Ain’t No Trouble Gonna Get Me Down

Psalm 119: 142  Trouble and anguish have come upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight.

•  Trouble:  a tight place, as when an opponent crowds you
• Anguish:  a narrow place, as when confined
• Commandments:  a command or ordinance; refers literally to the things God says TO do and NOT TO do
• Delight:  enjoyment; pleasure

The psalmist found himself in the uncomfortable position of being between a rock and a hard place, but the squeeze did not loosen his grip on the things that mattered the most.  He held tightly to all the things that God told him to do and not to do, and found joy in doing the next thing.  Even backed into a corner, he didn’t lash out or to give up, or forget all that the Lord told him up to that point.

Delighting in God’s commands begins in good times, when the sun is shining and there are no problems on the horizon.  It comes back to that spiritual muscle memory that we talked about in the first part of this great psalm.  When we choose to obey God, it becomes easier and easier to obey Him in the next thing.  And the more we obey, the more we experience the joy and blessings of that obedience, because it draws us closer and closer to Him.  When obedience is a habitual pleasure, it will not matter how squeezed we feel, we’ll continue to find delight in the Lord’s commands.  There will be no need to google a solution or to wallow in self-pity because, those who are trained to obey in the good times will just do the next thing when crowded by difficult circumstances.

How do we do that?  You can’t do what you don’t know.  Read God’s word.  Spend time with Him in prayer and worship.  As He gives you something, be obedient to it.  It will be a conscious effort at first, but as you rely more and more on Him, letting Him invade your secular life with His Spirit, it will get easier and easier, until soon it is automatic.  Then when you are caught between a rock and a hard place, He will be the first place you turn to for direction, for aid, and for comfort.

This is strange, that in the midst of anguish David had delight: but indeed the sweetness of God’s word is best perceived under the bitterness of the cross. The joy of Christ and the joy of the world cannot consist together. A heart delighted with worldly joy cannot feel the consolations of the Spirit; the one of these destroys the other: but in sanctified trouble, the comforts of God’s word are felt and perceived in a most sensible manner. Many a time hath David protested this delight of his in the word of God; and truly it is a great argument of godliness, when men come not only to reverence it, but to love it, and delight in it. Let this be considered by those unhappy men who hear it of custom, and count it but a weariness. –Abraham Wright.

Lord, cultivate in me right now a heart that delights in all the things You ask me to do and not to do.  Sustain a right spirit within me so that even when I am caught between a rock and a hard place I still do the next thing in obedience to You.  Some days, O Lord, the pressure I feel is from my own selfish desires.  In times like that, let the tight place squeeze out Self so that there is more room for You; make me delight in obeying You, even at the expense of my own personal pleasure.

When Life is Harsh and Unfair

Psalm 119:137-138  Tsadhe. Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments.  You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness. 

• Righteous:  just; to be right in a moral and forensic sense
• Upright:  to be straight (up and down); to be even or level; to be right
• Judgments:  judicial verdicts

The psalmist declares that the Lord Himself is just and righteous.  His character and nature are such that there is nothing out of balance, or untrue.  He is right and true.  He is the level with which all rightness is determined, and so all the judicial verdicts that He hands down are right and true as well.

Life sometimes just seems harsh and unfair, even for the person who trusts in The One True God.  In times like those, it is most important to stop trying to make sense of what is going on around us, and to take up a Faith Filter through which we can properly view our experiences.  When circumstances are filtered through faith based on the Truth in God’s Word, they are placed within the proper perspective of Who God Is.  In any court system, the judge makes all the difference.  Get a corrupt judge and chances are good that his verdict will be corrupt.  Get a fair and impartial judge and the verdict will be equitable and just.  Our God stands as judge of all.  But, more importantly, He is a Good and Just Judge.  We need not fear His judgments because ALL His character effects them.  So, that He is not only righteous, but also merciful and full of lovingkindness.  That is not to say that His kinder character qualities overshadow His judgment, though, for His is Holy and never deviates from what is right.

 Jehovah both saith and doth that which is right, and that alone. This is a great stay to the soul in time of trouble. When we are most sorely afflicted, and cannot see the reason for the dispensation, we may fall back upon this most sure and certain fact, that God is righteous, and his dealings with us are righteous too. It should be our glory to sing this brave confession when all things around us appear to suggest the contrary. — C. H. Spurgeon

The Lord is not a judge who is just doing his job; He is THE Judge who knows all things and has all authority in heaven and earth.  And He is on our side.  That puts us on the Right Side of the Law through the redemption of Christ Jesus, our Advocate and Savior.  If the Righteous Judge is for us, who can be against us?

(Romans 8:28-32) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 

Lord, thank You that You are a righteous God in whom is no partiality.  Thank You that all Your judicial verdicts are right and true, even if I don’t always understand them.  Thank You for being faithful in all that You do, so that even in the face of things that feel unfair, I can filter my experiences through the truth of who You are.  I trust You to do right by me, for me, in me and through me because You are a righteous God.

 

Turn On the Light

Psalms 119:130  The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

•  Unfolding:  opening, entrance
• Light:  refers to light that comes primarily from heavenly bodies but also for light itself.
• Understanding:  the ability to separate mentally; to distinguish between
• Simple:  silly, easily seducible, foolish

I can carry a flashlight into the blackest part of the night and still be unable to see… unless I turn it on.  The same is true with the Word of God.  Many of us own multiple copies of The Bible and some even have copies of it readily available to them at all times on their smart phones.  Yet if they remain unopened, they shed no light and provide no understanding.  They are useless to us, unless we first crack the cover.

The same is true for our hearts.  If my heart remains closed so that the Word of God is not allowed within its walls, then it remains blinded by deep darkness.  However, if I open it and receive it with gladness, it will bring light and understand, though I know nothing else.

 The word finds no entrance into some minds because they are blocked up with self conceit, or prejudice, or indifference; but where due attention is given, divine illumination must surely follow upon a knowledge of the mind of God. Oh, that thy words, like the beams of the sun, may enter through the window of my understanding, and dispel the darkness of my mind! — C. H. Spurgeon

The more Word, the more light; which in turn, removes foolishness.  I can’t help but wonder how better off our parenting skills would be if our goal in educating our children began with turning on the light of their hearts by opening the Word of God to them.  We expose them to early reading and math skills.  We teach them to care for their teeth and wash their hands.  In today’s world, we teach them a lot about bullying and getting along with one another.  And all the while, we leave them in the dark so that they remain silly and foolish, unable to discern truth from lies.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

 If all the books in the world were assembled together, the Bible would as much take the lead in disciplining the understanding as in directing the soul. It will not make astronomers, chemists, or linguists; but there is a great difference between strengthening the mind and storing it with information. –Henry Melvill.

I think an important principle contained within this verse is humility.  One has to acknowledge the darkness and open the door to divine light.  One also has to understand its simplicity before it can receive understanding.  I can’t tell you how many times my youngest son would exclaim “I know, Mom!” when we were learning new principles while homeschooling.  He thought he knew and would have no part of my instruction.  Off he’d go, only to come back later with a failed attempt.  I am like that WAY too often with God.  “I know!” I tell Him and off I go.  And when what seemed like a good idea at the time fails miserably, back I crawl humbly opening the door of my heart to His wisdom and truth.  Oh!  To seek that light initially so that this simpleton will not be quite so foolish and rash in its decisions.

(Ephesians 5:13-16) But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Lord, open the door of my heart and shine the light of Your truth on all its recesses.  Leave nothing in the darkness of pride in what I think I know.  Be my wisdom and discernment so that I will not foolishly follow anyone or anything but You.

The Wonderful Word

Psalms 119:129 Pe. Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them.

•  Testimonies:  Faithful witnesses, as in a court room setting of those who testify
• Wonderful:  a miracle, a marvel; it is used to represent something unusual or extraordinary
• Observes:  to guard; to protect, maintain or obey

All the Word of God is miraculous and extraordinary.  There is nothing like it in all the world.  Other works claim to be divine but contain errors and untruths.  Only the Word of God is without error and amazing in its capacity to do a supernatural work in those who trust in it.  It also will be the plumbline by which we will be judged.

Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

 Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 Joh 12:48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

 God’s testimonies are “wonderful” (1) In their majesty and composure, which striketh reverence into the hearts of those that consider; the Scripture speaketh to us at a God like rate. (2) It is “wonderful” for the matter and depth of mystery, which cannot be found elsewhere, concerning God, and Christ, the creation of the world, the souls of men, and their immortal and everlasting condition, the fall of man, etc. (3) It is “wonderful” for purity and perfection. The Decalogue in ten words comprise the whole duty of man, and reacheth to the very soul, and all the motions of the heart. (4) It is “wonderful” for the harmony and consent of all the parts. All religion is of a piece, and one part doth not interfere with another, but conspires to promote the great end, of subjection of the creature to God. (5) It is “wonderful” for the power of it. There is a mighty power which goeth along with the word of God, and astonishes the hearts of those that consider it and feel it. 1Th 1:5 –Thomas Manton.

Consider for a moment the miraculous way that we received this great book that we call The Bible:  it is 66 “books” written over thousands of years by a handful of men from different walks of life, different jobs, different political arenas, and with different personalities and bents.  Its message of divine redemption is woven completely and without deviation throughout its entirety.  It has remained the same despite numerous translations and an astounding number of attempts to pervert or destroy it.  It is without error.  Truly we all ought to marvel at it more than we do!

Because the psalmist found the Faithful Witness of God’s Word to be miraculous and extraordinary, his soul could do nothing less than guard it so that its mind-blowing nature was not lost to him in the mundane routine of the ordinary.  He did not want to be like the Laodicean Church of the Book of Revelation that was rich and had need of nothing, so because lukewarm and almost contemptuous of the Wonder of God and His Word.

 Some men wonder at the words of God, and use them for their speculation; but David was always practical, and the more he wondered the more he obeyed. Note that his religion was soul work; not with head and hand alone did he keep the testimonies; but his soul, his truest and most real self, held fast to them. — C. H. Spurgeon

Those whose eyes are tantalized by the sparkly mirages available in our present world often miss the truly amazing and wonderful miracle of God’s great Love Letter to them.  Those who find God’s Word most amazing will also be most amazed by its good work in, around and through them.

Lord God, give me an appreciation for Your Word and Your Faithful Witnesses that goes beyond just intellect or admiration.  May I always find it miraculous and astounding in its scope, in its work, and its beauty and perfection.  May I never have dull eyes unable to see the brilliance of Your Amazing Testimonies!

Loving His Way

Psalms 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.

•  Right:  straight or even, as in a level that is dead on with no variation from center point
• Precepts:  those things entrusted to man, for which he is responsible
• Hate:  to hate personally
• False:  untruth, sham, deceit
• Way:  well-trodden path

The things You have given to me to do are in all ways right, therefore, I personally hate all the well trodden, but false paths.

The psalmist recognized that narrow is the path of God and wide is the path of deceit.  Jesus is THE way (John 14:6) and He is always straight and true.  Many are the ways of the enemy who tantalizes us with all his lies to try to dissuade us to follow his ways.  He isn’t concerned which we choose, as long as it isn’t the one the Lord has given us.

 This godly man was not indifferent to anything, but that which he did not love he hated. He was no chip in the porridge without flavour; he was a good lover or a good hater, but he was never a waverer…  His detestation was as unreserved as his affection; he had not a good word for any practice which would not bear the light of truth. The fact that such large multitudes follow the broad road had no influence upon this holy mail, except to make him more determined to avoid every form of error and sin. May the Holy Spirit so rule in our hearts that our affections may be in the same decided condition towards the precepts of the word. — C. H. Spurgeon

The psalmist could clearly know the difference between the right way and the false way because he was absolutely and firmly immersed in the truth.  To have his confidence and his sure convictions, we must be in the Word, know the Word, and live the Word.  Counterfeits cannot stand the test of The Word, and so the best insurance we have against going the wrong way is walking true to the whole council of God’s Word.

 Never flounder on the rocks of indecision.  The call of My heart to you is for your utter abandon to the waters of My will.”  — F. J. Roberts

Your will for me, O Lord, is always right and true.  Confirm it to me as I seek You and Your Word.  Fill me so full of Your truth that any and all counterfeits are detestable to me.  You are the only way for me and as I walk with You, I can trust that all will be well and good.

More Than Gold

Psalms 119:127  Therefore I love Your commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold.

In verse 72 of this great psalm, the psalmist told the Lord that His law was better than a boat load of gold and silver.  He weighed the value of the Law and tangible currency and found the Law to be worth more.  In his spiritual progress, the psalmist as moved past a relationship based on logical evaluation to one based on a deep, passionate love.  God’s words are no longer something evaluated, but cared for.  Even in love there is a need to compare and so the psalmist equated his love for the Lord’s commands as greater than even the most valuable thing he knew.

The psalmist was in love with the things that God demanded obedience.  I happen to LOVE His promises and His encouragements.  But, do I love the Lord’s commandments with such passion and devotion?  Probably not always.  But, I want to.  All the gold in the world will be dust eventually, worth so little that the streets of heaven will be paved with it.  Devotion to the Lord’s commands (also known as obedience!) blesses me now AND eternally.  When God tells me TO do or NOT TO do something, I am protected when I obey.  He also acknowledges my obedience and gives me more responsibilities in Him.  His Spirit abides uninhibited when I obey.  And I am able to walk without shame and above reproach in all I do.  Embracing His commands with love and devotion is for my benefit, my good, and His glory.  It is a win-win.

 Wealth brings with it so many conveniences that men naturally esteem it, and gold as the symbol of it is much set by; and yet, in the judgment of the wise, God’s laws are more enriching, and bring with them more comfort than all the choicest treasures. The Psalmist could not boast that he always kept the commands; but he could declare that he loved them; he was perfect in heart, and would fain have been perfect in life. He judged God’s holy commands to be better than the best earthly thing, yea, better than the best sort of the best earthly thing; and this esteem was confirmed and forced into expression by those very oppositions of the world which drive hypocrites to forsake the Lord and his ways. — C. H. Spurgeon

 (Proverbs 3:13-18) How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. 

Lord, I don’t always love Your commands the way I should.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and give me such a deep connection with all Your Word, including Your commandments, that there is nothing I love more.

Guaranteed

Psalms 119:121-22 Ayin. I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.  Be surety for Your servant for good; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

•  Justice:  same word translated judgments in other places; judicial verdicts
• Righteousness:  a right relation to an ethical or legal standard
• Leave:  to deposit
• Oppressors, oppress:  to press down upon
• Surety:  denotes the action of giving a pledge or guarantee; a down payment

I picture this as a court of law.  The psalmist gives the testimony that he has done according to the judge’s verdicts and has followed the legal standard.  In essence, he pleads innocent of all charges.  He asks the Judge to not remand him to the hands of his accusers, the arrogant.  He pleads as a servant of the court that Judge Himself would put up the necessary bail money for his release.

Certainly, the only One who could stand before The Judge and plead innocence is Jesus.  Did he not also stand before the earthly judges also?  The arrogant who oppressed Him were the ones deciding his verdict and sentence.  His condemnation at the hand of the unjust made Him Surety for our good to release those who throw ourselves at the feet of His mercy from their own condemnation.

 (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 

 Be surety for thy servant for good. The keen eye of world may possibly not be able to affix any blot upon my outward confession; but, “if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities; O Lord, who shall stand?” The debt is continually accumulating, and the prospect of payment as distant as ever. I might well expect to be “left to my oppressors,” I should pay all that was due unto my Lord. But behold! “Where is the fury of the oppressor?” Isa 51:13. The surety is found — the debt is paid — the ransom is accepted — the sinner is free. There was a voice heard heaven — “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom”, Job 33:24. The Son of God himself became Surety for a stranger, and “smarted for it,” Pr 11:15. At an infinite cost — the cost of his precious blood — he delivered me from “mine oppressors” — sin — Satan world — death — hell. –Charles Bridges.

(Romans 8:1-4) Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

Be surety for thy servant for good. Answer for me. Do not leave thy poor servant to die by the hand of his enemy and thine. Take up my interests and weave them with thine own, and stand for me. As my Master, undertake thy servants’ cause, and represent me before the faces of haughty men till they see what an august ally I have in the Lord my God. (C. H. Spurgeon)

The Awesome God

Psalms 119:118-20 You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless.  You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies.  My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.

•  Rejected:  to tread down, to treat as worthless, to put out, to refuse to accept
• Wander:  to stray; to morally transgress
• Deceitfulness:  fraud
• Useless:  untruth; sham; a lie
• Removed:  same root word for Sabbath, a word designating the time set aside for rest;
• Wicked:  morally wrong; condemned
• Dross:  the word suggests waste or excrement as well as the dross from metals; it is symbolic of moral and religious corruption and apostasy.
• Testimonies:  Faithful witnesses, as in a court room
• Trembles: bristles, as hair that stands up on the back of your neck or arm
• Fear:  sudden alarm or terror
• Afraid:  to fear with great reverence and awe
• Judgments:  judicial verdicts

As sure as the believer’s Lifesaver is, so sure is the death and destruction of those who turn from His grace and mercy.  While it is easy to hold tightly to the image of Jesus as our Life-preserver, it is only part of the Whole God.  Safely upheld in the arms of His Savior, the psalmist peers into the future of those who are around him.  They experience the same anchors pulling them down toward hell and the same waves that threaten to suck the breath from their lungs, and yet they are refusing the only thing that will keep them afloat.  He recognizes the amazing and awful fact that the same God who keeps him safe must also let those who reject His Life-Saver drown in their own sins. The word awesome does not mean “cool” or “the best”, as it is used today.  It refers to something that inspires fear.  Our God is THE Awesome God who inspires great fear and reverence, because He is the All-powerful and Sovereign God.

Isaiah 63:3 I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment.

 (Revelation 19:11-21) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. 

What a politically incorrect vision of a Savior!  Our Americanized version seems to prefer an effeminate, oooey-gooey, soft and sweet Jesus who has no power, no strength and no ability to enforce anything.  Yet, the psalmist was led to a deeper faith and appreciation for his God because he understood His Awesome nature.  It’s value is insurmountable.  There is nothing more terrifying than for a small child to see a beloved Father engaged in a violent confrontation with one who threatens His family.  And so it should be.  Both love and reverence grow as our understanding of God deepens.  Who wants to serve a God that is as wishy washy as the waves of the sea, tossed around by futile emotions brought on by the disrespectful rebellion of silly children who should know better?  I certainly don’t.  Give me a Dread Champion who stands strong by my side and fearlessly slays the enemy!  Yes, I may be cowering behind His robe, but there is no safer place for me, so I’ll take The Awesome God any day of the week.

Lord God, even now we are beginning to see Your hands being lifted from preserving our nation who has repeatedly rejected Your ways.  You have warned, and we have not listened.  I cannot help but look to the future and be a bit fearful.  For I know that the punishment of the wicked will affect me, for I live in the land.  Keep my eyes upon You as I see You exercise Your faithful holy discipline.  Don’t let me pale in terror or in despair of my own safety.  Let me know You more and may my love and reverence abound in direct proportion as I see You as the Faithful, True, Righteous and Awesome Judge Who Wages War with the wicked but loves His kids.

Divine Prop

Psalm 119:116 Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

•  Sustain:  to Prop; take hold of; to bear up; uphold
• Ashamed:  to pale; put to shame; disappointed
• Hope:  from root word meaning to watch and expect with hope and patience

My translation: Prop me up according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me pale in fear or shame as I wait with expectation and hope. Support me and hold me up that I will be preserved and free, that I will always keep my gaze upon You [and not my circumstances].

 Up, up above the littleness in which I have lived too long, — above the snares which have so often caught me, — above the stumbling blocks upon which I have so often fallen, — above the world, — above myself, — higher than I have ever reached yet, — above the level of my own mortality: worthy of thee, — worthy of the blood, with which I have been bought, — nearer to heaven, — nearer to thee, — “hold thou me up.” — James Vaughan, of Brighton, 1877

If we took a tour of The Prop Shoppe of the World, we would see a variety of common things that people use to prop themselves up, such as:

• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Cigarettes
• Relationships
• Defense mechanisms (like anger, isolation, need to be in control, or playing the victim)
• Lies
• Hypocrisy
• Religion
• Bitterness

The list is really quite endless.  But, while The Prop Shoppe of the World has an extensive and creative advertising campaign, all its claims are false and produce only minimal results that are temporary at best.

There is little doubt that the psalmist had given some of these worldly props a try, only to find them a bit like trying to hold oneself up using a wet noodle.  Throughout this great psalm, he has become more and more dependent up the Word of God for all he needs.  It has become his light, his love, his path, his protection, his sword and his refuge.   And as he finds himself bobbing wildly in the sea of confusion, pain and whatever else the enemy can toss his way, he finds the waves crashing over his head, threatening to drown him.  Like Peter who stepped out of the boat in faith to walk to Jesus upon the waters of the Sea of Galilee, only to go under when he turned his attention to the waves, so the psalmist is sinking fast.  And like Peter, he cries out to his Lifeline.

Matthew 14:30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Even those with the most faith will experience times and seasons when it feels as if the seas of life have been taken by a tempest.  And yet, no matter the way we feel, we can know that the same God who saved us in the past will continue to hold tight to us today and forever.  Nothing can sever that lifeline, for it is grace that holds us close and it permanently attaches us to The Savior.  I need no other prop, no other life-saver but the faithful word of God that sustains me by His Eternal Promise.

 If God’s right hand uphold us, we must in his strength go on in our duty, both with diligence and with pleasure. –Matthew Henry.

What does this look like in actual application?

When I am feeling as if I can no longer hold it all together, that I have some anchor tied to my heels dragging me under the crashing waves, I do not flail and fight.  Instead, I set my eyes firmly on what I know:  God is faithful, everlasting, eternal, sovereign, and omnipresent.  There is no where that I can go that He cannot save.  He loved me enough to save me, will He not protect His investment (so to speak) by keeping me preserved?  Of course, He will.  As I hold tightly to the Lifesaver that is the Word, I will find myself upheld by its hope and promises for it is true and sustaining.  My grip is guaranteed by His grip on me.  I am preserved by His power and grace.

 “Be silent, My little one.  My peace shall come to you as you think about Me and as you open to Me your heart.  Be not disturbed by what you feel, but set your thoughts on what you know and what I have reveal to you, and new faith shall spring forth.

Never doubt My love when things are dark.  Situations never change Me.  The deeper your need, the more I will respond if you call on Me.  In this way you can turn the darkness into blessing.

Hold to My hand.  No other support is necessary.  Human love is comforting, but divine love, the love of God the Father, is greater.  I desire to give you both, but if you can drink deeply of My love, you shall come more quickly to find fulfillment in human love also.

As you reach out, reach out to Me alone.  I will never fail to meet you when your desire for Me is pure and sincere.  I know your every heartache and see each falling tear.  I will gather you to My heart, and you shall now the deep, deep joy of being near Me.” — F. J. Roberts

Lord, build me my faith in Your, keeping me in Your love.  Let me consciously wait on Your great mercy.  I know that You alone are able to keep me from stumbling.  Make me stand; prop me up in Your presence moment by moment.  Preserve me blameless and filled with joy for Your glory now and forever. (Jude 1:20-25)

 

Upheld and Safe

Psalms 119:117 Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

•  Uphold:  to support; comfort; establish; hold up; strengthen
• Safe:  to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe;
• Regard:  to gaze at (for help)
• Statutes:  appointments, decrees, laws; refers to definite prescribed or written laws (including the moral law written upon      our hearts in our consciences)
• Continually:  to stretch out indefinitely

Set me up and hold me up so that I’ll be safe and free to look only to You for help.  The psalmist had great faith in his God, believing that he would stand or fall based on His willingness to provide for him. God never disappoints faith like that!

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Within this verse is the general principle of faith:  the more we exercise it, the more we CAN exercise it.   Faith is a muscle that decays when unused and is strengthened by much use.  The psalmist trusted God to support and strengthen him, and as the Lord met that faith with His omnipotence and faithfulness, then it was easier the next time to do the same.  The more we trust, the less our circumstances have control over our feelings.  We serve a big God who is most worthy of our faith at all times, but faith exercised in the small things gives a solid foundation when the big things come.  It is a life of faith that is free and safe.

 “The cause of the weakness of your Christian life is that you want to work it out partly, and to let God help you.  And that cannot be.  You must come to be utterly helpless, to let God work, and God will work gloriously.  We need this if we are indeed to be workers for God… An yet, we are some of us wanting God to give us a little help while we do our best, instead of coming to understand what God wants, and to say, ‘I can do nothing.  God must and will do all.’  Have you said, ‘In worship, in work, in sanctification, in obedience to God, I can do nothing of myself, and so my place is to worship the omnipotent God, and to believe that He will work in me every moment’?  Oh, may God teach us this!  Oh, that God would by His grace show you what a God you have, and to what a God you have entrusted yourself — an omnipotent God, willing with His whole omnipotence to place Himself at the disposal of every child of His!   Shall we not take the lesson of the Lord Jesus and say, ‘Amen; the things which are impossible with men are possible with God’?” — Andrew Murray

Lord, You have upheld me when I didn’t think that standing up was even possible.  You have strengthened me when I felt that I was at my weakest.  You have set me free from so many things that held me bound.  You, O Lord, are a great and faithful God, whose grace and mercy astounds me, even today.  Please continue to hold me up, to strengthen my faith, and to keep me free from the enemy’s traps.  May I continually keep my focus on Your salvation, on Your provision, and on Your love, continually and forever.