+I. Abandons the guide of reason.+
+II. Leads to a vicious life and causes trouble to others.+
+III. We should pray to be delivered from its evil results.+
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 3, 4.
_The Faithfulness of God._
From the want of faith in man, referred to in the preceding verse,
the writer, as if to show the contrast, naturally glides into the
subject of the Divine faithfulness. Unbelief may abound, but God can
be relied on; man may be fickle and unreasonable, but the fidelity of
God is inviolate.
+I. The faithfulness of God is a fact established by abundant
testimonies.+--"But the Lord _is_ faithful" (ver. 3). He is faithful
to His own nature. He cannot deny Himself. He is faithful to His
purpose, to His Word, to every promise, and every threatening too.
The whole history of God's dealings with the Jewish people is a
suggestive and impressive commentary on His inflexible faithfulness.
The fact that the Church of God exists to-day, notwithstanding
defection within and persecution without, is an unanswerable
testimony to His fidelity. "You may be faint and weary, but my God
cannot. I may fluctuate and alter as to my frames and feelings; but
my Redeemer is unchangeably the same. I might utterly fail and come
to nothing, if left to myself. But I cannot be so left to myself. He
is rich to relieve and succour me in all my wants. He is faithful to
perform and perfect all His promises" (_Ambrose Serle_).
+II. The faithfulness of God is practically manifested in
establishing His people in all good and in keeping them safe from all
evil.+--"Who shall stablish you and keep you from evil" (ver. 3). The
people of God do not perpetuate themselves. He perpetuates. His
faithful guardianship gives persistency to His people, so that in
every age and in the darkest times there has been a bright succession
of living witnesses of His unchanging character. He preserves them,
not because of any inherent grace or self-deserving, but because He
is faithful. "Janet," said a Scottish minister to a Christian woman
of great faith, whom he was visiting, "suppose, after all, God were
to let you drop into hell!" "Even as He will," was her reply; "but if
He does, He will lose mair than I'll do." A single flaw in the Divine
fidelity would shatter the faith of the universe.
+III. The faithfulness of God inspires confidence in the fidelity of
the obedient.+--"And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that
ye both do, and will do the things which we command you" (ver. 4).
Because God is faithful, we know that you can be kept faithful, if
you are willing and seeking to be so kept. Moreover, you will
assuredly be kept faithful, while you observe in the future, as you
have done in the past, "the things which we command you," and in
commanding which we have the Divine authority. Consider these things,
let them sink into your hearts; then act accordingly. Let obedience
follow conviction, and we have no fear about the result. Von Moltke,
the great German strategist and general, chose for his motto, _"Erst
wagen, dann wagen,"_--_"First weigh, then venture"_; and it was to
this he owed his great victories and successes. Slow, cautious,
careful in planning, but bold, daring, even seemingly reckless in
execution, the moment his resolve was made. Vows thus ripen into
deeds, decision must go on to performance. The final perseverance of
the saint depends on the Divine perseverance; his faithfulness on the
Divine faithfulness. If we had no living Saviour to pilot our ship,
no promise on which to rely, we might have cause to fear. The Divine
faithfulness is unquestionable; our faithfulness is maintained only
by obedience.
+Lessons.+--1. _The faithfulness of God is the guarantee of the
believer's safety._ 2. _The faithfulness of God should encourage the
exercise of implicit faith in Him._ 3. _The faithfulness of God
demands undeviating obedience to His laws._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._