The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 168

Vel'II. 6, 7.-..4. cure for eare. The apotitle forbids harassing anxiety and enjoins prayerfulness as the sure way to pea.oe. "Be anxious for nothing." Mark- I. THE WISE COUNSEL OF THE APOSTLE. 1. This does not mean that we are not to be amcwus about duty. We ought to have a deep concern for every interest of God's kingnom. A certain measure of anxious thought is necessary to the efficient performance of every duty of life. 2. R means that we are not to be ana;ious about the results of our work or consequences generally. (1) Because God holds these in his own hands; (2) because our anxiety will not ward off the anticipated evil; (3) because the e\""il may turn out for good. 3. Over--a=iety is sinful. (1) It is the disrco-ard of a. Divine command, (2) it distrusts God's power and wislom; (3) it doubts the reality of the promise& (4) it deters from duty; (5) it spoils the temper· and comfort of work. II. Tm: REKEDY FOB OVER-L--n:IETY. "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgivin~ let your requests be made known to God." 1. The range of prayer. "In everything." This counsel is often neglected, for meu carry their great misfortunes ~r their great anxieties to God, but keep their trivial vexations to themselves. A good man has paraphrased this passage thus: " Be careful for nothing; be prayerful for everything; be thankful for anything." 2. The 'l}Q,riety of prayer. 'l'he word "prayer" here points to the frame of mind, the word" supplication" to the actual asking of blessing, the requests point to the various parts of the supplication, while the thanks- giving marks the subjective condition of acceptance. 3. The effects of prayer, (1) It tends to place everything in God's band, with a feeling that he will do all things well. The burden is cast upon the Lord. (2) It leads the praying man to look for answers to prayer in the events of Divine providence. (3) It increases devout inquisitiveness to know the Divine will as recorded in the Word. III. Tm: RESULT. "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." This beautiful text is often the subject of inde- pendent treatment, but we have no right to separate what God has joined together; and accordingly it is only when we are careful for nothing and prayerful in everything that we may expect to enter into Divine peace. 1. The nature of the peace of God. It is deep inward repose of spiritual life, and is called "the peace of God" because he com- municates and sustains it, as the result of our reconciliation with him. (1) It springs w.t of our j'UStijicati<>n. (Rom. v. 1.) (2) It arises in the soul as part of our spiritual- 1,;,ii,dednes,;. "'For t-0 be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom, viii. 6.) (3) It is tl.e abiding e:r,perience of the saints so long as they are practically consistent in their walk. "Great peace have they that love thy Law" (Ps. cxix. 165). "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee•· (Isa. xxvi. 3). (4) It is almost i,;explicab~. "It passeth all understanding." (a) It passeth the understanding of ,•:icked or worldly men; for their experience lies in a very different sphere. (b) It surpasses the understanding of godly men; for light often breaks in upon their uarkuess, in a way quite mysterious. Who can understand the peace of the dying? lJoes it not pass all understanding? 2. '17ie ejfect6 of this peace. "lt shall keep your l,earts aud minds in Christ JeSWi." Tbis does not signify that the peace ~hall keep 110,oessiou, but rather, as the word signifies, garrison or stand sentry before the heart ,,r miud, so as to prevent the intrusion of disturbing or disquieting thoughts. It is Christ hin,self who plants the garrison there. (1) In case of intellectual doubts, the r=ce will either preverd their arising at all or repel them when they arise. (2) In tl.e c:aae of the bitter rem.embrance of my past sins, thi.a peau carrks me back to the r<WT,cili.ati<,n effected by Ohrut on the crou. (3) In case of ana;ieties, fears, and e.arl.ld1J ao"Ucittl,d,es, the pt,au of God carriu a belie11er back to the point of hi, past deUwn-a,r.ou; e.nd he saya, "Thou hut been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy OU, I\', 1-23,] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 1130