October 29, 2019 -- Psalm 119:41-42 -- Disarming the Accuser

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

Psalm 119:41-42 English Standard Version

Who taunts the writer of this psalm? Well, according to verse 28 his own soul melts away with sorrow. Princes sit plotting against him (verse 23). He is subjected to scorn and contempt (verse 22). So it is evident even at the beginning of this Psalm (which has 176 verses!) that he faces taunting from enemies within his own heart—his conscience is seared. If this is King David, then the princes plotting against him are his own sons—and that makes sense as two of his own sons rise up against him in rebellion, trying to take the kingdom from him.

We know the devil taunts us as well. He is the accuser (Revelation 12:10); in fact his name “Satan” means “accuser”. He whispers into our ears and poisons our minds, asking “Can God really forgive that sin?” He smirks at our discomfort and continues, “You have asked forgiveness so often for this very same sin, surely there must be a limit to God’s mercy?!”

How can the follower of God answer his own conscience, his enemies, and the Accuser? The answer is found in verse 41—it is the love of God and the promise of God. I Peter 1 notes that the Old Testament writers prophesied the sufferings of Christ and His subsequent glories, and even angels longed to look into such things (I Peter 1:10-12). Jesus Christ is the Incarnation of God’s love demonstrated to us—while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We cannot point to any good we have done or are doing or will do. God sent Jesus for the salvation of sinners, those who were chosen before the foundation of the world for the glory of His Name and the glory of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

We can answer the ones who taunt us and would seek to burden us with remembrances of our sins by this declaration: Jesus paid it all. We can point to the cross and be assured no accusation of the enemy will ever stand, because the cross disarmed the Accuser—(Colossians 2:15). What blessed freedom we have as Christians to serve our King Jesus! We trust in Jesus because His Word reassures us that all these promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 1:20). Our sins are gone—the punishment against them was poured out on Jesus. The writer of Psalm 119 loves the Word of God and the Law of God because it guides his feet in paths of righteousness. We add our affirmations as we read what the psalmist wrote. The testimonies of God our Creator show us the way to live in thankfulness. We know the justice of God and the love of our Father are fully satisfied in Jesus Christ and in His Name we deny the sinful passions of our flesh and we live for Him.

In view of Your great love, God our Father, we have an answer against any and all who accuse us. In view of the glory of the cross of Jesus Christ we know the answer is always “Jesus paid it all”. Spirit of God, stir us up so that we hate our sins more and more and as we confess them we will truly repent. Even in this desire to repent we know how much we need You, Spirit of Power, to turn us away from the very sins we are repenting of, and so seek to live where the boundary lines have fallen for us in pleasant places—that is, within the will of God our Sovereign Master. Thank You for the rock solid trustworthiness of Your Word—thank You that all Your promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ. Amen.

October 28, 2019 -- Psalm 119:41 -- Steadfast Love

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

Psalm 119:41 English Standard Version

In the last stanza of Psalm 119—which in Hebrew all the first words of each line started with the letter “He”—the psalmist focused his pleas and appeals to be directed into paths of faithfulness. This new stanza, called Waw because each verse starts with this particular Hebrew letter, begins with the psalmist appealing to the Living God to give him the motivation he needs to walk in obedience.

Notice the psalmist is already a believer. He has tasted and seen the goodness of God the Mighty. He is asking that he will once again be made aware of, delight in, the steadfast love of the LORD. Love prompts us to go to the heights in service to our spouse. Love motivates a parent to care for a sick child, regardless of the messes that need to be dealt with. Love inspires long-suffering obedience when it seems love is not reciprocated.

Perhaps the psalmist was becoming aware that his service to LORD had become perfunctory. Maybe the psalmist realized he was obeying and the well of his soul was running low. When the steadfast love of God the Blessed fills our thoughts and minds we are renewed in zeal. The psalmist is directly asking for a measure of understanding and buckets of refreshing love on the basis that this is what God Himself promises His people. Salvation is joy. Salvation is evidence that His love will never let us go.

Jesus declared “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. This is the extravagant love of the Father shown to us most clearly in Jesus Christ—Jesus laid down His life for us, so that we would not be punished for our sins but He stood in our place. His faithful obedience to God the Father is credited to the account of all who believe in Him. The Spirit of God then fills our hearts, floods our minds, and captures our very soul with the immense unstoppable love of God the Father shown to us in Jesus.

Do you know your sins? Are you keenly aware of the wrong that you do which separates you from God the Holy and Just?

Do you know that there is nothing you can do to erase your sins, nothing you can do to cleanse your conscience? In fact, all your efforts only add to your condemnation. The cross of Jesus Christ is where all our sins are punished. The cross of Jesus Christ is where we see the Father’s love and the Son’s love in His willing obedience and the Spirit’s testimony of this love brought home to our minds and hearts. As New Testament Christians we clearly understand this psalmist’s appeal to God.

Just and True are all Your ways, Father in heaven. With the psalmist we pray: Let Your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to Your promise—shown so clearly in Jesus Christ. Renew in us the joy of Your salvation. For those who do not yet know You, let the Light of Your Glory and the refreshing streams of Your love wash over them so that they may receive the promise of Your salvation so beautifully given in Jesus Christ. Spirit of the Living God, remove any barriers and obstacles to believing. Spirit of Power, let us, who are Christians already, grow in our awareness of this mighty, deep, and wide love so that our response of love and obedience to the Father’s will and Jesus way is a thankful expression of whole-hearted devotion to You. Amen.

October 26, 2019 -- Psalm 119:40 -- Longing for Order and Justice

Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life!

Psalm 119:40 English Standard Version

A newborn found in a dumpster—and we cry out: “That is wrong!” We are longing for the justice of God’s precepts, the things God appoints to be done. Sadly, all you have to do is type “dumpster infant” into your search engine and you’ll find multiple cases in Canada and the U.S.A.

A man who claims he identifies as a woman is given housing in a woman’s shelter where he preys upon the women in the shelter. The women complain and they are told they are being transgender phobic. We cry out: “Where is the justice in all of this?” What we are actually crying for is that the laws of the LORD will be observed so that men, women and children will be protected.

More illegal drugs are hitting the streets. Unscrupulous gangs cut these drugs with all kinds of substances to increase their profits. This also makes a dangerous substance toxic. Police agencies continually have to issue bulletins and media warnings that particular batches of illegals are known to be lethal. It is the height of insanity. Behold, I LONG for Your precepts.

Yesterday, a well-known Canadian environmentalist had his foundation act as a partner in a lawsuit launched by 15 Canadian youth against the government, suing the government over climate change This Canadian environmentalist himself co-owns an island with a big oil company. The irony of it would be funny if it weren’t to blatantly painful and wrong. Our news media and our government have so whipped up climate fears that children feel unsafe and there are now diagnoses of climate fears disrupting children’s ability to function. Living God, Sovereign—Who holds the past and the present, the day of Judgment and the New Heavens and New Earth in His power—we long for Your rules to take hold of our land and restore sanity.

Big Pharma have drugs to help people fight various diseases. CEO’s set prices as high as the market and insurance companies can bear. Long gone are the days of medical pioneers who refused to patent their vaccines and drugs so that they would remain affordable to all people. Today, those in distress shout till they are hoarse at the injustice of soaring medical costs and drug costs and insurers who refuse to pay. God of Compassion only Your laws can bring order from chaos.

The suicide rate among Indigenous males is 126 per 100,00, in the general population the rate of suicide among males is 24 per 100,000. The suicide rate among Indigenous females is 35 per 100,000 compared to 5 for non-Indigenous females, according to thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Add to this Canada’s abortion and euthanasia statistics and we are surrounded by a culture of hopelessness and death. God, I long for Your precepts—Your rules and Your Word which give sacred purpose and meaning to our lives.

Humanity is not “basically good”. We are sin-filled and without hope. When the Word of the LORD touches us, we have the light of life shown to us in Jesus Christ and from Him hope and purpose fill our vision. In God our Father we have the God Who alone is powerful to help and lovingly willing to help. He sends to us the Spirit Who changes us from the inside out so that we empowered to be the people who bring to this broken and grief-riddled world hope and help in the Name of Jesus.

Hear our prayer, O LORD, attend unto our cry—from the ends of the earth we cry to You when our hearts are overwhelmed. Lead us to the Rock, Jesus, Who is higher than the storms, greater than the chaos. Grant Your Spirit to awaken us to be people of prayer and bringers of hope. Mighty God, we long for Your precepts, in Your righteousness give us life and allow us to be Your ambassadors—light and life bringers to this world of hurting. In Jesus’ Name we pray this. Amen.

October 25, 2019 -- Psalm 119:39 -- What is 'reproach?'

Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

Psalm 119:39 English Standard Version

The reproach of God is the shame that we experience when we have sinned and such sins are exposed in the light of God’s Word, or through proper accountability among the saints. Such reproach falls on us because of sexual sins, or the consequences of our rebellious actions, or the exposure of a lie we have told or the injury our enemies inflict on us—the fact that we have been attacked and we feel defenseless because their accusations are true and where we have failed in our duties their attacks take on a particular vitriol against which we feel helpless..

We dread such reproaches because it shows our weaknesses. We dread such reproaches because it shows we have dishonoured the Name and reputation of God—which is bound up with us as Christians. What we do as Christians can show others the glory of God’s Name or our inactions and our wrong-doing can lead others to conclude there is no power in the Name of God—thus bringing discredit to His Name by our conduct. Understand this, the Living God is Holy, He is glorious and worthy of all praise, no matter what His people do. However, those who are looking for reasons to hate God would use our inappropriate and sinful conduct against us and against God the Merciful.

Yet the Psalmist notes this: the LORD’s rules—actually the original language (Hebrew) states the LORD’s judgements—are good. No matter our conduct God’s judgements are good. He is the source of all good. His judgments are shown most clearly as good in the fact that God the Father, in His great love, sent Jesus to seek and to save lost sinners. Jesus took our punishment on Himself at the cross and gives to us His righteousness. When Jesus prays to the Father on our behalf, He says “Father, forgive them, You have punished their sins upon My Person and now see them as right-living because of My perfections. Credit to them what I have done.”

Oh, weak and wounded sinner, look to Jesus and find in Him relief. Oh weary Christian, scorned and shamed, look to Jesus and find in Him relief and forgiveness full and free. The Spirit of God, sent to us by Jesus, poured over us by the Father, shows to you the truth of the Bible. The Spirit of God reveals your sins so that you will hate such sins more and more and recognize in Jesus Christ you have One Who has saved you. Believe in His Name. You will find the reproach you dread is in fact turned away, Jesus took it all, and gives to us His reputation, His right-standing before the Father in heaven, and His Spirit Who ever helps us to live fully as followers of Jesus. The Spirit stands ready to aid the Christian in battling old lusts and desires and stubbornly clinging sins so that our life and our desires, our will and our actions reflect more of Jesus and His glory.

Thank You, Great Father in Heaven, that You have answered the prayer of this psalmist—our reproach has been turned away in Jesus Christ. Blessed are You, Jesus the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, for in Your Name we have forgiveness and new life. Spirit of the Living God, fight our battles with us and within us so that we will soldier on as those who know that the rules of God are good and His judgments are the path of salvation and true freedom. Amen.

October 23, 2019 -- Psalm 119:38 -- Fighting the battle of lingering sin

Confirm to your servant your promise

that you may be feared.

Psalm 119:38 English Standard Version

Why does the Sovereign LORD have to be feared? Quite simply because we are constantly being deceived by our own fleshly desires. Here is a helpful quotation:

“The essence of temptation is deceit—to be tempted and to be deceived are the same thing.

“The first degree relates to the mind—it is dragged away from its duties by the deceit of sin.

“The second aim at the affections—they are enticed and entangled.

“The third overcomes the will—the consent of the will is the conception of actual sin.

“The fourth degree disrupts our way of life as sin is born into it.

“The fifth is the flesh’s goal, a hardened life of sin, which leads to eternal death.

“This fifth degree, by God’s grace, is never reached in true believers. God also often aborts conceived sin in the believer’s life (the fourth degree) sparing us many burdens.

Kris Lundgaart the enemy within page 58-59

As New Testament Christians we know the promise of God is that our sins are fully punished in Jesus’ Name. We know that our old self with its sinful nature is being put to death—and this is what must constantly take place. Jesus, by His Word and the gift of the Holy Spirit living within us, gives us the strength we need to fight these battles. Let’s not mince words, it is a mighty battle to be completely faithful to the LORD of Heaven and Earth Who rightly demands 100% allegiance to Himself.

How easily we allow what we consider to be small sins to take hold in the soil of our hearts. Then, we are surprised at the vehemence of our reaction against the things of God when such little sins germinate. To be born again, born above into the love of Christ means that we vigilantly guard our minds, our hearts, and our lives so that sin does not find ready soil.

Why call this “the fear of the LORD”? Because the LORD first loved us, He demonstrated this to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, therefore we respond to Him in love. Our soul desires Him to be our first and greatest love. The Scripture shows us (as does our own experience) how feeble and weak and untrue our love actually is. Therefore we are afraid to go this alone, in our own strength. We are afraid to bring dishonour to God’s Name. With the psalmist we pray: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 ESV

Just and True are all Your Ways, O God our King. The purity of Your promise and the richness of Your salvation are beyond price and beauty. Confirm to Your servant Your promise, that You may be feared. Give us the courage to confess our sins and the boldness to battle against our fleshly desires so that our thoughts and our words, our activity and our rest may bring You fitting praise in Jesus’ glorious Name. Amen.

October 22, 2019 -- Psalm 119:37 -- Turning from death to life

Turn my eyes from worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

Psalm 119:37 English Standard Version

Have you ever just surfed through a bunch of TV stations aimlessly searching for something, anything to watch and then been surprised at how much time has elapsed? Have you ever just begun to think about the accomplishments of others and started to feel resentment and envy and then ultimately a day that started well and with a good mood became sour? Richard Baxter phrased it so well, our flesh murmurs against the things of God. It is true, isn’t it? I freely admit my soul murmurs against the things of God. I can think of times when I’d decided to act in good conscience and bless the LORD, and my own laziness began to rise against me and my innate unwillingness to do the things of God was allowed to entangle me and keep me from the good I had purposed to do.

The psalmist is noting something in his prayer—when the LORD enables him to turn his eyes from worthless things then he will receive life in God’s ways. The ways of God revive the soul (Isaiah 57:15). The fact of the matter is that our hearts long for love, our yearning is for significance, leaving a lasting legacy, or doing something of great importance. Yet we settle for sins that diminish us and would humiliate us if they were known to others.

Here is the grace of God: the moment our eyes are fixed on the LORD our Master we find we are loved, profoundly and deeply loved and we are given life in Christ. When we wrestle against our flesh and do battle in order to stay true to our Father, we find our life to be exciting and valued. The best and greatest legacy we can leave behind us is faithfulness to Jesus Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Even if no other person on earth would ever see our faithfulness to Jesus, He alone can bring you delight and He is our Reward.

Shake the lethargy from my bones and the daydreams from my eyes so that I will turn from worthless things, O God my Master. Blessed are You, for in You is life and joy everlasting. Amen.

October 20, 2019 -- Psalm 119:36 -- Inclined to God the Glorious

Incline my heart to your testimonies,

   and not to selfish gain!

Psalm 119:36 English Standard Version

The psalmist is praying that the LORD God will tip the scales of his heart so that his heart will always slide towards the things of God. He is aware that without the touch of God’s mercy his heart will always rush towards selfishness. Our hearts are not neutral. We are not generally good. In fact our hearts are bent on evil all the time. Blaise Pascal, long ago noted: “the heart has reasons that reason knows nothing of”.

Briefly consider these words—the LORD speaking to Job after all of Job’s sufferings—

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action[a] like a man;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
    Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
    Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
    or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
    and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
    when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
    and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
    and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
    and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
    and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
    and the wicked be shaken out of it?  Job 38 ESV

The weight of God’s glory moves our hearts. We are submitted and submerged at the sheer grandeur of Who He Is. That is the point the psalmist makes, that his heart will not grow cold to the things of God, but tilted by the weight of God's majesty will reverberate with awe and devotion to the LORD of Glory.

If you have time, keep reading through Job 38 and further. What magnificence you will mine there. The Sovereign is not some distant deity, high, far and cold. He is connected with His creation, delighted in the wonders He has made, and keenly aware of all what we do all the while His stateliness and nobility continually are set forth. No corner of the cosmos or millimetre of the earth is free from the weight of His glory.

God of Splendor, before whom the morning stars sing and the angels shout in awe-filled praise, blessed are You. Mighty and Great is Your Name and all honour and praise belong to You. What extravagant mercy You show us in Jesus Christ—that You reveal Your purposes and show us Your salvation. Spirit of the Living, All-Powerful God, incline our hearts to the things of God and the rapturous praise of His Name in Christ Jesus our King and Saviour. Amen.

October 18, 2019 -- Psalm 119:35 -- The Path of Delight

Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

Psalm 119:35 English Standard Version

Did you see what the psalmist delights in? He prays to be led in the path of the LORD’s commandments for he delights in the path—the word “it” is singular. So the reference is to the word “path”. It is a word that is rich in meaning. Consider a few places where it is used in Scripture:

He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

The LORD Who cares for us, His sheep, is the One Who faithfully leads us in His pathway.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom…

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Proverbs 3:1,17

Wisdom personified leads the people of God in the path of pleasantness and peace—this is the blessing of the LORD our Maker upon those who hear and obey Him. Though troubles may pile high and enemies threaten, God Himself is Peace for all who trust in Him. They are assured that nothing can separate them from His great love—all things happen for the refinement of His people.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

John 14:6

There are several other references to paths and ways in Scripture and Jesus brings these all together showing these find their reference in Himself. Those who refuse the Saviour are on the path to destruction. Yesterday I heard a wonderful sermon and the preacher noted those who march themselves to hell must wade through the blood of the Savior, shed for them—the greatest evidence of His forgiving love for all who believe in Him. They persistently slog along resisting His blessings until at the entrance of the gates of hell they read: “God is love”. Even there they snort and harden their souls against His wide-embracing path.

But God is the delight of all who believe in Him through the revealed path: Jesus. God raises us up to life in Christ. Our brief text is packed full of the extravagant grace we find in Jesus Christ. He is the path of delight, of life, of peace, and of the knowledge of God.

Jesus, our Peace, with the psalmist we pray: Lead us in the path of Your commandments, for in it we delight. As we walk in faith-filled obedience before You the Captain of Salvation, Spirit of Power remove from us stubborn sins and clinging wickedness, so that our steps will be strong and steady and our eyes will be focused on Jesus our soul’s prize and heart’s delight. Thank You, God our Father, that You have made a path open to Yourself so that prodigal daughters and sons can return to Your open-armed embrace. Amen.

October 17, 2019 -- Psalm 119:34 -- Understanding God and Ourselves

Give me understanding that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

Psalm 119:34 English Standard Version

What does the psalmist pray to understand?

He prays to understand the waywardness of his own heart.

He prays to understand how he is prone to wander.

He prays to understand what he is serving—is it an idol or is he giving his heart fully and completely in service to the Lord God?

Let me remind you of the opening two verses of this Psalm 119:

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD;

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart… (119:1-2 ESV)

Unless we understand our own sinful hearts, unless we keep tabs on how many ways we find to get out from under the law, we will never truly understand how much we need the LORD. True blessedness is found in keeping His law and observing it with our whole heart. The laws of God allow us to live in harmony with our Creator—He has made this open to us through the blood of Jesus. While we were yet sinners, Jesus took the punishment of God against our sin on His Person. He paid the debt we never could. In Jesus we are set free from condemnation. More than this, Jesus gives to all believers His Spirit—so that the beauty of Jesus and the desire to keep His commands forms in us. So observing the laws of God our King allows us to live in society—even when the whole world may stand against us, we recognize the goodness of Jesus our Savior and the blessings of keeping His commands.

Recently I have been introduced to a Christian 12-step program called “Overcomers”. The fourth step reads: “Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” That has really impacted me. I see how easily we consider ourselves “good enough”. Or we are aware of lingering sins but we figure “they’re not so bad”. It can also happen that we see ourselves clearly, but don’t want to address a sin that might cause us to expose our wrongs to others as we have to confess the sins we have been harbouring. These are the kinds of issues I see in our verse this morning—the Psalmist is longing for understanding—insight into his own life so that he may be fully exposed before the LORD and his own conscience, confess what needs to be cleansed by the blood and begin once again to walk with integrity and joy before God the King, Who is Holy.

Give me understanding, O LORD, my Savior and my King,

that I may keep Your law, realizing its perfections for life with You and for living in society,

and my observance of the Law will spring from a heart fully yielded to You

and aware of the blessings which You give to those who keep Your ways.

Blessed are You, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it to the end.

Psalm 119:33 English Standard Version

Perhaps you are thinking, in all these verses, there is so much repetition. It seems he is constantly asking to be taught: at verse 7 “when I learn”; verse 12 “teach me”; “open my eyes” verse 18; “teach me your statutes” verse 26. This is a theme that will flow through-out the 176 verses of this Psalm. Why?

Our hearts are prone to wander. We know the good we should do and run the other way.

Our God is the LORD—He keeps His covenant commitment to us forever faithful. He tenderly watches over us and directs us in His love. Those who hate Him complain that His rules are restrictive.

The way of the LORD’s statutes are critical so that our lives model holy living for those around us. We must be told again and again the ways to keep it so that those who look to us will see the faithful, compassionate kindness of God.

We need the repetition. Our hearts are stubborn in their sinfulness. Our will is in a contest against our commitment to the Living God. The psalmist knows this and wants to be submitted to the LORD, the One Who keeps His promises. He welcomes the repetition—that the goodness of the way of God will drown out the bad intentions and waywardness of his heart. How often have we, as parents said “If I have told you once, I have told you a thousand times”? We know how much we need to repeat what is important so that our children follow in the right steps. The psalmist, a child of God, welcomes the thousand-fold repetition, knowing by this instruction he will keep the way of the LORD.

God of Mercy Who has given us life in Jesus Christ—we thank You for the teaching of Your Word. We thank You for the way of Your salvation. Forgive us. We know how we are prone to wander from Your statutes and commands. Lead us, by Your Word and Spirit, in the way everlasting. Thank You, God our Father, for Your tender-hearted goodness to us. Thank You, God our Teacher, that in Your Word we have rare and beautiful treasures. Amen.

October 10, 2019 -- Psalm 119:32 -- Enlarge my heart

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart.

Psalm 119:32 English Standard Version

What a dramatic turn around has taken place for the psalmist as he documents it in the eight verses that make up this stanza. It started with his soul clinging to the dust (verse 25). Then his soul was melting away for sorrow (verse 28). He wrestled with false thoughts (verse 29). As you read today’s short verse can you sense the change? The writer is rising up in the strength of the LORD. Now he anticipates running in the way of the LORD’s commandments. The weight of troubles and sorrows have fallen away in the light of the glory and the grace of the Living God.

It is the LORD Who can increase his heart’s capacity for joy.

It is the LORD Who stretches his heart so that it will be prepared for ever greater obedience.

It is the LORD Who makes his heart bigger than all his troubles and sorrows and allows him to have victory.

Maybe this is the prayer you need today? LORD—enlarge my heart.

Thank You for the military images You reveal of Yourself in the Bible—that You are the Warrior. You are the Captain of our Salvation. You are the God in Whom we have victory! Enlarge our hearts this day so that we may truly believe the great and awesome promises of Your Word. Stretch our faith and our hearts so that we can find victory in the areas where we feel so beaten down. Enlarge our hearts so that we will praise You as we prepare to run in Your commandments. Amen.

October 9, 2019 -- Psalm 119:31 -- Clinging to the LORD

I cling to your testimonies, O LORD,

let me not be put to shame!

Psalm 119:31 English Standard Version

In a recent radio broadcast I heard noted apologist and public speaker Ravi Zacharias say he was prepared for the vitriol and shots fired against him and his ministry aimed at him from non-Christians. What he was not prepared for was to be shot in the back by Christians. The very ones who should be supportive and understanding can sometimes we our harshest critics and the ones who seek to shame us.

The psalmist has experienced much ridicule and suffering for his confident faith in the Living God; he has suffered for holding tightly in obedience to the testimonies of the LORD (we can see that in many verses: 22, 23 are some examples). He desires not to be put to shame—his urgent prayer is that when things are good and when things are very difficult he will be consistent in his walk with God.

What is the most difficult time for obedience for you? Is it when everything is going well that you wrestle to remain obedient to Christ, the Captain of our Salvation? Or is it when you suffer betrayal at the hands of those who you thought were fellow believers that you find it almost impossible to remain in the peace won for us in Christ our King? When we allow people or circumstances, our feelings or our thoughts to drag us away from our faithful adherence to the commands of God we are acting in ways that bring shame to us and by association dishonour His Name.

The more I study this psalm, the more I receive it as a prayer in which the psalmist is asking God the Lawgiver to direct him to be loyal in his service. Jesus, the very Son of God, taught us that we must forgive a brother who sins against us, forgiving as often as seventy-times seven if that is how often the brother confesses his sins and seeks forgiveness. How much more gracious, how much greater is the love of God which is demonstrated to us in Jesus our Saviour?! As often as we see we have acted shamefully, as often as we confess our waywardness, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all our wrong-doing. More than this even, He will set our feet back on the pathway of clear-conscience obedience so that we may be found clinging to His testimonies. And the mercy of our Kind Father moves us to humbly thank Him and praise Him in ever greater choruses of wonder and blessing and renewed acts of obedience.

Covenant-Keeping God, Faithful and True, Who is like You? Because of Jesus’ great sacrifice poured out on the cross, You forgive the sins of Your people . You restore to us the joy of our salvation. You give us renewed strength for life and holy service through the powerful presence of Your Spirit within us. Mighty Sovereign we desire to cling to You and Your testimonies so strengthen Your grip of grace on us and strengthen our desire for and our ability to obey all You command. Amen.

October 6, 2019 -- Psalm 119:30 -- The path of faithfulness

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

Psalm 119:30 English Standard Version

Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. When He has grabbed hold of our hearts we must continually choose, each day, at the place where we are tempted, we must choose the way of faithfulness. It is the way which Jesus leads. When, in hindsight, or by way of conviction we realize we have strayed from the path of faithfulness, we are invited to prayers of confession. We repent—turn from our sins and turn to Jesus. And we set our feet back on the pathway of faithfulness.

In order to stay in the way of faithfulness and keep us from straying, we would be wise to set the rules of the LORD before our eyes. My wife and I have joined the gym. It was so good for us. However, I have noticed that there are many distractions at the gym. When my wife is with me my eyes don’t stray as they can when she is not present with me. Alone I’d notice those men who are buff and I’d find I can resent them. How easy it seems for them to maintain a fit physique. Alone I can get distracted by women in the gym. The moment I realize how my eyes and thoughts wonder I would avert my eyes; but I needed a better solution.

When I committed to memorizing this Psalm, I had a ready answer supplied to me. When I was on the treadmill, I’d have one stanza of this psalm written out and placed in front of me. My thoughts are thereby focused on memorizing and my eyes are not free to go astray. It is one way to choose the path of faithfulness and to put the word of God in my heart so that I won’t sin against Him (check out verse 11).

Consider the ways in which your eyes and minds can stray from faithfulness. What things would distract you from keeping your eyes and attention fixed on Jesus? Now, ask yourself: what are the ways in which the LORD invites you to put His rules before your eyes?

Thank You for Your faithfulness to us, King Jesus. Thank You that Your words and Your ways never strayed from complete, joy-filled obedience to our Father in heaven. Blessed are You, Jesus, even when obedience led you through suffering and pain, You remained steadfast, recognizing the fruit of obedience would yield greater fruitfulness than whatever temptations to stray might have purported to offer You. Thank You Spirit of God, You Who rested on Jesus, also fill the hearts of believers so that we are enabled to live as a new creation, suited to walk in the way of faithfulness. God of Glory and Life, cause the way of faithfulness to be the longing of our hearts so that we bring You the honour Your Name so richly deserves. Amen.

October 4, 2019 -- Psalm 119:29 -- No false steps

Put false ways far from me;

and graciously teach me your law.

Psalm 119:29 English Standard Version

A man stood up in our bible study group and noted how he struggled to live for Jesus. He told the story how he had only one brother and the two of them were very competitive. They worked the rails and were always comparing their accomplishments. When Gerry became a Christian, he realized he probably shouldn’t be arguing with his brother.

Gerry told the group of a time he visited his parents and his brother and brother’s family happened to be there as well. And, as happened so often, the two of them got into an argument again. After getting really frustrated, Gerry quickly said good-bye to his parents. He piled his two kids in the car. He started driving off. He was about two minutes away and into the simmering silence his wife, a new Christian, quietly said to him: “Now, how do you think you’ll be able to speak of Jesus’ love to your brother ever again?”

Gerry, now decades after this event, teared up at the memory. He said her words penetrated straight to his heart. Immediately he turned the car around, drove back to the house and finding his brother he apologized. His brother was really surprised. And blurted out “You started the fight.” His brother baited him. It was their usual pattern. Gerry replied “You are right, I did. Again I am so sorry for my bad behaviour.” Gerry said that moment started the pathway of healing between.

On our own we easily fall into our old paths and patterns of sin. We need to pray urgently that God will redirect our steps into His ways. Stubbornly we look for any and every excuse to charge down our false paths and familiar wrongs. When Jesus takes hold of our hearts we see what we’re doing. When the Spirit of God teaches us from the Law of God, we begin to take up our new life in Christ. People cannot help but see the change in us—and the honour and credit belong to our King!

Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all who believe in You, we confess we are prepared to justify our false steps and bad behaviour. In the light of Your gracious Word and by the convicting work of Your Spirit we must confess how often we are startled to find ourselves so far from where we want to be, or ought to be. With the psalmist we plead: “graciously teach us your law” so that we will powerfully live out our new-found love for and gratitude to Jesus. Thank You, Father in heaven, for all the resources You pour out so that we may live as your beloved children. Amen.

October 3, 2019 -- Psalm 119:28 -- Godly Sorrow

My soul melts away for sorrow

strengthen me according to your word!

Psalm 119:28 English Standard Version

Sorrow is not always bad! It is an appropriate response for the Christian when his sins are revealed by the Spirit. The Spirit of God takes the Word of God and holds it up before each of us like a mirror. We are made aware of the beauty of God our Father’s instructions and we realize how we are running from His good Word. This reflects the ugliness of our hearts. Sorrow is an appropriate response.

When the believer has sinned against God by sinning against others—gossip, murderous anger, lust and disparaging the success of others—when we as believers begin to grasp the gravity of such sins and by them how we are destroying community this should cause us godly sorrow.

The believer experiences sorrow over the wickedness of governments and institutions, the callousness of the stock market and evidences of injustice in our courts. Our souls truly melt with sorrow—we can find ourselves seated in a puddle of tears.

Perhaps we should learn to feel sorrow. Maybe our hearts are hard as stone and we are cold towards the Word of God. Maybe we read about sorrow as something completely foreign to us because we have accommodated ourselves to the world and find we are aligned with the world and out of step with the Word. How we need the Spirit to crack our hard exterior and flood us the awareness of our true condition

Yet the LORD our God does not leave us trapped in sorrows. He ears our prayers! He has provided the strengthen we need—Jesus Christ, Who has paid the debt for all our sins. He has removed our shame. He is the way in which broken community can be restored. As we confess our sins in true community we receive forgiveness. We hear the confessions of others and are strengthened and blessed by their words we in turn have the great honour of holding out forgiveness because of the work of Jesus.

Is this crazy? It seems so pie-in-the-sky unattainable and lofty! It is. It is the power of Jesus’ healing work which overturns the effects of the curse of Adam’s sin. We can live this way—deeply and beautifully. Jesus gives us His Spirit to live in us so that we can venture out, offering and receiving forgiveness.

In Isaiah we are taught that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, of the increase of His government and rule there shall be no end. That should comfort and strengthen believers We are not at the mercy of whatever government or policy or court decisions are currently in vogue. Those who belong to Jesus are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. We live here confident in the promises of the Word that Jesus rules now at the Father’s right hand and is bringing righteousness and justice full and complete at His return. All wrongs—every single one of them—will be answered and His victory will be over all in through all. What glorious hope that gives us as believers.

Faithful follower of Jesus—grieve and sorrow over the sin you see. And plead the promise of this verse, that His strengthening will saturate our bones and our soul according to the promises of His Word! Helpful hint here: read the Word. Drink deeply of the promises you read there!

Earlier this psalmist taught us to pray: Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law^. We echo that prayer this morning, Sovereign King. Let the Word and all its strengthening promises revive our hope and lift us up from all our sorrows. God, Creator of true community, move among us as Christians so that we will set aside our pride and live as humble believers prepared to offer and receive healing forgiveness for the sake of the Name of Jesus. Amen.

^Psalm 119:18

October 1, 2019 -- Psalm 119:27 --Seeking to Understand

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

Psalm 119:27 English Standard Version

I don’t understand. Those words make us feel helpless. If we are cooking a big dinner for friends and family and suddenly realize “I don’t understand the recipe, what is expected.” Or if we are facing a math problem with all these squiggles and brackets and letters which require solving—I don’t understand and I don’t even know where to begin! Whenever we don’t understand a problem or a situation we can freeze up because of indecision.

In sharp contrast the Psalmist longs to understand the precepts of the LORD, what God appoints for His people to do—for that is what precepts are. These are the ways in which He commands us to live for Him, to live in love for God and love for our neighbour. Our impulses and instincts have us look out for number 1—ourselves. But the LORD would have us live in self-sacrifice, love that acts for the good of our neighbours and forgives our enemies. It is so counter-intuitive.

When we see the glorious work of Jesus Christ—how He poured out His life in loving obedience to His Father and deep compassion and love for the lost of this world—we have before us an example Who helps us understand the way of the Father’s precepts.

The Spirit of God guides us in our understanding. When we submit our will and our lives to Jesus, His Spirit enables us to meditate on the wondrous works of God—how His precepts fit together. Those who believe in God the Creator realize He fits all things together in beauty—even our broken and fallen world which is riddled with sin and the consequences of evil—displays the glorious sustaining love of our Father. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). What a glorious prospect. What marvellous incentive we have to dig in and seek to understand His precepts!

How intricately and beautifully are the pieces of life and creation, purpose and promise woven together in our Lord Jesus Christ. God, Who created and governs everything from quarks to quasars, we confess how little we know of the good You intend for us in Your law and in Jesus, the fulfilment of the Law. With the psalmist we pray to understand. We pray that the eyes of faith will be opened and as we begin to comprehend the richness, the splendour and the terrible beauty of all You appoint for us to do, let our hearts and minds reflect on it, savouring it and delighting in You. Amen.

September 30, 2019 -- Psalm 119:26 -- Trained for Battle

When I told of my ways, you answered me;

   teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:26 English Standard Version

Sometimes I have to school my reactions so that I don’t roll my eyes and let a derogatory sigh of exasperation escape my lips when I am listening to a speaker. It can be tempting for me to fold my arms and shake my head and act as if I am so much wiser, superior to whatever drivel is being spouted by the talker. Then I must consider this: I am not even smart as a paramecium compared to unlimited wisdom and knowledge of God. Therefore, in allegiance to the All-Wise God Whose ways are higher than my ways and Whose thoughts are inexpressibly elevated beyond mine, I am compelled to exercise kindness and forbearance in all my interactions with other people who share a paramecium-like cranial capacity with me

This glorious, wise, omniscient God does not deride His people; He does not disregard us when we are speaking and mock our ineptitudes. He answers us! James teaches us that God is our Good Father, the source of every good gift. What a gentle Father.

Teach me—the English is rather prosaic here. The background of this word in Hebrew includes a sense of being trained for war. While laying out his life before the Living God—complaints and exasperations all—the psalmist realizes he is being overwhelmed by his sins and the temptations of the enemy. A good friend and prayer-partner had a great description of the very difficult situations of his life. He’d call them “the four horsemen of his personal apocalypse”. He names them: being hungry, tired, lonely, and dealing with untamed sexual urges. When any of those four horsemen, or any combination of them, began riding out, he knew he would be in trouble. He admitted when he was being wise in the LORD, or at minimum aware of the threat, he would cry out to God. I imagine the psalmist being aware of the threats arrayed against him, as he lays out his life before the Lord of Glory, as he is about to be overwhelmed by temptations, enemies, or sin. Therefore he cries out “arm me for battle according to Your statutes”.

The statutes of the LORD are something a believer owes to the Captain of Salvation. When the LORD our Warrior responds to us, teaching us to overcome our enemies, we would be fools to do anything else other than follow His training.

 Thank You, Father—Source of Every Good—for the graciousness with which You hear us. We know Your kindness and compassion are given to us in boundless measure because of Jesus Christ—in Whom all our enemies are vanquished. Spirit of God, as we are being trained for spiritual victory, give us the humble wisdom to put into practice all we are learning. Thank You for the communities into which You have, by Your providence placed us, where we will grow in grace. You have designed it that way. Blessed are You, our God, Warrior and Captain of our Salvation. Amen.

September 29, 2019 -- Psalm 119:25 -- What do you cling to?

My soul clings to the dust;

give me life according to your word!

Psalm 119:25 English Standard Version

At first glance it seems like a strange statement—clinging to the dust. You might think of Adam—he was created out of the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and God breathed life into his nostrils. Maybe your mind goes to a phrase often used in burial services: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. That exact wording is not found in the bible, but is a reference to Genesis 3:19—”for you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. After Adam and Eve had rebelled against God He brought the down His curse of sin into our very DNA and the curse of sin which affects all of creation. The LORD Who made us informed us we will return to dust.

The dust then is both what we are made of and what we return to. What sustains us? It is the breath of life from God. Ephesians teaches that we are dust—dead in our sins and trespasses. We do not bring any good thing to the table. We do not please God by our words, thoughts, gifts, deeds, there is no good thing that is in us or flows from us. We sin because we are sin-filled creatures—we are clinging to the dust of death.

But God, rich in mercy, calls us to life. In Jesus, the living word, we are brought from the dust of death to life which begins in Jesus and lasts forever more. Believers in Jesus Christ are raised from the dust and from the useless and meaningless actions which reveal our deadness. Our souls still cling to death. We are still creatures that, left to our own devices, always choose sin, death, destruction and chaos rather than life. Until the very Spirit of God takes up residence in our hearts and works in us the life of Jesus—the living words—and directs us in the way of life—the written word we will always somnambulate through life—live like sleep-walkers.

Today is Sunday. Christians delight in going to church because we praise God—Who has given us life. Today is Sunday and believers across this globe defy governments, risk imprisonment and shunning by their non-believing family members and community because in Jesus Christ alone is life. The Spirit of God Who lives in us reminds us: greater is He Who lives in us (the Spirit of Jesus) than he that is in the world (Satan and the hosts of darkness)—this is I John 4:4. Those who have met Jesus through the Bible and because of the powerful presence of the Spirit don’t have to be cajoled into going to church—we are drawn by joy. God has answered the prayer of this psalmist—my soul clings to the dust-I am appealing to You, asking so urgently: give me life according to Your Word—on the basis of all the promises You have made to me.

Come to church. If you are feeling some inkling to go to church—plan on going this day and seeing the life God our Father is giving through Jesus Christ. See the powerful life-bringing work of the Spirit. That curiosity is God-prompted. You will not regret going to church!

God of Creation and Life-continue to breath life in us through Jesus Christ. God our Father, give us life that wells up in us through faith in Jesus Christ and by the powerful presence of Your Spirit overflows through-out this life and brings us to the joy of eternal life in Your Presence. This day, as the curious ones, drawn by Your Spirit, come to church may we who know life in Jesus’ Name welcome them and show them the joy that is found in Christ alone. Amen.

September 26, 2019 -- Psalm 119:24 -- But God is my testimony

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:24 English Standard Version

There is a tiny two word phrase that gloriously testifies to the work of the Mighty One of Heaven and Earth.

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah Psalm 49:15

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Man’s power fails, but God’s power avails. Man’s schemes fall to the ground, but God’s power brings renown. Understand it, the Bible is not a moral code book. It is not a successive series of great kings and prophets and moral leaders who conquer all their enemies and have won or earned a right to walk with God! The Bible is filled with sinners, losers, posers, those who were rushing with abandon straight to hell, but God rescued, saved, and delivered. In every instance the Living God is the hero. Therefore the testimonies of Holy One are the delight of this psalmist. Therefore the Bible is the Psalmist’s counselor and advisor. There is no other resource able to inform us of our true condition but God’s word. There is no help available but God makes His great treasures available for all who believe.

Believe me, this is the truth I need to be sounded deep into my own soul every day. I can feel like such a hypocrite as I go out to preach. Yet, time and again I am given strength to go, to do, to speak. Oh, what glory I have found in Jesus Christ—But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

I hardly dare raise my eyes to heaven to appeal to You and ask of You—but God, while we were still sinners You sent Christ to rescue us. I can slip into fear-filled inertia knowing all the wrongs I have committed even though I know You and claim that in You I have every grace needed for victory—but God You have given us the Only Mediator Jesus Christ, Who points to the fact He was punished in our place and He has given us His righteousness.

Blessed be Your Name O King of Righteousness. Glorious are You. Let this be our song-filled service and testimony all the day: God Your testimonies are my delight; for they are my counselors. Amen.

September 24, 2019 -- Psalm 119:23 -- On what is your attention fixed?

Even though princes sit plotting against me,

your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119:23 English Standard Version

Your social standing cannot protect you from the hate non-believers harbor against the faithful followers of the Living God. King David experienced this. Though he was mighty in the land, his own sons plotted against him rebelling against showing themselves to be enemies of the LORD and enemies to their own father.

What was David’s response? Speaking from a worldly point of view, one would expect David to become a bitter old man. Two of his sons mounted rebellions against him. One of David’s sons violated his own sister. His brood was troublesome like a boiling cauldron. Yet the LORD Who is King of kings rescued David each and every time. David is not the hero of this story—it is the LORD his God—Who is David’s Rescuer and the One Who brings peace Who is the Hero.

So David refused to retreat to bitterness. Instead he meditated on the statutes of the LORD the Lawgiver. These are the rules by which we measure the boundaries of our lives. These are the laws which God gives so that we do not conform to the patterns and standards of the world but are wholly directed by Him Who made us and therefore knows what is best for us.

Ultimately it is David’s descendant and his LORD Who lived and fulfilled this verse perfectly: Jesus—Who with the Father, created the heavens and the earth—came Incarnate—God-Man—and His own people did not acknowledge Him. Kings judged Him and pursued Him, hounding Him. Unlike His ancestor, Jesus never sinned. Never was tossed to and fro by sin and doubts. Jesus remained perfectly submitted to the statutes of God. He meditated on them and by them guarded His hearts and His steps so that He became the perfect High Priest and the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.

This Psalm, line by line, verse by verse, stanza by stanza, always points to Jesus. He is the hero of our faith and LORD of our life. The psalm encourages us to live for Him—eyes fixed not on our circumstances, our weaknesses and failures, but sharply focused on His perfections. The rules and laws and statutes and Word of God direct us so that we do not constantly rehearse bitterness in the sound track of our minds, but as we remember all His directives we are ever and always teaching our souls of the perfections of our God.

You are the LORD—faithful to all Your promises which are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus Christ. You are the perfect Lawgiver—teaching us what is just and right in a world gone crazy. Ah, Spirit of God, move our stubborn and inclined-to-bitterness-hearts from focusing on ourselves and lift our thoughts and aspirations to where Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. You know what is best for us therefore as we submit our lives to You show us the secret places of our heart where we are hanging on to unjust thoughts and wicked ways and as these rebellions are exposed, conquer them so that we will be wholly and fully submitted to You and find the peace of Christ which passes all understanding. Amen.