There is a People in the World that Fear God’s Name

‘There is a people in the world that fear God’s name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss.’ Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary Psalm 61:5-8

‘THERE IS A PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT FEAR GOD’S NAME;’
Are you one of these people who fear God’s name? Many people call themselves Christian, but have no idea of what it really means to be a follower of Christ. Many other Christians take no thought that their personal actions show fear of God, OR show personal self will. Rather, they rely on God’s mercy and forgiveness, thinking He will always overlook their willful and rebellious actions. The Christian who truly loves God will consider God’s sacrifice in making a way that the individual can be reconciled to Him. He or she will attempt to live his or her life in a manner that shows gratitude for such sacrifice and love. The Christians who truly fear God’s name will love God more than they love themselves. This will show in how they live their lives.

‘THERE IS A HERITAGE PECULIAR TO THAT PEOPLE;’
Our heritage is at least in part salvation and fellowship with the Lord.
A great danger for all Christians is to be exposed to anything that separates us from the God of our salvation and His fellowship. No Christian is ever too old to consider the children’s song that says:
‘Oh be careful little eyes what you see,
little hands what you do,
little ears what you hear,
little feet where you go,
little heart what you love….’

If you neglect to be careful of all these things, you are in danger of separating yourself from God’s fellowship. There no joy in the life of a Christian who is without good fellowship with God. An earthly comparison is when a husband and wife are at odds with each other. Neither is happy nor content until the rift between them has been repaired. So is our fellowship with God. If something is standing between the Christian and God, the obstacle should be dealt with ASAP.

‘PRESENT COMFORTS IN THE SOUL,’ Psalm 46:1 says, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ What can be more comforting than this? If the fellowship between the individual Christian and God is on sound footing, then help will be there for whatever trial the Christian may face. Think how marvelous the help if an entire New Testament Church should ever be in solid fellowship with Christ.

‘EARNESTS OF FUTURE BLISS.’ ‘Earnests’ is defined as a ‘sign, foretaste, or pledge of something to come; a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.’

Our earthly blessings are ‘earnests’ from God. They are just ‘tastes’ and ‘shadows’ of the good things to come when we live in heaven. By faith we know that the things of heaven and eternity are greater than our capacity to know and understand. (1 Corinthians 2:9) I never dream of understanding rocket science or trigonometry. It seems dull and boring to me, and without any use what so ever. However, I do dream of heaven and what it will be like there. By the good things I have and have seen and experienced on earth, I have a foretaste of heaven. I believe the evil I have seen and experienced are foretastes of hell.

I thank God that through Jesus Christ I will never fully experience or understand the horrors of hell.

I thank God that through Jesus Christ I WILL experience heaven in its entirety.

Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary is available free online at christnotes.org If there is a particular Bible passage that you do not understand, then go to Matthew Henry and read his thoughts on that verse or passage.