Exposition
of Psalm 119
ר
RESH
God’s Word Heals Affliction
Psalm 119:153-160
Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
As one commentator writes, “We find the singer once more tuning his harp to a minor key.”[1] His enemies are still there, still pressing upon him. Thankfully, however, as another writer puts it, “The disciple’s three cycles of cries for deliverance in verses 153-160 progressively subside in the presence of the comforting attributes and assurances of God and His Word.”[2] We see in these verses, therefore, the psalmist’s evaluation, his enemies, and his endurance.
Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
Most of us try to look at the situations that arise in our lives and try to evaluate them and decide on the best course of action. The Psalmist did that here, but he also did this with a “Biblio-centric” method. By keeping Scripture at the center of his evaluation, he then examines his situation, solution, and salvation.
Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
The Hebrew behind consider (rā’â) carries the simple, literal sense of to see with the eyes, but it has a wide range of metaphorical meaning, including: examine, perceive, feel, understand, learn, discover, and gain understanding. David has obviously examined his situation but he then prays that God will do the same and deliver him from it.
That is, indeed, the first step, realizing that we cannot do it ourselves. While we might think we have weighed all the factors and considered all the answers, only God is omniscient and sovereign, and we must turn all matters over to Him. Further, we must not forget His Law; we must submit to His revealed will, a truth that leads us to a second principle.
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
David recognized God’s three-fold solution to his situation.
First, he prayed plead my cause. Plead is an interesting word in the original (rîb). While its primary meaning is striving physically in combat (Ex. 21:18; Judg. 11:25), it also speaks of conducting a lawsuit or legal case. Our legal system, in fact, is often referred to as an “adversarial process.” David used this word in precisely this way in reference to his conflict with Saul and Saul’s pursuit of him: “The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand” (I Sam. 24:15; emphasis added). He uses it again in Psalm 35:1: “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me” (emphasis added). David says, in effect, using legal phrasing heard today, “Lord, please take my case. No one else will defend me. No one else will even touch the case.”
Here is a clear Old Testament illustration of a New Testament truth. The wonderful Greek word paraklētos appears five times, all in John’s writing. Four of its appearances refer to the Holy Spirit as our “Comforter” (John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7–8), and the final one refers to the Lord Jesus as our “Advocate” (I Jn. 2:1). The prefix para means “alongside of” and is used in such English words as parallel (lines that are alongside one another). The root klētos (from kalēo, “to call”) speaks of “one who is called.” In Classical Greek, paraklētos literally means “one who is called alongside to aid” and was originally used in the court of justice to show legal assistance. Our English word paraclete carries much the same idea. The Comforter pleads our case inwardly on earth by teaching (Jn. 14:26), empowering (15:26-27), and convicting (16:7-8). The Advocate pleads our case outwardly in heaven by declaring that He died for those acts of sin that we still commit.
Second, David prayed deliver me. Deliver is another fascinating word in the Hebrew. Back in verse 134, David writes, “Deliver me from the oppression of man,” but he uses a different word. While the Hebrew there (pādâ) speaks of redeeming something by paying a ransom, the word he uses here (gā’al) is more specific in speaking of redeeming a kinsman from difficulty or danger. It’s interesting that while the first word is used for the redeeming of the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage (Ex. 13:15), the word here is used of Boaz as the kinsman-redeemer in the book of Ruth (3:12-13; cf. “levirite marriage” in Deut. 25:5-10), a wonderful picture of Savior Who is to come. Christ is, indeed, our Kinsman-redeemer, coming to our aid, paying our debts, and supplying our needs. David knew he could not do it himself, and we must be reminded of that often.
Third, David prayed quicken me. As we have noted several times quicken (hāyâ) means to live, be alive, to sustain life, and reviving someone, as in reviving them from sickness or discouragement. As in verse 25, it is that latter idea that is in view in David’s prayer. Only God can revive us from despair. It will not come from a psychological trick, philosophical cliché, or clever anecdote. It will come only from God’s word working in our heart and mind.
Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
What is the irrefutable proof that salvation is far from the wicked? It is that they seek not [God’s] statutes. There is nothing, in fact, that is more conclusive in proving true or false conversion than whether or not one obeys God’s Word. Our Lord Himself made this glaring clear:
If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me (Jn. 14:15, 23-24).
Because of his own passion for the Savior and evidence for true conversion, the Apostle John picked up on this and not only recorded those statements in his Gospel record, but under inspiration wrote his own in his first epistle:
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (I Jn. 2:3-6).
There are countless people walking around today who claim to be “Christian,” but they no more obey the Word of God than a thief obeys laws about burglary. Certainly, there are many who do not know the Word of God (usually because preachers aren’t telling them), but the numbers are increasing of those who when they hear the Word do not obey. The plethora of “mega-churches” today prove that observation. Such willful and continuous disobedience, a lack of any intention or desire to obey God’s Word, indicates a lost condition. We are not judging anyone’s salvation here. We are merely pointing out what Scripture says: anyone who does not obey God’s Word is simply not a believer.
David understood that truth implicitly. He knew his salvation was in God’s judgments, that it was God’s tender mercies that [quickened him]. In trouble, therefore, that was his only place of refuge.
Dear Christian Friend, do you evaluate the difficulties of life as David did? Do you look at the situation and realize that the only solution is God’s salvation?
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
We see two attitudes in these verses.
Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
Most of us have at one time or another been in a big crowd, perhaps at a ball game, concert, or other such event. We can recall that when the event ended, we were caught up in the mass exodus, like a single drop of water in a fast moving river, only this is a river of people. All is well if we “go with the flow,” but what happens when we realize we left a jacket behind and try to go back and retrieve it? Going against the flow is a very different matter; every step is a struggle.
What many Christians fail to realize, or just do not want to recognize, is that the true Christian life is such a struggle. This is something that has for the most part been lost in Christianity today. Most Christians do not seem to stand for much of anything. While Jesus clearly told us that we would often stand alone, most of us rarely, if ever, do so. He Himself died alone, as many other have through the ages. Most people today, however, just want to “go with the flow,” be tolerant, open-minded, and what they call “loving.” Fewer and fewer Christians and Christian leaders, are firmly standing on truth.
To illustrate, the message on which this chapter is based was actually preached five days after Christmas in 2007, which is a time that reminds me of this principle every single year. While I know this will ruffle a few feathers, it continues to baffle my mind and grieve my heart to see Christians, especially Christian leaders, who while having full knowledge of the totally pagan origins of this thoroughly Roman Catholic “holiday” (that is, “holy day”), not only celebrate it but then unconscionably defend it as something Christian. Even the secular world knows these origins, as The History Channel on television usually airs a special on it each year. It is absolutely unthinkable that the majority of Christianity celebrates such paganism, especially when we repeatedly read in Scripture of God’s hatred, intolerance, and judgment for idolatry. It continues to grieve me that while many prominent church leaders will rightly stand against modern trends of ministry, attacks on Reformation doctrines, and other key issues, they refuse to do so here, despite the fact that such a stand is clearly mandated in Scripture. No child of God should have anything to do with idolatry.
Yes, it is hard to stand against this, it’s hard to go against the flow, it’s hard to stand alone, it’s hard to be ostracized from family, but being a Christian means standing alone at times. But sadly again, few are standing alone for anything nowadays. Unlike David who would not decline from [God’s] testimonies, we are today abandoning God’s Word in droves.
Decline translates a Hebrew word (nātâ) that literally means to extend or stretch out, as when Moses stretched out his rod over Egypt to turn the water to blood (Ex. 7:19) and bring the locusts (10:3). It also often carries another literal meaning, however, “turning aside” or “away,” or “diverting” from the path. This gives way to the figurative idea of one’s heart being “turn away,” that is, shifting its loyalty, even apostatizing. As Paul adds, men will “ turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables [Greek muthos; English ‘myths’”; II Tim. 4:2).
A graphic example appears in I Kings 11, where Solomon marries wives from the pagan civilizations around him. Again, totally ignored at Christmas time is God’s hatred for idolatry, as if it is no longer true. But God warned that marrying these women would “turn away” (nātâ) the hearts of the people to the false gods of those pagans (v. 2). Further, not only did that occur, but in his old age, “[Solomon’s] wives turned away [nātâ] his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God” (v. 4; emphasis added). Think of it! Even Solomon, the son of the godly David, was turned to idolatry. That is exactly what has happened to Christianity. It has been turned away from truth and holiness because idolatrous practices were introduced by pagan Rome and the majority of evangelicals have failed to stand against it. Year after year, through Christmas and other holidays, most Christians today acknowledge the same Babylonian gods and goddesses that Israel of old did—Baal and Ashtoreth (i.e., Ishtar, Astarte; Judg. 2:13; 10:6; also “queen of heaven,” Jer. 7:18; 44:17–19 ), Tammuz Ezek. 8:13-14), and others. Why do not such things bother Christians anymore? They bothered the Scripture writers, the Reformers, and the Puritans, the latter two of which recognized it all as the wickedness of the “papacy,” that is, Roman Catholicism. But few today are at all concerned, even to the extent of embracing Rome as being Christian.
Likewise, Christianity today is turning to apostasy in countless ways, and it is getting harder and harder to “go against the flow.” Oh, yes, it is hard! It is a struggle! It will grieve your heart! But if you do not stand, your heart will be turned from God. How we need men today who will not decline from [God’s] testimonies, who will not compromise and just wither away when the heat is turned up.
I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
In light of our pointed discussion above, we should be reminded of and grieved by those who refuse to listen to truth, those who just don’t want to hear what god says. They reject His word, do only what they want, but then complain and even blame God when tragedy and heartache come. David was grieved because he knew what would happen when God’s Word is ignored.
The word transgressors (bāgad), however, goes even further to refer to a willful traitor, and is used for treachery in leadership (Judg. 9:23), betrayal of friendship (Job. 6:15), and even unfaithfulness in marriage (Jer. 3:20; Mal. 2:14). To be frank, the treachery against and betrayal of the Word of God today is unprecedented, even among professing evangelicals. Teachers make it say what they want it to say, apply in whatever way is acceptable to man’s ears, and have abandoned truth altogether. Where are the Davids who grieve over this betrayal of the Word? Do we agree with Spurgeon?
Thy word is so precious to me that those who will not keep it move me to indignation; I cannot keep the company of those who keep not God’s word. That they should have no love for me is a trifle; but to despise the teaching of the Lord is abominable.
Oh, Dear Christian Friend, are we going to stand for truth or not? If not, let’s just quit “playing church” and totally renounce the Word of God that we have already betrayed.
Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
In spite of the trouble that surrounded him, the Psalmist endured by remembering two principles.
Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
We have noted David’s love for God’s Word many times, and we will see it thrice more before he finishes this grand Psalm (vs. 163,165,167). It’s not enough to read the Word, outline it, analyze it, exposit it, exegete it, or even memorize it. If we don’t love it, all else is worthless. It is our love for it that drives us to obedience and submission. When we really love truth, it is impossible to compromise it, because anything that violates truth, however small, will be intolerable.
Sadly again, many Christians today don’t seem to abhor much of anything. As long as someone mentions God or Jesus, all is well, regardless of the heresy that that person might be teaching. Not in David’s thinking, however. He loved God’s precepts, that is, His instructions, and hated “every false way” (vs. 104, 128). It is also that love that drives us to one other principle.
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
From the very beginning to the very end, God’s Word endureth, David tell us.
Do believers today really trust the Word of God? They certainly didn’t in Charles Darwin’s day. In his book, Theory of the Earth, James Hutton (1726-1797), an amateur geologist, was one of the first people to suggest that the earth was more than 6,000 or 7,000 years old. Charles Lyle (1797-1875), a former lawyer turned amateur geologist, who also hated God and the Bible, got hold of Hutton’s book and through its influence wrote his won book, Principles of Geology, in which he literally invented the “Geologic Column” or geological ages. In spite of the fact that this “column” exists nowhere except in the textbooks and has not even the smallest shred of empirical evidence to support it, it has nevertheless become “the bible” to the evolutionist.
It was then in 1831 that Charles Darwin, who was, believe it or not, freshly out of his theological training for the ministry, set sail on the HMS Beagle. He had two books with him: his Bible and Lyle’s Principles of Geology. It was upon reading Lyle’s book that Darwin’s faith in the Bible was destroyed.
We relate that short history to emphasize that because of those men, Christianity of Darwin’s day began “running scared.” Christian leaders became so intimidated, even terrified, by evolution that they created theories that would accommodate both the Bible and the “millions of years” of the geological ages. The Gap Theory, for example, was created for the sole purpose of fitting the geological ages into the Bible. It teaches that Genesis 1:1 indicates complete creation, but 1:2 and following is the recreation following a gap of millions of years between the two verses. Similarly, the Day Age Theory teaches that each “day” of creation consisted of millions of years, which again allows for the geological ages. In other words, they no longer trusted the book of Genesis.
In the very beginning words of the Bible, however, Genesis 1:1, we see the creation of all three of the basic elements of the physical universe: space (“heavens”), matter (“heavens and earth”), and time (“beginning”). God did it all, and any compromise with the idea of “millions of years” is a denial of God’s unique, finished work of creation and is the result of the brainwashing of people’s minds by ungodly men.
Again, do Christians today really trust the Word of God? Do we trust it solely as the source of truth? Do we trust it solely for our theology and philosophy? Do we trust it solely for church ministry? Do we trust it solely for our counseling needs? Again, if we do not, let’s just stop “playing church” and go back to being pagans, for we are blatantly denying David’s closing words of this stanza: Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Is that what we believe. I pray fervently that it is.