131 How long, Jehovah, wilt thou forget me for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, with sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider, answer me, O Jehovah my God! lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death; 4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him! [lest] mine adversaries be joyful when I am moved. 5 As for me, I have confided in thy loving-kindness; my heart shall be joyful in thy salvation. 6 I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath dealt bountifully with me.
141 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, they have done abominable works: there is none that doeth good. 2 Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 They have all gone aside, they are together become corrupt: there is none that doeth good, not even one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, eating up my people [as] they eat bread? They call not upon Jehovah. 5 There were they in great fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the afflicted, because Jehovah [was] his refuge. 7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.
151 Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tent? who shall dwell in the hill of thy holiness? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 [He that] slandereth not with his tongue, doeth not evil to his companion, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour; 4 In whose eyes the depraved person is contemned, and who honoureth them that fear Jehovah; who, if he have sworn to his own hurt, changeth it not; 5 [He that] putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved.
21 And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in his spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, After I have been there I must see Rome also. 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those ministering to him, Timotheus and Erastus, he remained himself awhile in Asia.
23 And there took place at that time no small disturbance about the way. 24 For a certain [man] by name Demetrius, a silver-beater, making silver temples of Artemis, brought no small gain to the artisans; 25 whom having brought together, and those who wrought in such things, he said, Men, ye know that our well-living arises from this work, 26 and ye see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great crowd, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying that they are no gods which are made with hands. 27 Now not only there is danger for us that our business come into discredit, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be counted for nothing, and that her greatness should be destroyed whom the whole of Asia and the world reveres. 28 And having heard [this], and being filled with rage, they cried out, saying, Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians. 29 And the [whole] city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord to the theatre, having seized and carried off with [them] Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travellers of Paul. 30 But Paul intending to go in to the people, the disciples suffered him not; 31 and some of the Asiarchs also, who were his friends, sent to him and urged him not to throw himself into the theatre. 32 Different persons therefore cried out some different thing; for the assembly was tumultuous, and the most did not know for what cause they had come together. 33 But from among the crowd they put forward Alexander, the Jews pushing him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand, would have made a defence to the people. 34 But, recognising that he was a Jew, there was one cry from all, shouting for about two hours, Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians. 35 And the townclerk, having quieted the crowd, said, Ephesians, what man is there then who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of Artemis the great, and of the [image] which fell down from heaven? 36 These things therefore being undeniable, it is necessary that ye should be calm and do nothing headlong. 37 For ye have brought these men, [who are] neither temple-plunderers, nor speak injuriously of your goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans who [are] with him have a matter against any one, the courts are being held, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another. 39 But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For also we are in danger to be put in accusation for sedition for this [affair] of to-day, no cause existing in reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse. 41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
(Read Acts 19:21-31)
Persons who came from afar to pay their devotions at the temple of Ephesus, bought little silver shrines, or models of the temple, to carry home with them. See how craftsmen make advantage to themselves of people's superstition, and serve their worldly ends by it. Men are jealous for that by which they get their wealth; and many set themselves against the gospel of Christ, because it calls men from all unlawful crafts, however much wealth is to be gotten by them. There are persons who will stickle for what is most grossly absurd, unreasonable, and false; as this, that those are gods which are made with hands, if it has but worldly interest on its side. The whole city was full of confusion, the common and natural effect of zeal for false religion. Zeal for the honour of Christ, and love to the brethren, encourage zealous believers to venture into danger. Friends will often be raised up among those who are strangers to true religion, but have observed the honest and consistent behaviour of Christians.
(Read Acts 19:32-41)
The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times, both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in our motions, but to take time to consider; and always to keep our passions under check. We ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent at leisure. The regular methods of the law ought always to stop popular tumults, and in well-governed nations will do so. Most people stand in awe of men's judgments more than of the judgement of God. How well it were if we would thus quiet our disorderly appetites and passions, by considering the account we must shortly give to the Judge of heaven and earth! And see how the overruling providence of God keeps the public peace, by an unaccountable power over the spirits of men. Thus the world is kept in some order, and men are held back from devouring each other. We can scarcely look around but we see men act like Demetrius and the workmen. It is as safe to contend with wild beasts as with men enraged by party zeal and disappointed covetousness, who think that all arguments are answered, when they have shown that they grow rich by the practices which are opposed. Whatever side in religious disputes, or whatever name this spirit assumes, it is worldly, and should be discountenanced by all who regard truth and piety. And let us not be dismayed; the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters; he can still the rage of the people.
