The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 247

II. HoLY EXCITEMENT. "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess· but be fillc,l with the Spirit." 'l'his verso su!!gests several thoughts. 1. Man hr1s ;n instinctive craving for excitement. 'l.'he words evidently imply this. Paul assumes that his readers must have excitement, in telling them in what they shou~d and in what they should not find it. Excitement ·is a necessity of our nature. 'l'he soul has a deep hunger for it. (1) Observation shows this. Look at society, either as it appears on the pnge of history or as it surrounds you now in all the activities of life, and you will find thnt the love of excitement explains much of all its restlessness, amusements, an,! toils. (2) Consciousness shows this. All are conscious of this impulse. Monotony and stagnation become intolerable. We crave a quicker pulse, a warmer and a fuller passion ... Yes, man has a native hunger for excitement. Hence the popularity of sensa- tional theatres, sports, books, scenes, music, sermons. 2. Man has recourse to improper expedients for excitement. "Be not drunk with wine." "Wine stimulates excitement. It quickens,tbe pulse, it heats the blood, it fires the passions. Hence men like it. 'l.'hey. use it,, uot for the sake of intoxication, but excitement. Wine-drinking is only one of many improper expedients fol" excitement. Drunkenness is here a type of what- ever improperly stimulates the senses and enkindles the lusts. (1) There' is sensualism. How many seek excitement in an inordinate gratification of mere animal propensities! (2) There is gambling. What thousands resort to the race-course, the exchange, the billiard-table,·for. excitement! (3) There is immoral literature. Luscious tales, filthy narratives, and sensational romances ;-these are eagerly sought because they make the imagination glow with impure fires. • III. SoCUL WORSHIP. "Speaking to yourselves," etc. These verses (from the nine- teenth to the twenty-first) show what is meant by being "filled with the Spirit." 1. High spiritual intercourse with man. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual·songs." • Speaking to men the highest things in the highest forms of lan- guage-poetry. High feeling always runs into poetry. 2. .Devout fellowship with Christ. "Singing nnd making melody in your heart to the Lord." 'fhe soul pouring out its devotions in sweet melodies in the Divine ear. 3. Thankful recognition of Divine favours. "Giving thanks always for all''things unto God." 4. Godly devotion to the common weal. "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." All this is implied in being "filled with the Spirit." And is there not sufficient excitement here? To be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with the Spirit's ideas; and what exciting idens are his I With the Spirit's purposes; and what inspiring purposes are his I With the Spirit's love; and what an immensity of stirring impulses is in that lovel-D. T.