Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

The psalmist in psalm 1:1 pronounced the man who abhors that which is evil as a blessed man. He says “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1)

The first are ungodly, as to their mind, the second are sinners, who not only think, but carry out the workings of their evil mind. The third are scorners glorying in their wickedness and scoffing at righteousness. The first continue in that mind of taking evil counsel, the second carry it out, as the principle of their walk and the third settle down in their evil, as on a seat.

The Apostle Paul speaks now of inter-personal relations among believers and with non-Christians that it is to be characterised by sincere love one for another. “Without dissimulation” means sincerely, genuinely, without hypocrisy. It must not be affected, pretentious like a stage actor wearing a mask. The Christian is to do good and hate evil.

Jesus teaches us the blessing of showing mercy to others in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” The merciful are compassionate, benevolently merciful involving thought and action. And those who obtain mercy are those who are freed from deserved punishment. It is the outworking of God’s love in one’s heart.

Solomon’s words in Proverbs 27:23 is a good paraphrase of our text, “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Charles Bridges said well, “This declareth the great goodness of God towards man, and the diligence that he requireth of him for the preservaion of his gifts. It is a lively picture of the occupations, advantages, and responsibilities of rural life in olden days. It is specially appropriate to a nation, whose chief riches were in its early origin, in pastures and flocks. Their father Jacob admirably exemplified this rule. He knew well the state of his flocks and herds. Even King David, mindful of his ancient employ, deemed a pastoral charge no degradation to his royal dignity. The rule inculcates personal attention… God is glorified by a single eye and purpose in every station; by the labourer, the farmer, the servant is no less than his master. (Col. 3:22-24). We must “serve the Lord in fervency of spirit”.”

The word “simplicity” is a moral trait describing purity of motive. It is an openness and sincerity in sharing with others. It means “generosity, liberality”. The infant church in Jerusalem after Pentecost demonstrated such a spirit – Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”

The word “exhort” in the original comes from a preposition which means “to come alongside” and the verb “to call”. Placed together, the word literally means “to call someone to come alongside”. It means “to comfort” or “to help”. Plumer observed well, “Exhortation, cognate to the verb “beseech in”. It is a very general term and embraces almost every variety of comfort, of encouragement and urgency to duty. This is a great gift.” It involves comforting someone who is suffering from some affliction physically, emotionally or spiritually. It involves helping someone who is in some trouble with words of comfort, encouragement, and advice through prayer and God’s Word. It strengthens the faith of the recipient.

If one is a teacher, let him exercise his gift in teaching, be actively instructing. The word “teaching” is rendered “doctrine”[Plumer]. The source of instruction is God’s Word, the Bible. It is from the Bible that the teacher derives his teaching. He exercises faith in believing God’s Word and hence finds his theology or doctrine which in turn determines his practice.