13. Spiritual Preparation for Hard Times (7), Psalm 119:145-176

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Hymns: RHC 358 What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 104 All That Thrills My Soul 106 Christ Liveth In Me

 

Spiritual Preparation for Hard Times (7)

Psalm 119:145-176 (KJV)

 145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 166 LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.




OUTLINE

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

  • Cleansing power of God’s Word(v9–16)
  • Counselling power of God’s Word (v17–24)
  • Strengthening power of God’s Word (v25–32)
  • 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)

IV. Blessedness of
trusting in the LORD (v145–176)

  • With unfeigned hope (v145–152)
  • With renewed love (v153–160)
  • With abiding peace (v161–168)
  • With unceasing praise (v169–176)

 

 Continuing…

 

IV. Blessedness of
trusting in the LORD (v145–176)

 

INTRODUCTION

The fruitfulness of a life with God is the concluding thoughts of our study. Although the psalmist tells us of the endless troubles that have befallen him, he is able to testify that out of them all, the LORD has delivered him. Out of all our trials and tribulations, the LORD will also deliver us when we trust Him and follow Him, come what may. Just as the psalmist has that deep conviction in his heart that he will yet again triumph with God, we too must bear the same testimony for God never fails and He never will. Throughout his adversities, the psalmist testifies of the unfeigned hope that is in his heart, the renewed love that invigorates him, the abiding peace that settles his heart and the unceasing praise which is the rejoicing of his heart. This is the portrait of the godly man, the man who walks with God. May this be your testimony too.

 

  • With unfeigned hope (v145–152)

145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented (go before) the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

 

“I hoped in thy word” (v147) is the psalmist’s testimony. He waits for God to act. He does not go before God but is willing to tarry with Him. Similarly, though this life may be full of griefs and pain, Christians can rest assured the power to overcome and live victoriously comes from Him.

His “lovingkindness” sustains us. The psalmist tells us how he pours out his heart in tears to the LORD. He lets us in on that intimate relationship he has with God — a bond so lovingly cultivated and nurtured that it gives him hope in moments of deepest despair.

 

Joseph Scriven 1819-1886

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear,

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer.

 

We too can have this experienced faith that the psalmist attests to.

 

  • With Renewed Love (v153-161)

153 Consider (see) mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld (see) the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider (see) how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning (head): and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.


“Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law” (v153). Can you say that in times of deepest pain? When you cannot understand the mystery of God’s providence, when everything seems to go wrong in your own assessment? “Consider how I love thy precepts …”

In times of distress, he renews that love and it sustains and prospers him. This love is a fruit that the Spirit manifests in our lives when we put away sin and put on Christ. It has a sanctifying influence on those around us who see how God sustains and keeps us in the face of adversity.

 

  • With abiding peace (v161–168)

162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 166 LORD, I have hoped (wait) for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

 

“Great peace have they which love thy law” (v165). This is a tremendous testimony that the psalmist is imparting to us. When we love God’s law and seek to walk by it, great peace and joy come into our heart. This peace in a man’s soul is priceless and most precious.

The psalmist serves God by obeying His Word. And this he declares is most satisfying — great peace and rejoicing fill his heart.

 Two Pictures

Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; at the fork of a branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, a robin sat on its nest. The first was only Stagnation; the last was Rest. For in rest there are two elements—tranquillity and energy; silence and turbulence; creation and destruction; fearfulness and fearlessness. — Drummond[1]

 
(4) With Unceasing Praise (v169–176)


169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter (pour out) praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray (wandered) like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

 Finally, after all is said, life’s problems have not departed from the psalmist. He is still crying because of his afflictions. But even in these times of agony, he can still praise God. He acknowledges how by his own strength, he still goes astray. And his prayer is that God Himself will keep him by His grace. Indeed He will and we rest in that assurance as well.

 

CONCLUSION

Dearly beloved, may God grant you unfeigned hope, renewed love, abiding peace and unceasing praise as you consecrate your life and surrender it for His use all the days of your life. Amen.

 

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