J. N. Darby

67 But there is another principle brought out here - what the walk is in which this blessing is found; v. 7-10. We have fearing the Lord, trusting the Lord, and seeking the Lord. Verses 11-16 take up what the character of this fear of the Lord is, in a passage most of which is quoted by Peter only. The end of verse 16 is left out as inapplicable now, though the general fact of government for the Christian is not. It is important that we should remember this. Not only is it true that God is not mocked - that what a man sows he will reap - that God has governmentally attached certain consequences to certain conduct; but He also watches over and directly governs His children - may cause them to be sick, to die; may deliver them from it, on confession or intercession. "The eyes of Jehovah are upon the righteous, his ears open to their cry." Not only that, but "nigh to them that are of broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Then there is a path marked out by God as the path of peace in a world like this; not simply in itself the path of spiritual power, but of quietness and peace in this world, going peaceably through it under God's eye. And that is very precious for us. Grace is a means of doing it, as the heart is elsewhere than in idleness and passion. The feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. As far as in us lies, we live peaceably with all men. This is true even of unconverted men. Those who walk in this way in general see good days, because such is the consequence of the public government of God. It becomes the Christian so to do, but others may do it. This government of God is always true, as we see in Job; only the saint should understand it.