; his secret is with him, he sets a guard of angels about him, has laid up goodness for him, and communicates largely to him;
but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief; that hardens his heart from the fear of the Lord; neither confesses his sin, nor forsakes it; bids, as it were, defiance to heaven, strengthens and hardens himself in his wickedness, and by his hard and impenitent heart treasures up to himself wrath against the day of wrath; he falls "into evil" (k), as it may be rendered, into the evil of sin yet more and more, which the hardness of his heart brings him into, and so into the evil of punishment here and hereafter.
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(k) "in malum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schultens.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Alway - In all times, companies, and conditions.
Alway - In all times, companies, and conditions.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 14. Happy is the man that feareth alway]…
Verse 14. Happy is the man that feareth alway] That ever carries about with him that reverential and filial fear of God, which will lead him to avoid sin, and labour to do that which is lawful and right in the sight of God his Saviour.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 28:14. Happy is the man that feareth always…
Pro 28:14. Happy is the man that feareth always — Who, in all times, companies, and conditions, maintains in his mind a holy awe of God, and a reverence for him, his glory and majesty, his wisdom and power, his holiness and justice, his greatness and goodness; that is always afraid of offending him, and incurring his displeasure; that keeps his conscience tender, and has a dread of the appearance of evil; that is always jealous of himself, and distrusts his own sufficiency, and lives in expectation of troubles and changes; so that, when they come, they do not surprise him: he that keeps up such a fear as this in his mind, will live a life of faith, prayer, and watchfulness, and therefore he is happy, blessed, and holy; for he hereby avoids that mischief which befalls fearless and careless sinners, as is expressed in the next clause, and obtains that eternal salvation which they fall short of. But he that hardeneth his heart — That goeth on obstinately and securely in sinful courses, casting off all due reverence for God, and just fear of his threatenings and judgments; shall fall into mischief — Shall fall into still greater guilt and misery.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The “fear” here is not so much reverential awe,…
The “fear” here is not so much reverential awe, as anxious, or “nervous” sensitiveness of conscience. To most men this temperament seems that of the self-tormentor. To him who looks deeper it is a condition of blessedness, and the callousness which is opposed to it ends in misery.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain This Proverb fitly follows the last. Confession precedes, godly…
This Proverb fitly follows the last. Confession precedes, godly fear follows, the reception of mercy, as the end for which it is given, and the proof of its reception. (Psa 130:4 .) It implies no uncertainly of our safety; but, by guarding us against fresh wounds of conscience, it more firmly maintains our confidence. If we believe and rejoice in the Lord as "our Sun," we would fear him alway as "a consuming fire."†1 This fear is our security.†2
We may here profitably glance at some Christian paradoxes. How is happiness to be found in constant fear? Is fear to be the atmosphere or the spirit of a child of God? Where "love makes perfect," there can be no unquiet rollings or doubtings of heart. (1Jn 4:18 .) But godly fear preserves the sunshine, and seals our special acceptance. (Isa 66:2 .) We walk with our Father in holy watchfulness and peace. Again — We readily conceive the happiness of trust. (Pro 16:20 .) How do we link with it the happiness of fear? So far from fear being contrary to faith, it is a component part of it, or at least its inseparable adjunct (Heb 11:7 ); the discipline, that preserves it from presumption. Faith without fear is self-confidence and self-delusion. Nay — the assurance of our "standing by faith" is balanced by an instant and most needful exercise of fear. (Rom 11:20 .) Who grasped a more triumphant confidence than Paul? Yet without presuming upon a long and consistent profession, self-distrust, watchfulness and diligence established his confidence.†3 ’If there be truth in the Christian’s assurance, not sin itself can disappoint him, it is true. But it is no less true, that if he does not fear sin, there is no truth in his assurance.’†4 Instead of being afraid to mix faith and fear, dread their separation. Again — the righteous is bold as a lion (Pro 28:1 ); yet he feareth alway. But Christian courage, though opposed to slavish, forms the very essence of godly fear. The three confessors were bold before the Babylonish autocrat; yet they so feared to offend against God, that "the burning fiery furnace" was the better alternative in their eyes.†5
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Thus is holy fear every way identified with happiness. It is a fear of reverence, not of bondage; of caution, not of distrust; of diligence, not of despondency. In proportion as we are raised above tormenting fear, we cherish a deep reverence of the majesty and holiness of God, a child-like fear of displeasure, a jealousy over our motives, desires, and the risings of our evil propensities, and an abhorrence and shrinking, not only from sin, but from the temptations and occasions of sin. Well does the Christian know the value of this conservative principle; as far removed from legality as from presumption. One, whose mournful experience gives additional weight to his words, warns us, as "sojourners" in a world of evil, and with hearts so often betraying our steps, to "pass our time in fear."†6 If we be surely, we are "scarcely, saved." (1Pe 4:18 .) Though there be no uncertainty in the end, there is appalling difficulty in the way — "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." (1Co 10:12 .) The man who stands in his own security, requires the caution more than any. Guard against an unheeding confidence. Keep the sentinel at the door. Watch for the enemy at every turn. Suspect a snake in every path, a snare in every creature. "Feed with fear."†7 "Rejoice with trembling." Yea — "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."†8 None are so established in grace, but in unwatchfulness they may fall into the greatest sin. Live then in constant fear of yourself. This godly fear proves self-knowledge, preserves from self-confidence, produces self-distrust. In wariness against a fall we are most likely to stand. If weakness be our frailty, the consciousness of it is our strength. "When I am weak, then am I strong." (2Co 12:10 .) The importance of this principle will be seen by the contrast with its opposite. Fear keeps the heart tender, and the soul safe. Security and presumption harden the sinner, and he falls into mischief. Pharaoh’s hardness of heart, and its consequences, were but the bravery and ruin of the devil.†9 When David’s self-indulgence and carelessness had swept away his tenderness, fearfully did he fall into mischief. (2Sa 11:2 .) The latter history of his wise son reads the same awful warning. (1Ki 11:1-11 .) Peter’s fearlessness, though the fruit of ignorance rather than willfulness, brought him to the very brink of destruction. (Mat 26:33-35, Mat 26:41, Mat 26:74 .)
A deep sensibility of sin is a special mercy. To think what it is; what it may be; that, indulged only in thought, if the Lord restrain not, it will end in apostasy — Oh! dare we trifle with it? The man, who presumes upon it, as too harmless for eternal punishment, and promises himself peace in the way of his own heart — a voice from heaven could scarcely describe the tremendous horrors of his case. Every word of God is a thunderbolt leveled at him.†10 Scarcely less pitiable is the man, who makes light of his eternal state: living without prayer; so much better in his own eyes than his more ungodly neighbors; and fully satisfied with a mere external preparation for eternity. Forget not — Christian Professor — we may be strong in confidence, only because we are sleeping in delusion, or hardened in insensibility. From all the mischief of self-ignorance and ’hardness of heart, Good Lord, deliver us!’†11
Footnotes:
†1 Psa 84:11, with Heb 12:28-29 .
†2 Hab 3:16.
†3 Rom 8:33-39, with 1Co 9:27 .
†4 Leighton on 1Pe 1:17 . The Romanists — and how many Roman Protestants with them! — have no other idea of fear, than as excluding the certainty of acceptance; whereas its true influence is not fluctuation in doubt, but carefulness in preservation.
†5 Dan 3:16-18. Gen 39:9 . Neh 5:15 .
†6 1Pe 1:17 ; and Leighton in loco.
†7 Contrast Jdg 12:1-15 .
†8 Psa 2:11. Php 2:12 .
†9 Exo 14:5-8, Exo 14:23 .
†10 Pro 29:1. Deu 29:19-20 .
†11 Litany. Compare Sir 5:5-7 .
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain feareth--that is, God, and so repents.
feareth--that is, God, and so repents.
hardeneth his heart--makes himself insensible to sin, and so will not repent (Pro 14:16; Pro 29:1).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 14. Feareth always — That is, to offend God,…
14. Feareth always — That is, to offend God, or do injury to men, and hence is watchful, prayerful.
But… hardeneth his heart — Resists this gracious fear, and deems its violation a slight matter, and thus soon becomes presumptuous in sin.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 14. feareth] i.e. to do wrong, with a wise…
14. feareth] i.e. to do wrong, with a wise and godly caution. ὂς καταπτήσσει πάντα διʼ εὐλάβειαν, LXX. Comp. the N.T. use of εὐλάβεια and its cognates, Heb_5:7; Heb_11:7.
mischief] “Or, calamity,” R.V. marg.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (14) Happy is the man that feareth alway lest…
(14) Happy is the man that feareth alway lest he should fall, and so, distrusting himself, seeks heavenly aid (Php_2:12).
He that hardeneth his heart.—(Comp. Exo_8:15, sqq.)
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Shall fall into mischief.—As he will have lost the guidance and protection of God.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Happy is the man that feareth alway. Some have…
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, (1Co_10:12) and works out his salvation with fear and trembling. (Php_2:12; comp. Pro_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 (di eulabeian ) 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. (Pro_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; Pro_29:1 Exo_8:15 Psa_95:8) This man scorns the grace of God, loses his protection, and must come to misery.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Happy is the man that feareth always.
Pro_28:14
Happy is the man that feareth always.
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The happiness of fearing alway
He who sincerely confesses and forsakes his sins will be afraid of sin for the future, having felt the smart of it.
I. What is the fear that men ought to maintain alway? It is a fear of God for Himself, and a fear of other things for God, or in reference to Him. We ought to entertain--
1. A filial and reverential fear of God. Slavish fear will never make a man happy. Slavish fear is mixed with hatred of God; filial fear with love to Him.
2. We must entertain a fear of jealousy over ourselves.
3. A fear of caution and circumspection. This makes a man walk warily.
II. Some things in relation to which we should entertain this holy fear.
1. With respect to himself. Happy is the man who keeps a jealous eye over himself. Be jealous over your principles, your hearts, your tongues, and your senses.
2. With respect to our lusts and corruptions. He is happy who can say he fears nothing so much as sin. Fear the sin of your nature; sins by which you have been formerly led astray. These forsaken lovers will again make suit to you, and will get in upon you, if you grow secure. Fear little sins. There is no sin really little, but many most dangerous ones that are little in mans esteem.
3. With respect to our graces. Grace is a gift to be stirred up. It is in hazard of decay, though not of death. The way to keep the treasure is to fear.
4. With respect to our duties. The whole worship and service of God is called fear; so necessary is our fear in approaching Him.
5. With respect to our attainments. They are in hazard of being lost.
III. The necessary qualification of this duty. Alway. This fear must be our habitual and constant work. This fear should season all we do, and be with us at all times, cases, conditions, places, and companies. Because--
1. We have always the enemy within our walls. While a body of sin remains within us, temptations will always be presenting themselves.
2. Because there are snares for us in all places and in all circumstances. There are snares in our lawful enjoyments; snares at home, in the field, waking, and at table. Many ditches are in our way, and many of these are so concealed that we may fall completely into them before we are aware. At all times we are beset.
IV. The advantage attending this duty. Happy. For--
1. This prevents much sin, and advanceth holiness of heart and life. He that fears to offend God is most likely to keep His way.
2. It prevents strokes from the Lords hand. Where sin dines judgment will sup. Holy fear prevents falls.
3. This fear carries the soul out of itself to the Lord Jesus Christ, the fountain of light, life, and strength. Improvement:
(1) You who are in a joyful frame, join trembling with your mirth.
(2) You that are in a mourning frame, fear alway.
(3) You that have not met with Christ; what shall I say to you?
Fear lest your sharing in Christian privileges leave your affections more deadened, and your consciences more seared. To all of you I say, Fear alway. (T. Boston, D.D.)
A holy fear
What is this Bible-enjoined fearing? It is not the paralysis of terror, the shrinking and subsiding into nothingness of the craven spirit within. It is the ballast of the soul. Calm cautiousness. It is our Scotch maxim, Ca canny! Retrospective, introspective, perspective, circumspective. Nervousness of experience, caution, cannyness of reflection, the fearing here embodies.
I. The action. Feareth. It is evangelical fear, for only the gospel can bring it. It is three-faced. The first outlook of it is towards God. The fear of God is not that turbulent tornado of terror that tears up and destroys; it is the gentle fall of the summer rain on the thirsty soil; it is the soft dew-descent of the Holy Ghost; it is the fear of God for himself. It is the holy hush in His almighty presence, the calm instinct of regeneration that gives sympathetic dignity to the soul. It is the strength of the Lord. Another outlook of this fear is towards yourself. Your worst enemy is your next-door neighbour, and on his gate is your own name. He is yourself. To draw illustration from mining, your heart is full of inflammable gas. Sin fills every chink, and it is all ready for the tempting flame. Another outlook of this fear is towards your surroundings. Look up, look in, but also look round. The world is an intertwined network of devildom. Take care, beware!
II. The time for this action. The longest day has a nightfall. In this activity of the soul no swinging bell heralds a release; without a break or gap the night-shift succeeds to day, and the day-shift to night, and the same worker is in both. Happy is the man that feareth alway. At all times, in all circumstances, in all companies, you are in danger of going to the bottom. Alway fearing is alway safe.
III. The consequence of it. Happy is the man. Because for time and eternity he is ready. It is never waste of wind or time to keep to the path, even though it wind and wind like an eternal corkscrew. He is happy because this fear saves him from the fear of man. That fear ever bringeth a snare. The Christian filled with the gospel fear of God is happy, too, because it empties the soul. You and I are unblessed to-day because we are too full. (John Robertson.)
The happy influence of fear
He is not an unhappy man whose heart is continually governed by this fear. It has a happy influence upon his soul, to guard it from the temptations of Satan and the world, and to keep it close to the Redeemer. It tends not to obstruct but to promote the exercise of faith and hope and joy in the Lord. Thus fear is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and a blessed means of establishing the heart in the love of God. It is a happy sign of an interest in the everlasting covenant of mercy, and in that special favour of God which is the source of all our joys. But wretched is the man who is not afraid to sin against his Maker and Judge. His heart is hard as the nether millstone. (George Lawson, D.D.)
Holy fear
Holy fear is a searching the camp that there be no enemy within our bosom to betray us, and seeing that all be fast and sure. For I see many leaky vessels fair before the wind, and professors who take their conversion upon trust, and they go on securely, and see not the under water till a storm sink them. (H. G. Salter.)
But he that hardeneth his heart shall fan into mischief.
Hardening the heart
The whole system of moral and religious duty is expressed as the fear of God. The religion which makes fear the great principle of action, implicitly condemns all self-confidence, all presumptuous security; and enjoins a constant state of vigilance and caution, a perpetual distrust of our own hearts, a full conviction of our natural weakness, and an earnest solicitude for Divine assistance.
I. What he is to fear, whose fear will make him happy. The primary object of fear is sin. The dread of sin produces the dread of temptation. The continual recurrence of temptation and the imbecility of nature make many doubtful of the possibility of salvation. In fear many have fled from possibilities of temptation into deserts and monasteries. But this is not the worthy way of meeting fear. And in cloisters men do not escape from themselves. True fear is a constant sense of the Divine presence, and dread of the Divine displeasure. True fear inspires prayer.
II. What is meant by hardness of heart. Hardness of heart is a thoughtless neglect of the Divine law: such an acquiescence in the pleasures of sense, and such delight in the pride of life, as leaves no place in the mind for meditation on higher things. To such men Providence is seldom wholly inattentive. They are often called to the remembrance of their Creator, both by blessings and afflictions; by recoveries from sickness, by deliverances from danger, by loss of friends, and by miscarriage of transactions. As these calls are neglected, the hardness is increased, and there is danger lest He whom they have refused to hear should call them no more. This state of dereliction is the highest degree of misery.
III. How, or by what causes, the heart is hardened. The most dangerous hardness proceeds from some enormous wickedness, of which the criminal dreads the recollection, and finding a temporal ease in negligence and forgetfulness, by degrees confirms himself in stubborn impenitence. A less dangerous hardness consists, not in the perversion of the will, but in the alienation of the thoughts: by such hearts God is not defied; He is only forgotten. Of this forgetfulness the general causes are worldly cares and sensual pleasures. Such men are usually either stupidly or profanely negligent of these external duties of religion, which are instituted to excite and preserve the fear of God. A great part of them whose hearts are thus hardened may justly impute that insensibility to the violation of the Sabbath. Many enjoyments, innocent in themselves, may become dangerous by too much frequency. Whatever tends to diminish the fear of God, or abate the tenderness of conscience, must be diligently avoided.
IV. The consequence of hardness of heart. Shall fall into mischief--both into wickedness and misery. He that hardeneth his heart shall surely become both wicked and miserable. (S. Johnson, LL.D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.