PSALM 119
Rick Jackson
In a universe of uncertainty there is stability. In a world
of conflict there is stability. In a nation of petty political posturing there
is stability. In a state of moral ambiguity there is stability. In a community
where atheists get a monument at the courthouse there is stability. In our
church, in your family, in your life there is stability. You may say, but
brother Rick all you have done is mention a few of the myriad of problems
facing us on every conceivable scale and yet you say, "there is
stability." Where? Where is the stability?
The psalmist, like us, had many problems that tend to
unsettle a person, but he found stability in the Word of God and the God of the
Word. The word Hebrew Word (em-oo-naw') is found five times in Psalm 119. Each
time but one it is translated faithfulness. Young's Concordance says it means
"stability". Strong's concordance says it figuratively means security
and speaking morally it means fidelity like the Marines motto "Semper
Fi". "Semper Fidelis" is Latin for "Always faithful." So
amidst chaos and uncertainty the believer has stability. Let's see how the psalmist
applied it. The psalmist had stability:
I. EVEN WITH A SINFUL
NATURE [v. 25-32]
This is the one verse in Psalm 119 that does not translate
this word “faithfulness” but rather “truth” [v. 30]. The only hope we have is
the Hope that salvation brings. Only God can give us a new nature that can live
for Him.
II. EVEN AMID GOD-GIVEN
[OR GOD-ALLOWED] AFFLICTION [v. 73-80]
Other believers are encouraged. God afflicts us (or allows
it) for a reason, reminiscent of Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful. The Lord is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The
Psalmist doesn't ask to be removed from afflictions but to be comforted in them,
and a comforter to others.
III. EVEN AMID PERSECUTION
[v. 81-88]
When it seems the Heavens are brass we still can trust in
the Word. Knowing God's Word strengthens us in persecution. God's loving
kindness revives us and reminds us to live for Him!
IV. EVEN AMID EVERY
AGE [v. 89-96]
The Creator's Word is settled and so we should be as well. Since
He is the all-powerful Creator, and since He has given His Word, every person
in every age can find stability in Him!
V. EVEN AMID INSIGNIFICANCE
[v. 137-144]
How small we are but how great He is. Psalm 8:4 What is man,
that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm
144:3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man,
that thou makest account of him!
Many years ago, a scholar named Muretus lived. He was very
educated but also very poor. He became deathly ill, and he was taken to the
place where the destitute were kept. The doctors didn't know that he was a
scholar and that he understood the scholar's Latin. One day the doctors were
discussing his case in Latin and one of them said, “What experiments can we do
on this worthless beggar?” Muretus looked up and in perfect Latin replied,
"Call no man worthless for whom Christ died." Christ's payment for
sin makes every soul of infinite worth.
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul?
No comments:
Post a Comment