9. Preparation for Hard Times (3), Psalm 119:41-64

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Preparation for Hard Times (3)

Hymns: RHC 358 What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 96 He Keeps Me Singing, 367 There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

 

Preparation for Hard Times (3)

Psalm 119:41-64 (KJV) 

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

 

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 119 describes the key to victorious life in the midst of trials and afflictions. This is an acrostic psalm with each of the 22 sections of 8 verses beginning with succeeding letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

The psalmist tells us of the blessedness of embracing God’s Word because God’s Word cleanses, counsels, strengthens, establishes God’s people.

  1. Blessedness of
embracing God’s Word (v1–40)

(1) CleansingpowerofGod’sWord(v9–16)

(2) Counselling power of God’s Word (v17–24)

(3) Strengthening power of God’s Word (v25–32)

(4) Establishing power of God’s Word (v33–40)

  1. Blessedness of
walking with God (v41–96)
  • The LORD delivers (v41–48)
  • The LORD comforts(v49–56)
  • The LORD loves (v57–64)
  • The LORD chastens (v65–72)
  • The LORD moulds (v73–80)
  • The LORD helps (v81–88)
  • The LORD upholds (v89–96)

 

  • The LORD delivers (v41-48)

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk (myself) at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

 The psalmist speaks of persecutions that he experiences as a result of trusting in God’s Word (v42). He has been reproached for his faith in God, for his obedience in walking according to the Scriptures. Nevertheless, he remains steadfast in the freedom or the broadness of God’s laws. He does not feel that God’s law is restrictive. On the contrary, he sees the space in God’s law wherein he can walk. He enjoys the blessing of its protection and safety. And he is committed to keep it continually for his blessing. Because of his good experiences in the trustworthiness of God’s Word, he is emboldened to testify even before mighty men, that they too may be humbled to worship the Almighty God who made them.

He seeks to walk in the precepts, or instructions of God — it expresses the idea that God pays attention to how He wants things ordered, and the psalmist devotes himself to following His will carefully.

When we proclaim the Lord’s coming again to judge the world, it is a sobering truth for us to live a holy life. For the unbelieving, it is a fearful awaiting of judgment.

2 Peter 3:3-13 (KJV) 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

  • The LORD Comforts (v49-56)

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

In the deepest afflictions, the psalmist receives hope and comfort from God’s promises. God’s Word keeps his soul alive.

Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me … Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” When we commit our troubles to our heavenly Father in prayer, we receive from Him peace and faith that remove all our fears.

Such comfort encourages us to go on trusting Him amidst dark circumstances, even horror (v53), that we cannot understand. The psalmist speaks with the hindsight of an experienced faith, a tested faith to encourage us that even when everything seems to be at its bleakest, the believer can, like the psalmist, continue to hope in God.

He relates how the songs of God’s promises accompanied him through his darkest nights. They were effectual to comfort his aching heart.

Only Jesus, only Jesus

Only He can satisfy

All my burdens are turned to blessings

When I know my Lord is nigh.

Life brings to us its challenges. But the challenges of life for the unbeliever can be bouts and bouts of despairing frustration to find that elusive meaning and bearing and sense to life. And there is a crossover point when God intervenes in that life to save that soul. Life takes a turn for the better when Jesus is received into his or her life, and the new believer learns to praise God from whom blessings flow. He or she learns to worship God and that connection with the living and true God brings great comfort to the soul – peace and joy freely flow in that soul.

There is oftentimes a human agent, a human instrument that God will use to effect that change in that person’s life. This is the witness of the Christian in an unchristian world. God uses the Christian as a means by which God’s power is manifested for the salvation of souls. But the human instrument that God will use must be strong to bear that burden for the sake of the lost soul.

You will find that God prepares His people to be His witnesses as He molds us and endows us with spiritual strength and wisdom to be a channel of blessing for His Name sake. What great privilege, what grave responsibility, what guarantee of eternal rewards when our Lord returns to reward His servants. Meanwhile, while God has work for us on earth, He preserves us for His own purpose to be instruments of righteousness to a depressed, despairing and often desperate world.

Life is lived with greater purpose and perspective. It is not just the mundane work of finding a good job, earning enough to be comfortable, finding a spouse and settle down and rear a family. All these are done with an eternal perspective.

We are on the story of how God establish His witnesses on earth through the establishment of local churches all over the world when men are converted.

  • The LORD loves (v57-64)

57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

God’s mercy is the outworking of God’s love. That the most undeserving of sinners can receive God’s mercy of peace and joy and have his sins forgiven is the psalmist’s testimony. Thus, with heartfelt gratitude, he exclaims, “The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy …” (v64)

It is God’s love that causes Him to reach out to us. It is our fear of God that turns us around. This fear comes into the sinner’s heart causing him to mourn in repentance for his sins. How marvellous is the power of God to melt every hardened heart! The psalmist knows how fearful it is to fall into the wrath of the living God. This thought causes him to draw near to God to entreat His favour.

You recall the experience of Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi? God saved an entire family through their imprisonment. A witness began in the city of Philippi. God fulfils His will in the lives of His people yielded to Him!

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

CONCLUSION

May God’s Word be the mainstay in the lives of His people. Amen.