Hints to Preachers

Verse 1.—What is the fear of God? How does it operate? What is the effect of its absence? What should we learn from seeing such evil results?

Or the atheism underlying transgression.

Verse 2.—The arts, motives, assistances, results, and punishments of self-flattery, and the discovery which concludes it.

Verse 2.—Self-flatteries.—Jonathan Edward’s Sermon.

Verse 2.—On the deceitfulness of the heart, with regard to the commission of sin.—Two Sermons, in Jamieson’s “Sermons on the Heart.”

Verse 3.—Bad words. Two out of many kinds.

Verse 3 (second clause).—The relation between true wisdom and practical goodness.

Verse 4.—Diligence in doing evil, a mark of deep depravity.—W. S. Plumer.

Verse 4.—The abuse of retirement to wicked purposes, a sure characteristic of an habitual sinner.—N. Marshall.

Verse 4.—The sinner on his bed, in his conduct, in his heart; add to this, in his death, and in his doom.

Verse 4 (second clause).—Ways which are not good.

Verse 4 (last clause).—Neutrality condemned.

Verses 5, 6.—Four glorious similes of the mercy, faithfulness, and providence of God. The preacher has here a wealth of poetic imagery never surpassed.

Verse 6.—God’s word and works mysterious.—C. Simeon.

Verse 6 (second clause).—God’s judgments are—I. Often unfathomable—we cannot discover the foundation or cause, and spring of them. II. They are safe sailing. Ships never strike on rocks out in the great deeps. III. They conceal great treasure. IV. They work much good—the great deep, though ignorance thinks it to be all waste, a salt and barren wilderness, is one of the greatest blessings to this round world. V. They become a highway of communion with God. The sea is to-day the great highway of the world.

Verse 6 (last clause).—Kindness of God to the lower animals, as well as man.

Verses 7, 8.—Admiration! Confidence! Expectation! Realisation!

Verse 7.—The object, reasons, nature, and experience of faith.

Verse 8 (first clause).—The provisions of the Lord’s house. What they are, their excellence and abundance, and for whom provided.

Verse 8 (second clause).—The heavenly Hiddekel—Its source, its flood, the happy drinkers, how they came to drink.

Verse 9 (first clause).—LIFE, natural, mental, spiritual, proceeds from God, is sustained, restored, purified, and perfected by him. In him it dwells with permanency, from him it flows freely, with freshness, abundance, and purity; to him it should be consecrated.

Verse 9 (second clause).—LIGHT, what it is to see it. Divine light, what it is; how it is the medium by which we see other light. The experience here described, and the duty here hinted at.

Verse 10.—I. The character of the righteous—he knows God, and is upright in heart. II. His privilege—lovingkindness and righteousness. III. His prayer, continue, etc.

Verse 10.—The need of daily supplies of grace.

Verse 12.—A view of the overthrow of evil powers, principles, and men.