The Power of a Good Life
J. Bailey, Ph. D. Psalm 40:3 And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. We are not alone in anything we do. We are connected from the cradle to the grave with many others. We have our family, and our kindred, our social friends, our business connections, our neighbours and fellow-citizens. Upon all these we exercise influence, both consciously and unconsciously. By our uprightness they are strengthened, by our courage they are cheered, by our perseverance they are confirmed in the love of right. Every person is thus a preacher to his neighbour; and the most powerful of all eloquence is the eloquence of a virtuous life. It is a testimony to the whole world that religion is not utopian. It can be practised and realized; for here it is done. When a parent adds to the gentle precepts of true religion delivered to his children, the practice of a just, a patient, loving life, he preaches to his household in golden words. When a Christian tradesman shows a spirit of honour and rectitude in his dealings, a desire to afford full justice to his customer, as well as to himself, he preaches with the utmost force the sermon, "Go thou and do likewise." The best sermon any one can preach on patience is actual calmness under provocation. The preaching of truly good lives is what the world now most needs. It is the one sweet note having the power to reduce to harmony all the discords of mankind. (J. Bailey, Ph. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. WEB: He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.