But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
The Lord has set apart him that is godly for Himself, claiming the godly as His own. The Lord will hear when the godly call to Him. This setting apart means consecration to God and separation from the world.
The Lord Himself placed a dividing wall between the things of the world and those He has chosen out of the world, sanctified for Himself, and established on earth. This consecration and separation is commanded in both the Old and New Testaments, is what God has always required and will always require, and is what He loves. It gives God's people a peculiar and distinctive calling, character, and prospects that distinguish them from all other people, and they form one body under one Head from beginning to end of time, so the same call to separation that rested on ancient Israel rests on Christians now. It divides the holy from the profane, leaving no concord between Christ and Belial and none between the profane and the holy.
Safety is found only in being joined to Christ, so His people can afford to lose the friendship of worldly people rather than forfeit God's favor and blessing by joining them in unsanctified purposes, and they are to serve Him because Christ has called them out of the world and sanctified and refined them for His service as the One to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given. A godly life does not conform to worldly customs in order to influence or impress unbelievers, since breaking down the separation in teaching and practice destroys saving influence, while coming out and standing apart and above the world in character to represent Christ gives power to show a holy and better life.
The verse belongs to the experience of the sons and daughters of God who receive and believe in Christ as Redeemer, in which the godly one calls for mercy in distress, stands in awe and does not sin, communes with his own heart and is still, offers right sacrifices and trusts in the Lord, seeks the light of the Lord's face, receives gladness of heart greater than abundance of grain and wine, and lies down in peace and sleep because the Lord alone makes him dwell in safety. The verse is precious, unchangeable truth for all to consider and to repeat with pen and voice and express in heart, mind, soul, and voice instead of dwelling on minor matters, and it meets the need and relieves unbelief and perplexity caused by controversy over trifles and nothingness. The truth of the verse will be made plain when Christ comes in glory with all the holy angels, when all people will be convinced that God has set apart the godly for Himself.
The Lord has set apart him that is godly for Himself, claiming the godly as His own. The Lord will hear when the godly call to Him. This setting apart means consecration to God and separation from the world.
The Lord Himself placed a dividing wall between the things of the world and those He has chosen out of the world, sanctified for Himself, and established on earth. This consecration and separation is commanded in both the Old and New Testaments, is what God has always required and will always require, and is what He loves. It gives God's people a peculiar and distinctive calling, character, and prospects that distinguish them from all other people, and they form one body under one Head from beginning to end of time, so the same call to separation that rested on ancient Israel rests on Christians now. It divides the holy from the profane, leaving no concord between Christ and Belial and none between the profane and the holy.
Safety is found only in being joined to Christ, so His people can afford to lose the friendship of worldly people rather than forfeit God's favor and blessing by joining them in unsanctified purposes, and they are to serve Him because Christ has called them out of the world and sanctified and refined them for His service as the One to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given. A godly life does not conform to worldly customs in order to influence or impress unbelievers, since breaking down the separation in teaching and practice destroys saving influence, while coming out and standing apart and above the world in character to represent Christ gives power to show a holy and better life.
The verse belongs to the experience of the sons and daughters of God who receive and believe in Christ as Redeemer, in which the godly one calls for mercy in distress, stands in awe and does not sin, communes with his own heart and is still, offers right sacrifices and trusts in the Lord, seeks the light of the Lord's face, receives gladness of heart greater than abundance of grain and wine, and lies down in peace and sleep because the Lord alone makes him dwell in safety. The verse is precious, unchangeable truth for all to consider and to repeat with pen and voice and express in heart, mind, soul, and voice instead of dwelling on minor matters, and it meets the need and relieves unbelief and perplexity caused by controversy over trifles and nothingness. The truth of the verse will be made plain when Christ comes in glory with all the holy angels, when all people will be convinced that God has set apart the godly for Himself.