What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
The question is who desires life and loves many days in order to see good, and it opens instruction on how to live. That desire is a call to learn and to live in the fear of the Lord, fulfilled through true religion and through a changed, reformed life that overcomes defects of character. The fear of the Lord so taught is an experience to possess and to claim by promise, entered by openly confessing sin and iniquity to God and receiving forgiveness with a broken heart and contrite spirit. The same way of life means keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit and guile, departing from evil and doing good, and seeking peace and pursuing it.
Trials in this life are not to be taken as God's anger but as means to be drawn near to Him in trust. The promise joined to this desire is that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry, that He is near, hears, saves, and delivers them out of all troubles and afflictions. He thus gives them a never-failing Friend to whom they can confide all the secrets of the soul, and this leads them to praise. This obedience brings a person into harmony with God's physical, mental, and moral laws, teaching self-control, serenity, and temperance, ennobling the mind, refining the taste, and sanctifying the judgment.
Godliness and righteousness so lived do not oppose the laws of health but are in harmony with them and are the foundation of real prosperity. They directly promote health and well-being, lengthen life, heighten enjoyment of its blessings, and open a never-failing fountain of happiness, joy, and contentment. Consciousness of right-doing is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds, and a mind quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health, with health and strength resting on the receiver through God's special blessing. By contrast, the path forbidden by God leads to misery and destruction.
The question is who desires life and loves many days in order to see good, and it opens instruction on how to live. That desire is a call to learn and to live in the fear of the Lord, fulfilled through true religion and through a changed, reformed life that overcomes defects of character. The fear of the Lord so taught is an experience to possess and to claim by promise, entered by openly confessing sin and iniquity to God and receiving forgiveness with a broken heart and contrite spirit. The same way of life means keeping the tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit and guile, departing from evil and doing good, and seeking peace and pursuing it.
Trials in this life are not to be taken as God's anger but as means to be drawn near to Him in trust. The promise joined to this desire is that the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears are open to their cry, that He is near, hears, saves, and delivers them out of all troubles and afflictions. He thus gives them a never-failing Friend to whom they can confide all the secrets of the soul, and this leads them to praise. This obedience brings a person into harmony with God's physical, mental, and moral laws, teaching self-control, serenity, and temperance, ennobling the mind, refining the taste, and sanctifying the judgment.
Godliness and righteousness so lived do not oppose the laws of health but are in harmony with them and are the foundation of real prosperity. They directly promote health and well-being, lengthen life, heighten enjoyment of its blessings, and open a never-failing fountain of happiness, joy, and contentment. Consciousness of right-doing is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds, and a mind quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health, with health and strength resting on the receiver through God's special blessing. By contrast, the path forbidden by God leads to misery and destruction.