10. Preparation for Hard Times (4), Psalm 119:65-96

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Hymns: RHC 247 Cleanse Me, 78 At Even, When the Sun Was Set, 106 Christ Liveth In Me

Preparation for Hard Times (4)

Psalm 119:65-96 (KJV)

 65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

 

OUTLINE

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

(1) Cleansing power of God’s Word(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)

 

Continuing…

 

  • The LORD Chastens (v65-72)

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

The psalmist testifies that before he was afflicted he went astray but now he keeps His Word. It was through his affliction that he learnt to hold in high regard God’s laws. Though he was sorely chastened of God, he saw the good hand of God teaching him by experience how falling outside the boundary of His laws incurs His wrath.

Afflictions can come to us because of sin. They can also come to us as a test of faith. Let us not buckle under the weight of our afflictions but continue to have faith and do good — “for I have believed thy commandments” (v66).

Hebrews 12:5-11 (KJV) 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

 

  • LORD Moulds (v73-80)

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

 

Whom the LORD loves, He chastens and scourges every son whom He loves. Every branch that bears fruit, He purges anew so that it may bear forth more fruit. Acknowledging God’s hand in his life, the psalmist says, “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me” (v73), and therefore “thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” (v75).

The polishing of the rough edges will bring forth the gem that is in us — the image of the living God. Remember we are made in the image of God.

The psalmist speaks of the merciful kindness and tender mercies of God. What are these? They are a combination of the faithfulness and kindness of God to bring good to His people.

They comfort the psalmist’s heart as he undergoes the rigours of trials that come upon him, and they enable him to press on and live and not falter under the weight of the trouble that befalls him.

 

Four Stages Of Christian Life

I saw at Braemar, near the Queen’s castle at Balmoral, four emblems: A tree by the water, lilies of the valley, a vine in process of pruning, and waving palms. The four together represent the four stages of Christian life. First, growing through the truth; second, blossoming into beauty; third, undergoing chastisement; and fourth, joyful, final triumph.[1]

 

  • The LORD Helps (v81-88)

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

 

The psalmist is in a very trying situation. He finds his soul fainting for salvation (v81) for, humanly speaking, there seems no help in sight. “Mine eyes fail for thy word.” He cannot see how God’s promise can be fulfilled under these circumstances. And he pleads to God to ease the pressure in his heart.

Notice the emphasis of the words that appears as the first letter from the same Hebrew alphabet heighted above, “faitheth” (v81), “fail”, “For”, “How many”, “digged”, “All”, “almost”, “after”. It described a desperate scenario where the psalmist kept faith despite the persecutions he received.

 “The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law” (v85). He cries foul, but who can help? But with God, all things are possible. It has always been his experience that hoping in God never fails. Hence, he is willing to wait upon Him, tarrying with God in prayer. Yes, “men ought always to pray and not to faint”. If the unjust judge can grant relief to the importunate woman, desperate and at her wits’ end, will not our heavenly Father do likewise? Indeed, He will help us speedily (Luke 18:1–8).

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought (a necessity of law and command, of duty) always to pray, and not to faint.

And He spoke also a parable to them, the King James translator correctly translated in the italics “to this end” to show purpose. Jesus speaks this parable “to this end”, to this purpose, “that” He is speaking to encourage, exhort, give confidence in the heart that “believers must always pray and not faint”.

The literal translation can be “it is necessary always to pray and not to faint”. The word “ought” is used to carry the sense of necessity of duty or command”. Notice also this word for “pray” always refers to “prayer to God” in the NT. The disciples are to pray under all types of necessity.

The key word is the adverb “always” – it connotes “time”, it means “at all times”, it speaks of constancy in prayer, a consistent prayer life.

“To faint” is to lose heart, to let despondency take over, become discouraged, give up, grow weary, to despair, to be demoralized, to lose one’s motivation, to stop praying. It is necessary to pray in all circumstances especially in the afflictions and hardships of life. This we see illustrated in the parable. Who do you think is more important in the parable, the widow, the judge or the adversary? Let this thought be in your mind as we study this parable.

This widow we can see is in great distress and in her helpless estate, being sorely pursued by her adversary, enemy or tormentor. She sought the help of this judge. She seemed to have only one avenue for recourse – to appeal to this wicked or unjust judge, an almost impossible task. What did she say to the judge? “Avenge me of my adversary” This word “avenge” means to do justice, to vindicate, protecting one from another or taking just “vengeance”. It is in the imperative, a command. It involves the attempt of the widow to exert the force of her will upon the will of the unjust judge.

The judge’s continued refusal in response to her continual asking. Here we want to pause to consider this widow’s situation that caused her to be so persistent. She was at her wits end. There is no other way that she would think of that has the power/influence to right the wrong that she has suffered and continue to suffer. It is so unbearable, she was desperate. The emphasis is not that one need to pester God until He reluctantly responds but that He will vindicate His misunderstood and suffering people. The encouragement is therefore, under any circumstances, we should never give up but continue to trust the Lord, keep on praying.

 The thrust of the parable is that she did not give up and her perseverance worked! The judge agrees to help not because he cares to do justice but for the sake of his own peace of mind. Our God is different. He knows, He sees, He understands, He cares. Do you realize that?

 We have a God who will certainly help His people. Let us be willing to call and wait upon Him.

 

  • The LORD Upholds (v89-96)

89 (To) For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never (To) forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine (to you), save me; for I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

“Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (v92). The promises of God’s Word sustain him. He is convinced that God’s Word cannot be broken because it is forever settled in heaven by the power of the Almighty God.

Therefore, he pleads, I am thine, save me! He is convinced that nothing will go wrong with him if he allows God’s Word to order his life. As he compares God’s wisdom with the world’s wisdom, the latter is found lacking. God’s wisdom on the other hand is very deep and it is the manifestation of our perfect God (v96).

 Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

Hudson Can Only Trust

Few people have meant as much to the kingdom of God as did missionary Hudson Taylor. Founder of the China Inland Mission in 1865, Taylor first went to China in 1853.

When Hudson Taylor was in the closing months of his life, he was so weak he could do very little. To a friend he wrote: “I am so weak I cannot work; I cannot read my Bible; I cannot even pray. I can only lie still in God’s arms like a little child, and trust.”[2]

 

CONCLUSION

May God’s Word strengthen His people as they go through life with Him. Amen.

 

[1] Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

[2] Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.