Being Pious

Being Pious

This is a foreign concept as far as most believers are concerned. It almost never is found in speech or writing. And it seems as if this word does not appear is not found in English writings at all. No wonder that it is something totally unknown!

In the Norwegian Bible this word is used in more than twenty different scriptures. The words that are most like pious/piety are: noble, godly, and pure in heart.

Two scriptures express the extreme rarity of anyone being pious: “Save, Lord, for the pious man ceases.” Ps. 12:1. “The pious man has perished from the earth.” Micah 7:2.

But God be praised! They have nevertheless existed, and they still exist! “He will guard the feet of His pious ones.” 1 Sam. 2:9. In other words, there were some pious ones! “Hezekiah, and his pious deeds . . . .” 2 Chron. 32:32. “The Lord has chosen for Himself a pious man.” Ps. 4:3. “With the pious You will show Yourself pious . . . .” Ps. 18:25. So there were some people like that! “Sing praise to the Lord, you His pious ones . . . .” Ps. 30:4. Such people actually lived! “For this cause everyone who is pious shall pray to You . . . .” Ps. 32:6. There were such people! “Gather My pious ones together to Me . . . .” Ps. 50:5. As we can see, they can be found, and they will be gathered! This is the exalted work of the church of the living God even today. “Then You spoke in a vision to Your pious ones . . . .” Ps. 89:19. As we can see, there were such people on earth also in those days! “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.” Ps. 116:15. God was so in love with them because of their outstanding piety that He longed to get them back into His immediate presence! This is a powerful testimony to how precious each pious person is in God’s eyes!!! “Let Your pious ones shout for joy.” Ps. 132:9. Therefore there were some people like that on earth! “Your pious ones shall praise You . . . .” Ps. 145:10. Therefore they existed! “Sing . . . His praise in the congregation of the pious.” Ps. 149:1. Just imagine that there can be entire assemblies of pious people who, according to Psalm 50:5, are gathered together. “The pious ones shall be joyful in glory . . . .” Ps. 149:5. They exist! “This honor have all His pious ones.” Ps. 149:9. There may even be relatively many of them! “He preserves the way of His pious ones.” Prov. 2:8. He could not possibly preserve them if they did not exist! “A pious man and one who feared God . . . .” Acts 10:2.

“Preserve my soul, for I am pious . . . .” Ps. 86:2. This was a remarkable, personal testimony in the time of the old covenant. It was in the weak light that applied at that time, which was only a shadow compared to the enormously strong and glorious light with which Jesus came!

This means that the piety to which we are called now, during the time of our sojourn, is so much greater! If only we displayed the same zeal that David possessed during the dispensation of the old covenant! It requires a total effort if it is to succeed. Carefully read (for example) Psalm 119 uninterruptedly, comparing yourself to it! Then think of Paul’s zeal!

Being pious is having a noble mind, having pure thoughts in a pure heart, being quiet and meek, trusting and innocent, having small thoughts about yourself while confidently resting in God, free from all kinds of anxiety and unnecessary cares, without any demands, being genuinely content with and thankful for everything.

Put in different words, it is the sum total of all the virtues of Christ.

In the religious world the word “pious” is mostly used as a mocking word, the reason being that they do not in the least believe it is possible to be truly pious, despite all the clear words of Scripture about it. Therefore they think that it must be a hypocritical piety.

A person ends up in darkness through unbelief.