12. Preparation for Hard Times (6), Psalm 119:121-144

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Hymns: RHC 246 Open My Eyes, That I May See, 324 Simply Trusting, 326 Like a River Glorious

Preparation for Hard Times (6)

Psalm 119:121-144 (KJV)

 121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

 129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.




OUTLINE

I. 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)

 

II. 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)

 

III. Blessedness of
growing in the LORD (v97–144)

  • Growing to love His Word (v97–104)
  • Growing to rejoice in His Word (v105–112)
  • Growing to hope in His Word (v113–120)
  • Growing to highly esteem His Word (v121–128)
  • Growing to order my steps in His Word (v129–136)
  • Growing to delight in His Word (v137–144)

 

Continuing…

 

(4) Growing to Highly Esteem His Word (v121-128)

121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. 122 Be surety (pledge) for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

 Observe the progression of thought in the text highlighted in bold above. Notice the psalmist’s resolve to walk with God.

The psalmist says, “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold … Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right …” He experiences the trustworthiness of God’s Word. God means what He says and has the power to bring His promises to pass. With confidence that comes from experience, the psalmist declares that there shall not fail one word of His promises but that all shall be fulfilled.

He testifies that he has obeyed God’s Word (v121) and he is being persecuted. The oppression is so great that he cries out to God for salvation and mercy. Will God not show mercy to His people who cry out to him in agony? Certainly, He will. He will not fail to show mercy. His mercy never fails. This is one aspect of God’s character that the psalmist appeals to in his prayer.

Unless the LORD intervenes, his situation is really precarious. “It is time for thee, LORD, to work,” he says. His reason for God’s intervention is that God’s law has been trampled upon and made void by ungodly men. Will God not defend His own name? He certainly will and He certainly has. That is why the psalmist is able, with conviction, to esteem highly His Word because it does not fail.

Indeed, He will. When Elijah was in battle with 450 Baal prophets, God sent fire from heaven to prove the presence and power of the living and true God. God was with Elijah.

(5) Growing to Order My Steps in His Word (v129-136)

129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look (turn, Imper.) thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order (establish) my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver (redeem, purchase, ransom) me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

 “Order my steps in thy word” (v133) is the heart cry of the psalmist. This is the only way. He cannot help crying, testifying, as “rivers of waters run down mine eyes”. His heart is heavy, filled as it is with grievances and hurt from the hard knocks received in a fallen world. How can these evil-doers get away disobeying God’s laws? Will they really get away? We know that the oppressors will not get away because God sees and He knows.

Exodus 2:23-25 describes the frustration of God’s people oppressed in Egypt by Pharaoh. They cried out to God and God heard their agony and God had respect unto them. In their affliction, they drew nearer to God in prayer. Did God answer their prayer? He certainly did! He had been working out His plan for their salvation for 80 years now. Moses, born 80 years ago, had been providentially cared for and nurtured by God in Pharaoh’s palace for 40 years and in the Sinai wilderness for another 40 years. God was now ready to deliver His people. God would call Moses immediately after this in Exodus 3.

What a tremendous lesson they learnt on the efficacy of prayer. God is trustworthy to answer every prayer of His children. Though they might not have seen God’s good hand answering their prayer immediately, they learnt by experience that indeed God is living, real and very actively concerned to help His people. Surely, they will persevere in trusting and ordering their steps according to His Word.

Faith is the victory. The psalmist learned in those trying moments to keep faith and trusted God.

(6) Growing to Delight in His Word (v137-144)

137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

“Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights” (v143). Many a man has found that during times of severe testing, even his best helpers can fail him. However, when we are at our wits’ end, that is also when we learn the reality that God is very faithful (v138). When we cling to Him, He never fails us. When we bring our petitions to Him in prayer, He does not fail to answer each and every cry uttered. We can truly delight in God’s promises. All else may fail and we may be backed into a corner to test God’s veracity, but He never fails to prove Himself true.

Therefore, the psalmist testifies that he loves and delights in God’s Word because it sustains and nourishes his troubled soul. Is this your experience?

…To be continued