When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
When a man's ways please the Lord, the Lord Himself makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. The same promise holds when the person works in right lines and follows the right way before God, and it extends even to worldly enemies being made kind and sympathetic. Ways that please the Lord mean turning from iniquity through mercy and truth and the fear of the Lord. They mean fearing Him, respecting His counsels, and choosing what is right even when the outlook is dark, by working in right lines and following the right way before Him amid difficulties and others' inconsistencies.
Pleasing the Lord is the standard by which to examine conduct, and those in positions of responsibility, being under God's eye, must find out whether their ways please Him. David's humble and prudent conduct illustrates the promise: though Saul hunted him and continued to seek his life, he found refuge among the Philistines, was at peace with them, and remained there until Saul's death. When the condition is met, God can make multitudes to be at peace with the person and cause that person's influence to be felt. God may also bar a harmful path that would have brought embarrassment, for which the person is to give God the honor and glory due His name.
Living the promise includes keeping God's way by exercising self-control and speaking gently rather than with harsh or revengeful words. Revengeful speech brings no victory, while letting Christ speak through the person and thinking no evil brings blessing. As seen with Bro. D, Christian conduct made worldly enemies kind and sympathetic toward him and God smoothed his path, yet he still faced unjust criticism from fellow believers. As seen with Brother Bahler, Christian conduct made worldly enemies kind and sympathetic toward him while fellow believers treated him unjustly, and such favor from others is a sign of God's care, not a fault to be held against him.
When a man's ways please the Lord, the Lord Himself makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. The same promise holds when the person works in right lines and follows the right way before God, and it extends even to worldly enemies being made kind and sympathetic. Ways that please the Lord mean turning from iniquity through mercy and truth and the fear of the Lord. They mean fearing Him, respecting His counsels, and choosing what is right even when the outlook is dark, by working in right lines and following the right way before Him amid difficulties and others' inconsistencies.
Pleasing the Lord is the standard by which to examine conduct, and those in positions of responsibility, being under God's eye, must find out whether their ways please Him. David's humble and prudent conduct illustrates the promise: though Saul hunted him and continued to seek his life, he found refuge among the Philistines, was at peace with them, and remained there until Saul's death. When the condition is met, God can make multitudes to be at peace with the person and cause that person's influence to be felt. God may also bar a harmful path that would have brought embarrassment, for which the person is to give God the honor and glory due His name.
Living the promise includes keeping God's way by exercising self-control and speaking gently rather than with harsh or revengeful words. Revengeful speech brings no victory, while letting Christ speak through the person and thinking no evil brings blessing. As seen with Bro. D, Christian conduct made worldly enemies kind and sympathetic toward him and God smoothed his path, yet he still faced unjust criticism from fellow believers. As seen with Brother Bahler, Christian conduct made worldly enemies kind and sympathetic toward him while fellow believers treated him unjustly, and such favor from others is a sign of God's care, not a fault to be held against him.