Stand in Awe, and Sin Not: Commune With Your Own Heart Upon Your Bed
The sermon emphasizes the importance of communing with one's own heart in solitude, examining oneself honestly, and abstaining from sin by being angry with oneself rather than others.
John Calvin preaches on the importance of self-reflection and solitude in order to examine one's own faults and sins truthfully and honestly. He emphasizes the need to withdraw from external distractions and influences to commune with one's own heart, away from the deception of empty applause and public judgment. Calvin highlights the wisdom in being angry with oneself to abstain from sin, rather than directing anger towards others, as a means of self-correction and growth.
Text
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. --Psalm 4:4
To commune upon one's bed is a form of expression taken from the common practice and experience of men. We know that, during our intercourse with men in the daytime, our thoughts are distracted, and we often judge rashly, being deceived by the external appearance; whereas in solitude, we can give to any subject a closer attention; and, farther, the sense of shame does not then hinder a man from thinking without disguise about his own faults.
David, therefore, exhorts his enemies to withdraw from those who witnessed and judged of their actions on the public stage of life, and to be alone, that they may examine themselves more truthfully and honestly. And this exhortation has a respect to us all; for there is nothing to which men are more prone than to deceive one another with empty applause, until each man enter into himself, and commune alone with his own heart.
Paul, when quoting this passage in Ephesians 4:26, or, at least, when alluding to the sentiment of David, follows the Septuagint, "Be ye angry and sin not." And yet he has skillfully and beautifully applied it to his purpose.
He there teaches us that men, instead of wickedly pouring forth their anger against their neighbors, have rather just cause to be angry with themselves, in order that, by this means, they may abstain from sin. And therefore he commands them rather to fret inwardly and be angry with themselves; and then to be angry not so much at the persons, as at the vices of others. --Commentaries
Sermon Outline
- The Practice of Communing with One's Own Heart
- David's Exhortation to Withdraw and Examine Oneself
- Paul's Application of David's Exhortation
- The need for solitude in examining oneself
- The dangers of judging rashly in public
- The tendency to deceive others with empty applause
- The importance of examining oneself honestly
- The need to be angry with oneself, not others
- The importance of abstaining from sin
Key Quotes
“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.” — John Calvin
“There is nothing to which men are more prone than to deceive one another with empty applause, until each man enter into himself, and commune alone with his own heart.” — John Calvin
Application Points
- We should withdraw from public life and examine ourselves honestly to avoid deceiving others with empty applause.
- We should focus on our own vices rather than those of others, and be angry with ourselves to abstain from sin.
- Solitude is essential for self-reflection and honest examination of oneself.