======================================================================== MY HEART WAS HOT WITHIN ME, WHILE I WAS MUSING THE FIRE BURNED by John Calvin ======================================================================== Summary: The more we strive to obey God and exercise patience, the more vigorously we are assailed by temptation. Topics: "Spiritual Warfare", "Inner Struggle" Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Ephesians 6:12, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Calvin preaches on the intense internal struggle depicted in Psalms 39:3, where the psalmist's heart burns within him while contemplating. He highlights the correlation between striving to obey God and facing increased temptation from Satan, emphasizing that the fiercest battles are reserved for those dedicated to God. Calvin encourages believers to draw strength from David's example, reminding them not to succumb to despair when faced with intense emotions and opposition from the flesh while seeking to devote themselves to God. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, --Psalm 39:3 Devotional: "My heart became hot within me." He now illustrates the greatness of his grief by the introduction of a simile, telling us that his sorrow, being internally suppressed, became so much the more inflamed, until the ardent passion of his soul continued to increase in strength. From this we may learn the very profitable lesson that the more strenuously anyone sets himself to obey God, and employs all his endeavors to attain the exercise of patience, the more vigorously he is assailed by temptation; for Satan, while he is not so troublesome to the indifferent and careless, and seldom looks near them, displays all his forces in hostile array against that individual. If, therefore, at any time we feel ardent emotions struggling and raising a commotion in our breasts, we should call to remembrance this conflict of David, that our courage may not fail us, or at least that our infirmity may not drive us headlong to despair. If the godly who desire to lift up their hearts to God would resign themselves to the vain imaginations which arise in their minds, they might enjoy a sort of unrestrained liberty to indulge in every fancy; but because they endeavor to resist their influence, and seek to devote themselves to God, obstructions which arise from the opposition of the flesh begin to trouble them. Whenever, therefore, the flesh shall put forth its efforts, and shall kindle a fire in our hearts, let us know that we are exercised with the same kind of temptation which occasioned so much pain and trouble to David. --Commentaries ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/john-calvin/my-heart-was-hot-within-me-while-i-was-musing-the-fire-burned/ ========================================================================