We people who are citizens of the world enjoy our comfort and ease; especially those of us who are citizens of the USA. We hardly know anything but our own comfort and ease. Even the poorest among us is far more wealthy than some of the people in what is known as “third world countries”. Where did that term ever come from anyway? “Third world country”.
God has given a promise to a certain lot of people for an ease to life through the words of the Psalmist –
“What man is he that feareth the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 25:12-13
Fear is a part of human life. What we fear, and sometimes who we fear will affect how we live. There are people who fear the unseen, the unknown, the future. Fear of these things are fruitless and can help no one except cause you pain and grief.
There is a fear that is worth while for all the human race, and that is to fear God, the LORD. It has been said by godly men down through the ages; I do not think it can be credited to any one individual; that “If a man fears God he will not, nor needs not to fear anything else”.
The Psalm above shows us a bit of that thought. The one who fears the LORD the LORD will teach him in the way he chooses. When we fear God we will choose the right way, the right things, the godly things and God will bless them.
To dwell at ease does not mean there will be no problems; but that even in the midst of our problems we will be at ease knowing it is in the hands of our Lord. The choices the righteous make, or the ones God makes in their lives will be a blessing even to their heirs.
From the Matthew Henry Commentary we read –
Him that feareth the Lord he will teach in the way that he shall choose, either in the way that God shall choose or that the good man shall choose. It comes all to one, for he that fears the Lord chooses the things that please him. If we choose the right way, he that directed our choice will direct our steps, and will lead us in it. If we choose wisely, God will give us grace to walk wisely.
2. That God will make them easy (v. 13): His soul shall dwell at ease, shall lodge in goodness, marg. Those that devote themselves to the fear of God, and give themselves to be taught of God, will be easy, if it be not their own fault. The soul that is sanctified by the grace of God, and, much more, that is comforted by the peace of God, dwells at ease. Even when the body is sick and lies in pain, yet the soul may dwell at ease in God, may return to him, and repose in him as its rest. Many things occur to make us uneasy, but there is enough in the covenant of grace to counterbalance them all and to make us easy.
3. That he will give to them and theirs as much of this world as is good for them: His seed shall inherit the earth. Next to our care concerning our souls is our care concerning our seed, and God has a blessing in store for the generation of the upright. Those that fear God shall inherit the earth, shall have a competency in it and the comfort of it, and their children shall fare the better for their prayers when they are gone.
There are many things in this world to fear. You can find them, even without looking; but if you will trust the LORD you can face those fears, by knowing that all is in His hands.
-Tim A. Blankenship