March 3, 2020 -- Psalm 119:126 -- Untitled devotion

It is time for you to act,

for your law has been broken.

Psalm 119:126 English Standard Version

Those who trust in Jesus Christ know their sin has been punished at the cross. They know the full weight of God’s wrath has been spent on Jesus as He stood in our place. How then will the Father act towards His children Who break His law? According to both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Father disciplines those He loves.

In the Old Testament there are many passages that speak to the LORD’s discipline. In Proverbs alone there are 16 verses that specifically use the word discipline and many others that refer to the correction or instruction of the LORD. In the New Testament the famous passage is: “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:7 ESV) In fact, the passage goes on to say only illegitimate children are not disciplined.

Now an interesting question is this: as the psalmist is praying “It is time to act” is he pointing his finger in accusation against others or against himself? It is possible he is praying against others, who bear the exalted title sons and daughters of the Living God yet are acting in ways that do not accord with their confession. However, I would argue that he is speaking far more intimately here, from a deeply personal place in his heart. Given the fact that in the last three verses the psalmist has cried out to God in longing for His salvation, asking God to deal with him as one of His servants I would surmise he is aware of his sin. He is recognizing that he himself needs God’s discipline to bring him back into obedience.

When the LORD acts, He does so in perfect measure. He applies the Word. His Spirit speaks to our spirit. He does not over-correct us nor underwhelm. He corrects with such exacting measures so that what is needful to bring us back to Himself will occur. He corrects us and so reminds us that the Name of Jesus is not discredited—the failures are our own, the honour and victory and blessing are His alone.

Recently I heard a radio discussion on whether or not a man’s sins disqualify his good works. If someone is reputed to have done great good, then subsequently secrets and scandals are discovered, do such scandals discredit the good he has done? Let me be clear: sin is sin. Sin is hateful and it is to be stamped out vigorously and without mercy. Every single one of us is a sinner. Every single one of us has thoughts, words, actions we hope no one will ever discover. Even the one who has what seems to be a squeaky clean record in the eyes of the world is in great need of God’s healing grace. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. So, how do we get out of this mess?

With the psalmist we confess: “LORD, it is time for You to act, for your law has been broken.” Any credit for a good I do belongs to God. He restrains my sin by His Word and Spirit. He has given me life by uniting me in Jesus’ death and raising me to new life with Christ. Any accolade, any honour or credit belongs to Jesus; any wrong-doing is my own. Any sin I commit is what I need to own and confess. Such confession shows that God uses the weak things of the world, the things that are not ‘so that no human being might boast in the presence of God…so let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:29, 31 ESV).

To answer the radio host directly, yes, our sins disqualify our good works. We are reminded no one is good, no not one. Every act of obedience, every kindness and alleviation of suffering must be credited to the love of God which directs those who serve. Those who hate God and still have great talents and humanitarian impulses will be all the more harshly judged on the Day of Jesus’ return because they took the credit and honour which belong to Jesus alone. Where we see men and women exercising a great capacity for care, or stewardship, or humanitarian love we must bring praise to God Who has given such people the position, the money, the talent, the strength and the opportunity to do such things. We will acknowledge He uses the weak things of the world, the things that are no so that His greater glory and honour will be declared.

With great trepidation we cry out: “LORD, it is time for You to act, for Your law has been broken”. We ourselves are the great offenders against all that You command. Deal with us, Your servants, according to Your steadfast love. Heal us from our waywardness and restore to us the joy of Your salvation. Let these bones which You have crushed with sorrow, now be knit together in forgiveness so that we may declare the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His own wonderful light. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ Who have broken Your law and are floundering. In Your perfect mix of discipline and love bring them to Yourself and restore prodigals for holy service. Be magnified Blessed and Holy God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

March 1, 2020 -- Psalm 119:125 -- No Longer Servants but Friends

I am your servant; give me understanding

that I may know your testimonies!

Psalm 119:125 English Standard Version

Yesterday we read the Psalmist praying to God the Master and identifying himself as the servant of the LORD. As the prayer continues in our verse today, he prays, affirming “I am your servant”. This repetition is important. Because we are God’s we have a new identity. What we were has passed away, who we are in Christ is taking hold of our heart. When we are faced with difficult decisions, we remind ourselves, “we are God’s servants”. We do not act in the ways that were so automatic to us in our former days as sinner, we do not act according to our old nature which longs to assert itself—no indeed, by the Spirit of God we act according to the instruction of God’s testimonies.

In His great compassion Jesus lifted us up and no longer calls us His servants. Read on and marvel at the high title He gives us:

No longer do I call you servants,

for the servant does not know what his master is doing;

but I have called you friends,

for all that I have heard from my Father

I have made known to you.

John 15:15 ESV

In fact, Jesus’ words fulfill the prayer of the Psalmist. The Psalmist longed for ability to understand the testimonies of God his Master and King. Jesus answered: “for all I have heard from my Father I have made known to you”. What great privilege is ours. Delight in this. Thank God for this gift of understanding. Lean into it and drink deeply from the well of salvation as you read the Bible, attend worship and encourage brothers and sisters in Christ by these words.

Who is like You, O God, gracious and compassion to Your servants?! Who is like You, O LORD Most High, calling us to Yourself in Jesus Christ?! Who is like You, Jesus our Lord and Savior, You give us the great truth of Your Word?! Who is as trustworthy and glorious as You, Spirit of the Living God, taking up residence in our hearts, making the brilliance of the Word shine into every part of our hearts and lives so that we see Jesus?! More than this, by Your powerful presence we are humbled, able to receive the words of Jesus “I have called you friends”. Indeed Jesus, You are the Friend of sinners and the Rescuer of Lost Sheep, washing us by Your blood and the instructing us in the beauty of our new life. Be glorified in the praises of Your people this day, Triune God. As we worship instruct us in Your testimonies so that thereafter we may declare Your praises and Your great Name to family, co-workers, and friends far and near. Amen.

February 29, 2020 -- Psalm 119:124 -- Unusual day for instructed praise

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

Psalm 119:124 English Standard Version

Our prayers to God the Almighty are always offered in submission to Him as our Overlord and the King Who has Conquered us. Our prayers for ourselves and fellow Christians do not demand justice—for we have not received justice, but we have received His steadfast love and mercy. Justice means that people will receive the full measure of what their sins deserve. In fact, we have received the mercy and steadfast love of God the Sovereign and His wrath and justice were poured out on Jesus Christ.

We are called His servants because we have been captured from the domination of Satan. We are called His servants because our position before God the Glorious is that of a people who know the Magnificence of our Majestic Lord. And we are servants who, in Christ, as called beloved sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. What steadfast love He shows.

The steadfast love of God is echoed through-out this psalm (verses 26, 41, 76, 88). It is the refrain of our lives also. According to one Hebrew lexicon, the meaning here is that the steadfast love of the LORD quickens us spiritually. It is His never-failing-love that makes us alive to the things of God. In Psalm 86:13 the focus of the steadfast love of God is on the fact by this steadfast love He preserves us from death and the grave. In Psalm 31:7 we are called to rejoice in the steadfast love of the LORD. In Psalm 21:7 it is by the steadfast love of the LORD that we are redeemed from our enemies.

It might seem odd to follow this first phrase by stating: “teach me your statutes”. The more you think on it, the more it makes sense, though. As those drawn from the mires of our slavery to sin, rescued from the devil’s clutches, we ask ourselves—we surely can’t keep on doing what we were doing?! Something must change. Surely it does. Everything has to change. We need our lives completely reoriented. We need our words and thoughts, our actions and our goals to be focused on the Kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ. Only the commandments of God, only the rules He laid down for us, can set us in the direction of obedience. He has the right to command us as His rescued servants. He has the right to teach us His expectations.

By the blood of Christ, we have been taken from the household of Satan and chaos of evil and have been set on high in the home and family of God. Therefore, as those newly adopted, we are learning how to live. We are learning the new rules of our adopted home. They are foreign and strange to us. Therefore, we need the Spirit of God to teach us. His constant instruction is the only way we can navigate this new life, which is so foreign, so beautiful beyond description.

With the harpists and choirmasters of heaven our hearts sing out: Great and amazing are Your deeds, O LORD God the Almighty! Just and true are all Your ways, O King of the nations. You are blessed for ever and ever. With the psalmist we cry out, teach us Your statutes and Your ways. Because of all we have in Christ, fill us with Your Spirit so that we will offer our head, hands and heart to You in joy-filled service all our days. Quicken our spiritual life and direct our living so that we don’t merely say we love You, but all those around us will see our love for You carried out in what we say and do. Amen.

February 27, 2020 -- Psalm 119:123 -- What are you watching for?

My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

Psalm 119:123 English Standard Version

Beloved in the LORD this verse raises a question for us as believers: “what is it your eyes long for?” Basically, it is asking what are you anticipating? Right now, the city I live in is under a winter storm warning. When the angry, grey clouds outside my study window break open it is expected they’ll release freezing rain, then ice pellets and finally 20 to 30 cm of snow. I found myself waking up in the night and thinking about it. Asking myself: “Will I travel to tomorrow? Will I have to cancel my appointments?”

You see, something as simple as a storm can change our plans. Now, consider the coming salvation of Jesus Christ. Our hearts ought to beat in anticipation of all that this means! We are in a most fortunate place in history. We know Jesus Christ has come. We know He is seated in power and glory at the Father’s right hand, subduing all His enemies and ours. We read Scripture with the profound confidence He rules in this way until the day He rises from the throne and, like the Mighty Warrior He Is, returns to judge the living and the dead.

We preach this to our souls when we are weary. We preach this to our friends when they are tired or worn in their fight against sin. We remember that we are engaged in a battle.

It is guerrilla warfare…

The problem is that as Christians, we often forget we are in a war.

Or worse, we don’t even know that there is a war.

Unlike most warfare, where at least we know

that there is an enemy somewhere, spiritual warfare

tends to be especially covert. No one is getting shot

and many people—even addicts themselves—

seem to be managing their lives fairly well.

E. Welch ADDICTIONS A Banquet in the Grave. page 226, 227

Yet God has promised He is victorious. He has repeatedly demonstrated His victory in Scripture: over Egypt, over the seven nations in the Promised Land, over Persia, over the Babylonians, over Rome. His righteous promises never fail. Fellow Christians be encouraged this day—the victory of Jesus Christ is sure, it is “Yes” and “Amen”. Satan is fierce and angriest because he knows he is defeated already. His time is nearly spent, and he will be tormented in hell with all the demonic hosts and all those who hated God. So, he is roaring and snarling like a lion. The righteous promise of God is this: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:17).

Thank You Jesus, for Your great and sweeping victory. Spirit of God give us the eyes of faith to see the work of Christ in the spiritual realms, in the history of the church and in our own lives. Spirit of God renew our hearts in celebratory submission to our Father in heaven. Direct us in His righteous promises. Wake us to the warfare all around us so that we will be equipped and ready for the guerrilla tactics of the enemy. More than this even, Spirit—Councillor of the hearts of true believers—direct us so that we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation and the Author and Perfecter of all true believing. Amen.

February 26, 2020 - - Psalm 119:122 - - You sure of our Surety?!

Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

Psalm 119:122 English Standard Version

The Hebrew language was most helpful to me in understanding this verse. The expression “pledge of good” or “surety” is used in Genesis 43:9 and 44:32. There the man Judah promises if anything happens to his youngest brother, Benjamin, then he will make it good to their father. When the eleven brothers, sons of Jacob, go to Egypt to buy bread from Highest Official in the land—they don’t know it is the brother they sold into slavery so many years ago—Benjamin is accused of wrong-doing. He is going to be held captive in the land of Egypt. However, Judah stands up and says, “I will be the pledge of good” or “I will be your guarantee that you will be repaid”. This is a deeply Christological image.

In King David’s day, the sacrifices of lambs were the pledge of good. They pointed to the fact that one day the wrath of God against our sin would be spent on our Surety, the One Who is our Pledge of Good, Jesus Christ. Though we should stand condemned as worthy of hell, our punishment was set on Him instead. We have therefore been set free: The Judge of Heaven declared us not guilty of our sins and furthermore, He declared all the righteousness, all the obedience of Jesus, is now credited to our account.

Why is King David so urgently in need of this Surety? The arrogant are oppressing him. The insolent who mock him, strive to steal his hope, and crush his joy. They are presumptuous in their ignorance of the LORD of Glory and yet seem to have no consequences for their haughty sins. These men are persistent thorns in the life of this psalmist (see verses 51, 69, 78, 85).

Weary Christian, battle worn and scarred, look to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In worship of Him Who suffered, died, was buried; see Him now as risen from the dead, ascended to Heaven and seated at the Father’s right hand. He is our victory. He is our Surety that His enemies and ours will be thrown down.

In fact, Jesus, our Pledge of Good, is our wake-up call to pray urgently for our haughty oppressors. For these oppressors are themselves bound in heavy chains of slavery to the devil. Their own misery under Satan’s hand presses them, tortures them to acts of wickedness. Pray that they too will be released by the gift of Father’s love—Jesus Christ our Surety. Plead with the Spirit of God for their release. But for the grace of God we too would be haughty oppressors of others.

What soaring words You, Spirit of God, inspired Paul to write—^there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ! Spirit of the Living God, thank You for showing us the Treasure that is ours—Jesus our Surety. Thank You, Spirit of God for speaking to our minds and spirits—declaring louder than the shouts of our enemies and even to our own recalcitrant consciences: Abba, God our Father. We pray for those in our lives who show their hatred for King of kings and LORD of Lords by their insolence against us, Your servants. Bring them to a saving knowledge of Yourself, Triune God. At the cross Jesus defeated the enemy and disarmed him, now Glorious LORD, bring many sons and daughters to Yourself in love. Forgive our own impatience. Forgive our spite against those who are, out of their agonized service to evil, persecuting Christians. By our staunch faithfulness to You, let Your glory shine forth. Amen.

^Quotation is from Romans 8:1

February 24, 2020 -- Psalm 119:121 -- Saved from Oppressors

I have done what is right and just,

do not leave me to my oppressors.

Psalm 119:121 English Standard Version

It may seem like boasting to say, “I have done what is right and just”. If this were not a prayer-psalm, I’d be more inclined to agree with that assessment. The words right and just are in the original language: righteousness and justice. What do the oppressors of this writer have to do with his working out of God’s righteousness and justice?

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, in The Gulag Archipelago wrote:

The line separating good and evil passes not through states,

nor between classes, nor between political parties either—

but right through every human heart—

and through all human hearts.

Interestingly, he goes on to say that even in the evillest heart there is a bridgehead of good. Obviously, I thoroughly disagree with him.

Scripture tells us that all of us were dead in our sins and trespasses. There is no line of good and evil. There is no single pinpoint of light or hope flickering within us calling out for salvation. It is not until the Spirit of Truth, directed by the Father, because of the work of Jesus, enters into a man and brings him to life can there be any good in him at all. Where the Spirit of God has taken up residence in a man’s life, he is filled with righteousness—an alien righteousness—such as comes from the accomplished work of Christ alone. The Spirit of God brings a man to the court of God where this man is declared just because Jesus has paid all the penalty.

Those who are thus made alive by the Spirit of God then will be sifted by the circumstances of their life. They will face trials and hardships that require more strength than any human mind, body or soul have. Here is where the line between good and evil is oscillating, as Solzhenitsyn would say it, and by the grace of the Spirit gaining territory—all the heart and life and mind has been claimed by God—now that is being worked out fully.

That is why the psalmist cried out to God—”do not leave me to my oppressors”. The oppressors all around us show us the evil that lingers in our hearts. The oppressors around us show us our profound and continuing need for the Savior. The oppressors by their evil deeds cause a rebel sigh to rise up from within us so that we would fight fire with fire, rather than let the Spirit of God extinguish the furnace of evil that bellows within us.

Wait, I have to be kind to those who oppress me? I have to show goodness to the wicked? Read what the Bible teaches: “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20 ESV). Basically, we are to leave up to God the task of apportioning out the right weight of judgment with the full confidence God by the activity of those around us will reveal to us our own evil impulses so that these can be excised. The request of the psalmist has been gloriously answered in Jesus’ words to Peter:  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus prayed. Jesus continues to pray for us so that our circumstances will not kill us but will be used to purify and refine us for His glory and add to the greater condemnation of those who refuse the glorious work of Christ—the Redeemer-King. More even than this, we who have been so tried will in turn be able to bless and encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ who struggle with the example of our own life, where the victory of Christ in us defeated evil.

The prayer included below is for one voice. That means one voice [indicated by the pronoun ‘I’] prays for the congregation or the people gathered. The purpose is to emphasize the deeply personal nature of God’s saving work in me and through me, while at the same time recognizing as we all pray this, God in His infinite mercy and wisdom and love is coordinating His saving work so that all of us are knit together as members of the Body of Christ. The prayer is based on Ephesians 3:14-19).

Spirit of Truth let the words of Scripture sink into the murky places of my mind and heart—the very places where You are now most active in purging evil from me and bringing the healing work of Jesus. Direct me in all truth for the sake of Jesus Christ. Thank You Spirit of God for Your on-going, ever-faithful, persistent work in my life which enables me to perceive in incrementally greater measure the glorious greatness of the Father and the height, depth, breadth and width of the love of Christ by which I am filled with the fullness of God. Glory to You, Triune God. Blessing and honour, praise and adoration belong to You, now and forever. Amen.

February 23, 2020 -- Psalm 119:120 -- Crushed Enemies and Jubilant Righteous

My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Psalm 119:120 English Standard Version

What an odd verse for this day. How do we understand “the fear of the LORD”? It is a question that has come up several times in the Daily Devotions series. This morning I looked at the The Lange Commentary on Holy Scripture. Read on. You may need to read it once or twice to grasp it:

When God so to speak only passes by us, through some temporary taste of His presence,

it is a favor which He may also impart to sinners. But that He may make His abode in us,

as He promises in so many passages of Holy Scripture,

that He may be willing to remain with us and in us,

—for that there is demanded great purity in every respect.—S. Schmid:

Better is quite too great a fear of God than no fear,

if only it does not wholly take away confidence in God’s mercy (Psalm 119:120).

Quoted from BibleWorks10, Lange Commentary on Holy Scripture

When people in Scripture meet an angel, most frequently they are afraid. You can find many such references: Genesis 15:1; 21:17; Isaiah 41:10, Luke 2:10 and on and on. Why is there fear in the presence of the LORD’s Angel’s or in the Presence of the LORD’s voice or command? Because the LORD is Holy. He is Mighty. He throws down sinners and crushes the enemy under His feet (I Corinthians 15:15). We know we are not holy. We know the impurity that lingers in us against our will. Worse yet, we know the sins we cling to and the desires of our hearts that we do not deny.

The Judgment of the LORD refers to the fact that all sin and rebellion, all our trespasses and wicked deeds have been punished in the body and soul of Jesus Christ. If we love our sin and our misdeeds more than we love God we are right to have a fear of His wrath. The First Commandment instructs every person that God will not tolerate any idol, make-believe god or any other thing of veneration. He alone IS LORD of all and He alone is to be worshiped.

However, beloved in the LORD Jesus Christ, those who know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection know that their sins are wholly covered. The Judgment of God makes us tremble for we know we face His discipline when we sin. Our Father in Heaven disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Such discipline seems cruel, but is necessary for us to be purified from our deep-seated and ingrained sins.

Those who know Jesus Christ tremble at the bold sinfulness of all who reject Him. We have family members and friends whom we love who do not understand the Incorruptible Holiness of God that will not endure any hint of sin or rebellion or pride. All the enemies of God will be crushed (Psalm 68:21). It is a terrifying thing for believers to contemplate. Therefore we pray urgently for all who do not believe.

Yet for the psalmist and for us as believers we understand this glorious truth in Jesus Christ: Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other (Psalm 85:10). All the wrath of God against sin is spent for those who believe in Jesus. The Spirit of God brings us the full assurance that justice and mercy have been fully satisfied at the cross of Jesus Christ. The Father raised Him from the dead in glory and in greater glory seated Him at His right hand and His greatest glory will be revealed at the Day of Judgment when every eye will see Him in His majesty and terrible power and all people will be separated so that the wicked will be cast into hell and the righteous (whose righteousness is found in them because of Jesus’ work accomplished and believed) will enter the Splendors of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

God shall arise and His enemies shall be scattered! Great and glorious are You, O LORD, and all your enemies shall be driven away, all your enemies shall melt like wax in the fire. Your people exult before You, O God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Your people shall be jubilant with joy! You are the Father to the fatherless, the protector of widows; in Your goodness You provide for the needy. Awesome is God from His sanctuary! Blessed be God now and forever! Amen.

note this prayer is based on various verses of Psalm 68; only in the Psalms could I find language exuberant enough and deep enough to express the prayer of my heart

February 22, 2020 -- Psalm 119:119 -- Gross dross and purified metal

All the wicked you discard like dross,

therefore I love your testimonies.

Psalm 119:119 English Standard Version

There is a Day of Judgment. The sins of the wicked, those who are unrepentant—unwilling to turn from their sins and submit their hearts and minds to Jesus Christ—will face the wrath of God. Here the reference is “dross”. Dross is the scum and solid impurities which float to the surface of molten metal. It is useless. Interestingly, the only way to purify metal is to heat to high temperatures. The metal becomes pure and the impurities are driven out. That tells us a lot about the purpose of our trials—they drive our the impurities from among the people of God.

We can find many such references to the wicked in Scripture. This wicked are like chaff that the wind drives away (Psalm 1:4). The horns of the wicked shall be cut off (Psalm 75:10)—which means they will be made powerless. Why does Scripture refer to this over and over again? The point is that the wicked, who seem powerful and successful now, will meet their doom. They will die. When the Judgment Day comes they, who were once so haughty and proud, will be humbled. In awe they will bow their knees before Jesus Christ and confess Him LORD to the glory of the Father.

The testimonies of the LORD, the written word, give us delightful and steadfast assurance of the victory of Jesus Christ over evil. It is not that Christians will triumph in their own strength. Read these glorious words:

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.

But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours

but also for the sins of the whole world.

I John 2:1-2 NIV

He, Jesus, is the atoning sacrifice. He speaks to the Father interceding and pleading His blood and His perfect life given in our place. The “whole world” refers to all, the full count of those who will believe in Jesus Christ and be sheltered by His atoning sacrifice.

Dear Jesus, a life-time is not enough time to thank You for Your love and great sacrifice. Take all our guilty stains away. By the powerful presence of Your Spirit restore to us the joy of our salvation and re-ignite in us a holy zeal to serve You with our words and hands, thoughts and actions. Let our lives bring praise and honour to the Father in heaven, Who has claimed us beloved sons and daughters. Let our lives impact our family and neighbours, co-workers and friends, so that they will leave the wickedness of their ways and embrace Jesus Christ with all hope and wonder. Amen.

February 20, 2020 -- Psalm 119:118 -- The Clarion Call

You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

Psalm 119:118 English Standard Version

At first reading of this verse one has to wonder—”who has any hope?” Haven’t we all gone astray from the statutes of God? Haven’t we all run from Him and refused to submit to His rules? In fact the very last verse of Psalm 119 is “I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant” (verse 176 a). The second phrase of this brief verse helps us to understand what is taking place—the deceitfulness of such men is what is in view. These who are going astray are planning this, they are cunning, purposeful in their deceit and their hearts are hard to the word of the LORD.

Whenever the writer of Psalm 119 refers to his own waywardness, he adds an important qualification—let’s look at Psalm 119:176 again: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.” This is a pattern repeated quite often in this Psalm [check out: 37, 59, 67]. Notice that in his straying he is still aware of the commandments of the Living God. Though he has rebelled, his flesh is at odds with his heart’s desire—which is to remain in step with God his King. The Spirit of God has placed in this man a restraining power so that sin will not, can not, fully master this man.

Our passage this morning is a clarion call [the urgent, shrill sounding of the trumpet summoning the soldier to action]. O fellow believer, keep your heart true to our King. If the passage this morning has awakened your conscience to your wrong-doing, bring it to the King of Mercy. Confess your sin. Recognize the work of Jesus Christ is not to save lost sinners, but to make the the dead alive. We were dead in our sins and misery. As those dead in sin, we could not know how rotten we were. The Spirit of God has, at our baptism, united us with Jesus in His death and burial, and raised us to newness of life. The Word of God shows us any time we go near the festering, pile of our former ways, we should catch the stench of death and be warned off and go to our knees and repent. Turn from our sin and ask for the Spirit to apply to our hearts and minds the redemption work of Jesus.

This passage is a dire warning for those who are hardened in their sin against the God of Glory. To be spurned by God is to be trampled underfoot. It is to be utterly ruined in one’s rebellion. No matter our status or power, money or family connections, there will be a day of reckoning. Death comes to every man. No one escapes it. And at the Judgment Seat there will be a full accounting and every wrong, every act of deceit and cunning against God will be punished in the fires of hell. If your heart recoils at this and you know you need a Savior, turn to Jesus. Confess you are a sinner in need of His resurrection life.

These words of our text are written so that the sinner may awaken from being dead in sin and by the Spirit rise to newness of life.

These words are written to confirm those who hear and yet grow harder in their rebellion will face the justice of God, without any mercy, when they stand at His Judgment Seat.

These words are written so that all who believe in Jesus rejoice now at the lavish love and mercy, justice and grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We read such warnings and know He has awakened our soul from death and brought us to life. We are assured by faith we have a Father in heaven, Who knows we are inclined to every sin and wrong-doing and by His Spirit He is restraining our evil ways, and giving us a new heart, a deeper love for Him and a greater appreciation for the limitless perfections of His laws which lead us to Christ our Savior and King.

Terrible and complete is Your wrath against sin, O God of all perfection and holiness. You have issued Your warnings, complete and thorough, to all men and women of this planet. Spirit of the Living God, call out believers from every tribe and language, nation and people group. Spirit of Glory, lift sinners from their tombs of death: addictions, slavery to sin, hatred of all that is holy. As those who were once notorious in their hatred of God, we have become completely transformed in Christ, blessed, joy-filled children of the Most High. In our lives, our words and worship may Your Name be praised, King Jesus. May the Majestic Mercy and Unmatched Kindness of God stagger all who witness it in us. To You belongs all praise and triumph, victory and credit. Amen.

February 19, 2020 -- Psalm 119:117 -- Battle weary soldiers held up by grace

Hold me up, that I may be safe

   and have regard for your statutes continually!

Psalm 119:117 English Standard Version

There are times when a patient is in distress and will need to have his head raised.  If a patient is on a bed and needs the bed raised 40 to 90 degrees so that his head and trunk are elevated (Fowler’s position) the purpose of doing this can be an aid for the patient’s breathing or help for cardiac patient. Consider another example when a person may need to have his head held up. If a person has been swimming and has exhausted his strength, but is still a ways from shore, he will need to have someone toss him a buoy so that he can raise his head above the water. Perhaps you have seen marathons where a runner is so drained, stumbling and dehydrated that others need to stand one on each side of him and put their arms around him so that he will not fall to the ground with his muscles all seized up. Even as his companions walk beside him and hold him up the depleted runner’s feet drag uselessly along the ground as calves cramp and hs feet rebel against the recent exertions.

Resisting sin is a battle that takes a toll on us mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. It requires a vast output of energy. Those who are in Christ have become a new creation. The old has passed away and the life of Christ Jesus is taking hold of us, changing us. As the Spirit of God dwells in us and applies the redeeming work of Jesus in us, we are transformed. Even so, our old nature rails against this.

Our flesh resists, remembering the lecherous delights of sin and reminiscing of those days of imagined freedom. The problem is this: our sin-filled ways were not idyllic nor were they free from the destructive work of wickedness. Inevitably the havoc which trespasses bring to our lives result in lives crippled by consequences. There can be no other result.  The sinner who chooses to keep going in rampant evil pathways will need his head propped up in order to sin further . Wickedness and wild debauchery do not result in a peaceful life, but require a head help up over a porcelain bowl as one vomits. Medications—legal and illegal to combat the tormented body and mind as they react to the hard living—are required to hold someone up.

Beloved in Jesus—those who combat sin, raging as warriors of the cross of Jesus Christ, expend themselves for greater glory. They resist sin at every instance. When they fail, they confess such failures to the Spirit. The God Whose gaze penetrates our lies, and for Whom dark and light are both alike, is not fooled by our feeble efforts to shield ourselves from Him while we sin. Confession is declaring to God: “You are right. In every respect and every regard: I am a sinner full-on in need of the grace supplied in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.” At that moment the Spirit of God holds us up. He restores our souls. He holds up our cramping bodies so that we don’t fall so far that we feel abandoned. He saves us.

As those who are saved from death and ultimate defeat, we are guarded by the statutes of God. Statutes are the laws laid down by God, Who is the Source of Every Blessing. Statutes reveal to us the pathway of life. The statutes of God are His rules by which we are kept from self-destruction. We ignore these at our peril. We ignore these only if we are death-seeking in our foolishness. The statutes of God are His course of delight for those who know Him and understand He will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death where we need fear no evil, for He is with us and His Word directs us so that we will not lose our way.

The passage we have before us this morning reminds me of one of the blessings in Scripture. I believe it is one of the most tender blessings and it is found in Deuteronomy 33:12

And of Benjamin he said,

The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him;

and the LORD shall cover him all the day long,

and he shall dwell between his shoulders. King James Version

Did you catch the beautiful imagery? The beloved of the LORD are kept safe—even when they expend themselves in service to the King of Glory. They are covered under the wings of His mercy. The Mighty Sovereign of Heaven and Earth cradles His beloved between His shoulders, He embraces them. Glory and praise be to our God, tender and kind, magnificent and powerful—able to save completely those who are His. As I considered Psalm 119:117, I realized it is one of the fulfilments of the blessing in Deuteronomy 33:12. Which is finally, perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He brings us to our Father. We are kept safe in our Father’s hand. The Spirit of the Living God dwells between our shoulders—we live in the perpetual embrace of God.

There is none like You, O God, Who rides through the skies in Your majesty! You thrust out the enemy before You and drive the enemy out from among Your people. You hold Your people up by Your everlasting arms and shield them in safety until the day of Salvation. Happy are Your people. Victorious are all who fight under of the banner of Jesus, the Captain of Salvation. Refreshed are those in whom Your Spirit dwells. Blessed are You, forever and ever. Amen.

[This prayer is based on Deuteronomy 33:12, 26ff]

February 18, 2020 -- Psalm 119:116 -- Upheld in God's Court

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

   and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Psalm 119:116 English Standard Version

The English Standard Version uses the vocabulary that an average grade 10 graduate would know and be able to use. However, that vocabulary is above what the average adult uses in daily reading and conversation. Why do I mention this? The very first word of our text today “uphold” is a strange word. One we likely do not use in everyday language. The plea “uphold me” can mean: support, preserve, protect. Quite apart from this, in a legal setting the word takes on a different meaning. It has a technical sense, uphold my case, confirm the validity of my claim.

The word of God is filled with the promises of God. We are invited to pray these promises to our Father in heaven with the full assurance He will hear and answer. Think of the LORD’s Prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” The point is He Who taught us to pray this will also provide. We realize our Father in heaven is the source of every good gift—He gives us work, He gives us the strength to carry it out, He gives gifts and talents

so that we can do what He has called us to do.

When the believer is surrounded by the taunts of the enemy, and derided by the people of the world who hate the glory of God, it is most appropriate to cry out: “uphold me according to your promise that I may live”. The LORD is the Just Judge of all the earth. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been judged ‘not guilty’ of their sin and crimes and rebellion against God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have had their sins punished on the person of Jesus so that the Judge of All the Earth upholds our case and declares us innocent.

Our own conscience rails against this. Those who know us best remind us of our sins. We can feel helpless against the onslaught of the taunts and accusations hurled against us. No wonder the psalm writer cries out to God the LORD to uphold his case. He asks the Judge to declare his case has been confirmed, sustained and the accusers accusations proved baseless. More than this, the same God Who is the Judge is the Saviour is also the One Who applies His healing work to us so that we have a sure and confident hope in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 6:19 reminds us that we have a sure and trustworthy hope, because it is anchored in Jesus Christ. The Spirit of the LORD assures us and reassures us of the victory that is ours in Jesus Christ so that we will not fail. Our confidence is not in our own ability or skills, but our hope rests fully and securely on Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God directs our thoughts and prayers to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of all true believing. What a glorious God we serve.

  Blessed are You, Glorious Judge of All the Earth. It is incredible to us that You have poured out on us such mercy and grace, love and victory. Spirit of God, draw us to the word, feed us by its truth so that our hope and confidence remains fixed on Jesus—not on ourselves, not on our pseudo-accomplishments or vain boastings—but on Jesus in Whom we have our old nature put to death and with Him we rise to newness of life. Build up in us a vocabulary of faith and joy so that our lips will praise You and our lives declare Your power and dominion, might and majesty. Amen.

February 16, 2020 -- Psalm 119:115 -- Devoted

Depart from me, you evildoers,

   that I may keep the commandments of my God.

Psalm 119:115 English Standard Version

Once again, a quick sketch of context is critical for us to grasp this verse. In verse 114 the psalmist noted that the Living God is his hiding place (the place of protection and growth in learning greater trust) and his shield (the attacks of the enemy will be turned back so that the child of God is assured his salvation is guarded by the glory and presence of the Spirit). Now to the present verse. The writer of this Psalm has enjoyed such refreshment in worship and prayer that he is far more sensitive to the motives and machinations of those around him.

There is, people of God, a sweetness that arises from spending time with God. When believers read the Bible and pray, they are not merely completing a “to do” list. In devotional times believers are drawing strength and blessing from the One Who Sustains His people (Isaiah 46:4). Worship reorients the believer so that he learns the fear of God, God Who alone is immortal and lives in unapproachable light (I Timothy 6:16). God is the One Who is to be feared and blessed, honoured and adored. Our lives are dedicated to Him alone because of His splendour and majesty, the fact that He alone is worthy.

When someone is devoted to exercise, he will scorn anyone who wants to impose on his exercise time or routine. He won’t have it.

When someone is committed to good grades in school, then the discipline of completing all assignments on time trumps the thought of putting homework aside for a night out with friends.

We, who don’t share the same passions as these people, will perhaps mock such dedication—who cares about grades? Getting a “C” means one comfortably passes the course, what is the point of all the extra work in getting an “A? The one just wants the grade. Many other things matter as much, or more than the subject at hand. The committed student delights in the study, loves the subject and sees the benefits accrued by working in a disciplined way and the “A” confirms his delight.

So it is with those who love the LORD. His commandments are homework that teach us more about the Author of our Salvation. His laws are good and show us the wide pathways of life that set beautiful boundary lines for our lives (Psalm 16:6). Walking in the pathway of life is not only exercise for the body, it is blessing for the mind and soul as one becomes dedicated more completely to the Father Who is the Source of every blessing (James 1:17).

Captain of Salvation as Your holy army is summoned to worship—by the call the Holy Spirit—may Your Name be praised and adored. As Your people sing hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, may the knowledge of Your glory rise as incense before our Father’s throne. Increase our faith as we worship You with our whole heart and mind and soul. Deepen our understanding of Who You Are by the preaching the Word. Let the knowledge of Your glory and goodness, power and love, fuel our holy living so that the insolent and accursed ones will not have influence on our lives, but You will increasingly become our all in all. Amen.

February 15, 2020 -- Psalm 119:114 -- Hope filled faith

You are my hiding place and my shield;

   I hope in your word.

Psalm 119:114 English Standard Version

Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ the references this verse makes to other portions of scripture are rich and many. In the Psalms the LORD our God is described as the hiding place of His people (27:5 and 61:4). Perhaps King David remembers the time when he was young and served the LORD in the household of King Saul. That king plotted several times to kill him. King Saul’s son, Jonathan, dearest friend of the future King David, sheltered him and hid him (I Samuel 19:2)  from the evil intents of his double-minded [see verse 119:113 for the fuller explanation of double-minded] and evil-intending father.

To name God as the Shield of His people is a direct reference to Genesis 15:1 and 33, where God Himself tells Abraham “I AM your Shield and Very Great Reward”. Though our fortunes or success in this world may rise or fall according to the standards and measures used by the world, those who trust in the Living God have such blessing and joy as can never be fully measured and such gifts as can never be taken from them.

To hope in the word of the LORD is to anticipate what He will do, no matter how dire the circumstances. To hope in the word of the LORD is faith that is exercised, acknowledging whatever is happening here in front of me cannot obscure what the eyes of faith see—the mighty power of God at work. This expression “I hope in your word” is used 6x in Psalm 119 (v.43, 49, 74, 81, 114, and 147). It is a critical theme. Only the Spirit can take the word of God and help us to interpret correctly what is taking place. Only the Spirit can take the word of God and apply it so that we learn watchful anticipation for Jesus’ return. For when Jesus returns, all things will be set right, all injustices addressed. Those who are not under His shield nor abiding in His hiding place will be cast into hell. Yet the mercies of God our Father and His abundant love for His children will unfold through-out eternity.

Fellow believers in King Jesus, we can easily let our circumstances bring us to a place where we question the works of God. We have seen His salvation in the past, but we wonder, here, where I am now, can God really help me now? Since Feb. 2nd my back has been out of balance. There are times in the night I cringe in pain. A few times when I am teaching lessons in recovery centres or at the prisons, those listening laugh at me awkwardly because they see my contorted face and wincing. They know it hurts. But it is also funny to them because usually I am quite animated and joyful. In fact, this past Monday the pain was so bad, I had to have two young men from a drug and alcohol recovery centre escort me, one man on each arm, down the front stairs, across the short driveway to my car! I could not walk upright on my own and needed that much help. And, thoughtfully, one the guys even brushed the light dusting of snow from my car while I sat unable to do anything but thankfully receive their care.

I am faced with basically two options: one is to complain and say to God, “why are You doing this? I am striving to be faithful here. Why would You mess with my life like this?”  Or I can pray, “Father in heaven, in this place of pain You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your word.” I can acknowledge the power of God to remove this hinderance and painful trial—and know whether or not He does so, He is good. He is faithful. He has proven Himself gracious and loving over and over again.

The LORD is my shield already now—whether or not the pain is removed. In Jesus Christ my sins are washed away. By the power of the Holy Spirit the word is rich and real in my life. Yesterday a wonderful truth was drilled deep into me. The LORD of Glory allows me to visit with men in prison, whose circumstances are so dire. When I visit them I hear their testimonies of faith. As we meet together and pray, all of us are reminded once again, no matter what our lives bring—He Who is Faithful will accomplish His saving purpose. He will apply His victory to our circumstances, either now, or when Christ returns. Until that time, He will hide us under the shelter of His wings (Psalm 61:4). Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Jesus, our Shield and Very Great Reward, when we are tempted this day to complain about our circumstances or grumble once again about this or that—let Your Spirit renew in us a deeper, more soul-felt assurance which bubbles up in us because the word is once again applied to our heart. Patient, Faithful Father in heaven, thank You that You will work out Your salvation in us and that You are even now transforming our lowly bodies and scattered brained living.  With the psalmist, and believers—troubled and triumphant—through the ages, we pray: You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Amen

February 13, 2020 -- Psalm 119:113 -- Focused faith

I hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

Psalm 119:113 English Standard Version

This is the first verse of a new stanza—the Samekh stanza. Samekh is the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet so this is the 14th stanza. The verse itself is rather elegant in its brevity—it is only four Hebrew words. It would be approximately:

shifty hate; torahites love.

The shifty or double-minded are people who know the word of God and His will but are tossed about. It depends entirely on the company they keep as to whether or not the Law of God is honoured and obeyed. Frankly, this is a problem for all of us. If we surround ourselves with people who profess to be Christians, but act in ways that are contrary to our faith, we will soon cut loose from the spiritual moorings we claim to be so important in our lives.

The Torah of God is commonly defined as the first five books of the Bible—the books Moses wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It can also be used in a broader sense to refer to all the Old Testament. It can be a reference to all the instruction of God, the LORD and King of His people.

The Torahites—a word I constructed in my rough approximation of a translation—are those who deliberately choose to be identified as ones who keep the instruction of God. They are prepared to be corrected and rebuked for their wrong-doing. When an error in conduct or thought is detected, they long to pluck it out so that their devotion to the Living God is whole-hearted and pure. In the New Testament book of Hebrews, the mature are those “who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

The footnotes in my English Standard Version Study Bible are particularly helpful. The psalmist notes he “hates” the double-minded—this hate is not so much an emotional response as it is a deliberate rejection of a false way. If you check out verse 158 of this Psalm you’ll note the psalmist looks with disgust on those who are faithless. That term ‘faithless’ is a synonym for ‘double-minded’.

The words of God are precious to His people. Any rejection of them or violation of His words to His people is treated with contempt and suspicion by the ones who are devoted to God, the Giver-of-the-Torah. The LORD does not lie (Titus 1:2); nor is God a man who changes his mind all the time (Numbers 23:19). Therefore, those who trust in Him hold His Torah as precious because the reading of the word and putting it into practice direct our thoughts and hearts to the King of kings and LORD of Lords, Who because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, has become our Dear Father in heaven. The Spirit of God lives in the hearts of believers and testifies to the veracity of the Word—since it is that same Spirit of God Who moved men, many centuries ago, to write the Word which gives careful witness to the Truth of God.

God, I believe. By Your Spirit’s presence in my heart, help me to overcome my unbelief. As the Word of Christ takes root in my heart and mind, Spirit of the Living God, help me grow in devotion to Jesus and so bring honour and glory to the Father in heaven. This day I pray for those who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ, but who by their words and actions show themselves to be shifty and unreliable. Guard me in the way everlasting. Keep me humble to quickly confess every wrong path, quicker still to regain my footing in the path of righteousness, where Jesus my Shepherd leads. Amen.

February 12, 2020 -- Psalm 119:112 -- Inclined by the Spirit to holy service

Incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.

Psalm 119:112 English Standard Version

This may seem like an odd prayer. Hasn’t the psalm-writer been vowing to follow God and promising to keep His precepts and speaking of his love for the law of the LORD for the previous 100+ verses? You bet he has, but an important point is being made here, one we need to understand. Our salvation is fully dependent on God. He has chosen us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1). He breaks through the stubborn resistance of our hearts and places in us a longing for His salvation (Ephesians 2). The Sovereign LORD brings us up from the dead—we were dead in our sinfulness and unable to choose God. He made us alive in Christ and gives us a heart that beats with longing for Him powered by the Spirit. Our role is this: to pray for God to work out His salvation fully and completely within us.

The prayers we pray include the following elements. We confess our sins. We acknowledge before Him our weakness and failures. We have to put far from ourselves any pride or self-reliance. We are utterly incapable of saving ourselves. We can not add one atom of contribution to our salvation. When we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are wholly saved. Our sins are fully paid for and we are given the credit of Jesus’ perfect obedience. The Spirit of God seals this to our hearts. Our response then is to live in thankfulness before God. This includes giving to the LORD our God all the honour and glory of admitting our absolute dependence on Him for every good thing. Even our rebellious hearts are not under our control, we need Him to tame these rebel hearts and bring them into submission to Himself for His glory.

What freedom we have, when we pray this prayer “incline my heart to perform Your statutes”! We did not save ourselves. In fact, the King of Glory chose the weak people, those who are mocked and scorned by the world and effects His salvation in us so that all the credit is His alone! (Check out I Corinthians 1:26-30). Our eternal life in Jesus Christ does not depend on us—it rests on His accomplished work. Our life is a prayer asking for the Spirit of God to bring glory to Jesus by honouring His work and applying His redemption to our lives. The Father in heaven receives the praise and glory for all of this as the One Who sent the Son into the world.

Beautiful Savior—You are the King of Creation. Jesus You are the Son of God and the Son of Man—the Lamb of God Who takes away our sin. You are worthy of our worship and praise, our love and adoration. Spirit of God, move us to love Jesus more fully and purely. Spirit of power, incline our hearts to the word and will of our Father in heaven so that the work of Jesus is credited and praised in us and through us. Great are You Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, worthy of all praise. Amen.

February 11, 2020--Psalm 119:111--Privileged position of joy

Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111 English Standard Version

Joy becomes part of one’s heritage. My mother (now in her eighties) still speaks of her mom who used to go into their neighbourhood and sing hymns. From what I remember of mom’s stories, my grandmother would go and play the organ and sing hymns of her faith, evangelizing neighbours. My mom would join her. While I was growing up, my mom in turn often played piano at old age homes, aiding those preaching or leading worship. Other times mom would be playing, going on her own, so that the residents would be blessed.

For the writer of this psalm the testimonies of the LORD are his heritage. Testimonies are what God has declared to be his will—for example Jesus declared: “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). What about John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

So much of our living instills boredom. There are only so many social media posts you can stand. There are only so many episodes you can binge-watch. The longer you watch, the more lethargic you become. The mind becomes numb and the body lazy. What a sharp contrast to the glories of drinking the word of the LORD.

In verse 24 the testimonies of the LORD are named as a delight. Here the testimonies are a joy. Obedience to all the LORD solemnly declares to be His will requires activity in our part. We will digest the word of God. We will obey it with thank-filled enthusiasm. We will praise God with humility for the forgiveness of our sins. In Christ we are called holy sons and daughters of God. In awe of this truth we train our children in this great joy. We have the vision that our children, and grand-children and great-grandchildren, will walk in His will and His ways. We go to our knees and pray:

Sovereign of Heaven and Earth all Your ways are perfect. You have given us the privileged position of knowing Who You Are. Spirit of God, we plead with You that our children and grandchildren will walk in the heritage of God’s grace. We pray, Spirit of Truth, let our faith and joy in Jesus be contagious. Forgive us, Father for the times we have had grudging obedience and surly attitudes. Renew in us a deep and abiding joy anchored in Jesus; joy that wells up from His word and flows in us and through us. Jesus we believe in You and therefore we believe in the Father Who sent You. Jesus we believe, send Your Spirit to accomplish in us all You promised. Amen.

February 10, 2020--Psalm 119:110--Faithful Christians avoiding the snares of the wicked

The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

Psalm 119:110 English Standard Version

You are a nurse in a hospital that routinely performs abortions on one floor of the hospital and on another floor there is a neo-natal intensive care unit. The government has just required you to take a rotation on the abortion floor because it refuses to acknowledge its own conscience clause in the charter of rights and freedoms. Do you just take the shift and keep quiet in order to keep your job? Do you protest? Do you refuse and potentially lose your job?

You are at the ballot box and all the candidates you can choose from support Medically Assisted Death—and are opening up this possibility to teen-agers—including teens who suffer from debilitating depression. How do you vote?

There is a very attractive woman at work. She is lingering a little too long at the coffee station whenever you head there. She is signaling her interest in you. As you reach for your coffee and continue your chit chat with her, you realize she is not a Christian. You know it is against the will of God to date a person who is in rebellion against Him. As a follower of Jesus Christ you know she is off-limits. But your brain needles you, telling you that you have been single far longer than you’d ever expected. All your friends are getting married and settling down and raising families. She is pausing a second or two longer still, wondering, “is he going to ask me out or not?”

Our lives are filled with situations where the snares of the wicked are carefully laid out for us. It is not hypothetical. It is real. It is a challenge for believers of every generation. When we turn our lives over to Jesus Christ and choose to follow Him, we will see the traps and snares of the wicked all around us. Do not lose heart, fellow believer. Do not think God has suddenly abandoned you and what you are facing is more than a believer is expected to face.

Note the psalmist’s response to the snares of the wicked. He affirmed the precepts of God. Remember that the precepts of God are the things He commands believers to do. The precepts of God are right in every generation. The directions He calls us to go in are suitable no matter the cost. Our desire to walk in the fear of the LORD means we have fixed our eyes on Him. Our souls are consumed with longing for Him at all times (verse 20). We recognized the accursed, insolent ones are those who know the commandments of God and wander from them—who intentionally, stubbornly seek their own pleasure (v. 21). Even if a government official or ruler opposes you, when your conscience is stirred to obedience to Jesus Christ, then no other course is acceptable but staying true to Him. Obedience delayed is disobedience. The psalmist wrote he hastens and does not delay to keep God’s commandments (verse 60).

When you read the information collected by Census Canada, you get the distinct impression there are supposed to be millions of Christians in Canada. I wonder. How can it be that millions of Christians do not protest in the streets against abortion? Against medically assisted death? More importantly, if there were millions of Christians who actively are obedient to their Lord and King, then wouldn’t the precepts of God shine through in every level of society? It is my guess that the number of Christians must be sifted and sorted into categories that help us understand this disparity between what things should look like and how things are in our beloved country.

I can’t remember from whom I heard this, but it stuck with me. The vast majority of people when taking a census will write Christian. For them that is a better option than say, “Buddhist” or “Atheist”. However, what they mean is grandma used to take them to church, years, maybe even decades ago. They are not even sure if that building is still in use, or where exactly it is. Maybe they’ll visit there the next time they are in town.

Then there are Christians who identify as such on a census form because they attend church at Christmas and perhaps for a wedding. They know the location of “their” church—and attend once or twice a year. My favourite term for them is “CNE’ers”=Christmas ‘n Easter attenders.

Then there are Christians who attend a church regularly. They may even get involved in the church. But for them it is a social club. They like the sense of fellowship they get. However, they do not carry their faith to the ballot box. They don’t think religion should interfere with their daily living and decisions like: who they should date or marry. According to them, the rules of God and His just precepts are fine for the religious folks who are crazy zealous.

Finally after all the others have been sifted out you come to the small circle of believers. They have committed themselves fully to the LORD and find He is their joy and song. No matter the consequences, they follow Him.

Recently I heard a sermon where the preacher noted, “of course Christians are not the majority. Of course they don’t have political power. They don’t have influence. What they have is God Who is great and mighty.” That’s right. It is the LORD Who acts. It is the LORD Who rescues. It is the LORD Who lifts us from our dire circumstances when all the snares are laid for us. By His Word and Spirit He reminds us, He alone has the ultimate power. He is working in history and kneading into all parts of it the marvellous salvation of Jesus Christ so that all will behold and at the judgment throne declare: “There is no god but YHWH! There is no victory but His! He alone is just and true!”

Spirit of the Living God, work out Jesus’ salvation into every part of our hearts. Let the beauty of and the vigilant guardianship of the Word protect us in the way everlasting. Father in heaven, let Your salvation touch many, many people in our land this day. May ‘census Christians’ become evangelized by faithful believers in Jesus Christ and so tenderly discipled in the way everlasting so that they live out loud for Jesus. Spirit of God we plead for the CNEers. Bring them to church and break their stubborn resistance so that the glory of the LORD rises over their hearts and Jesus is the Daystar of resurrection life for them. Father of all mercies, change those who are weekly attenders into humble, holy servants Who delight to carry out Your will in every area of their life: public and private, work and play. Triune God, let the Splendour of Jesus’ work be broadcast far and near across our globe so that many will be brought into His fold and sealed by the Spirit thereby be made known as sons and daughters of the Living God. Amen.

February 8, 2020 -- Psalm 119:109 -- Interaction of Law and Life

I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

Psalm 119:109

English Standard Version

What the original language communicates is the writer’s confession he holds his soul, the essence of his life, what is most precious and important, in his hands. Here’s the problem, when we hold something valuable in our hands we are apt to drop it, or have it snatched out of our hands. It happens so easily. Here in New Brunswick we had an ice storm, intermittent freezing rain for more than 14 hours. Imagine holding something precious in your hand as you go out to the car. As soon as your feet hit icy patches, you slip. Your hand opens up to brace yourself against the fall. Your hands drop everything in order to protect your head. Out from your hand flies whatever you were trying to shield and protect.

When you were a child, perhaps you had a precious coin for show and tell at school. Something you were proud of and wanted your friends to see. Then along comes the bully who demands that you show him what you have. Defiantly you close your fingers into a fist covering the coin. With obstinate cruelty the bully peels back one finger at a time until the treasure is vulnerable and exposed—ready to be snatched away.

Maybe it seemed as odd to you as it did at first to me—the counterpoint in the second phrase: “but I do not forget your law”? How does that help preserve what is precious when I don’t have the strength to keep my life? Great question.

When Israel was delivered out of Egypt, they were barely out of Egypt when the LORD had them camp near the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his army came up from Egypt to wipe them out. The people were trapped. Their lives were in their hands, but the LORD comforted them, saying, “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Exodus 14:14). Then the God of Salvation opened a way through the Red Sea so that 600,000 men and their families—so more than 1.8 million strong—passed safely through the Red Sea on dry land.

At the foot of Mt. Sinai, exactly three months after the people had been delivered from Egypt and brought to the foot of the Mountain which God had promised He would bring them to, the Faithful God reminded HIs people they are His chosen treasure, saved by His grace, they would never fall out of His hand. As the people saved by His grace, shown His power, they are then invited to keep His commandments. Keeping the commandments is a response of thankfulness to the fact that we cannot be snatched away from God.

The New Testament confirms what the psalmist prophesied about the grace of God when Jesus promised:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,

and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

John 10:27-29 English Standard Version

The followers of Jesus Christ believe in Him. He has demonstrated His great saving love. We are dedicated to Him and for this faith will face trials and hardships, even our own flesh will at times betray us. The most precious gift of God, our soul, is constantly battered, however, Jesus gives us eternal life. He protects us and no one and nothing can snatch us out of Jesus’ hand or the hands of the Father Who clasps Jesus’ hands in love and honour for all He has done. We never had or will have the strength to protect our life, or our soul. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have the great assurance that no matter how we are battered or assaulted in this life for the sake of the Gospel, we are guarded, kept safe in the hollow of God’s hand. We need not fear him who can harm the body or even kill (Satan), for He Who has power over life and death, heaven and hell, will guard us and bring us to Himself when our life’s journey is done.

God of Might and Splendor, lead us in Your law of thankful living. We bless You and praise You for the inestimable gift of Jesus Christ and His shielding love. We bless You with wonder and awe-filled love for the extravagant gift of the Holy Spirit Who is the deposit guaranteeing our salvation in Jesus Christ. We pray Holy Spirit, direct our soul, our strength and our minds in the path of Your law so that we praise You Triune God, as in Jesus’ Name we overcome our enemies. Amen.

February 7, 2020 --Psalm 119:108 -- True Worship

Accept my freewill offering of praise, O LORD,

and teach me your rules.

Psalm 119:108 English Standard Version

This is an interesting place in Psalm 119. It is the first time in fifty verses that the Name of the LORD is used in two consecutive verses. It is the covenant Name of God—the revelation God made of Himself to Moses and the Patriarchs. He is the Only God Who knows the end from the beginning. He is the only God Who is self-existent. He is the only Deliverer. In the Old Testament the LORD delivered His people from Egypt. This deliverance from Egypt is the type, teaching us what deliverance is. Jesus is the archetype, the perfect example of complete salvation and deliverance. The deliverance of God in the Old Testament, in all aspects, gives us rich insight and illustrations to help us understand the complete salvation Jesus brings.

In the previous verse the writer of this psalm lamented, crying out God in his distress, at the intensity of the affliction he faced. In our verse today the psalmist is praising the Living God of Glory for the salvation He has given to His petitioner. There is no sense of time that has lapsed between the petition and the praise. It may have been hours, it may have been days. These Psalm verses may well be a poem of praise showing the rhythm of God’s faithfulness and His perfect timing in hearing and responding to His people. The place of waiting on Him, after our tearful petition and when He dries our eyes, is also a place of blessing and fruitful learning.

We live in a culture that does much praising, but often does not reflect on what, who, or how it is praising. For example, Country Billboard lists Jon Pardi’s Heartbreak Medication as the top song. It is a song about a man drowning his sorrow in booze. It is ironic in its praise of booze as a man laments lost love—which is his true objective and the source of pain that needs to be medicated. The Rock Billboard lists Five Finger Punch’s Inside Out as the top song for Rock—it is obscene in its celebration of all that is vulgar.

Think of “classic hits” that so many people can hum to as soon as the radio plays them. When a song like “Stairway to Heaven” or “Bohemian Rhapsody” begins playing there is almost a hushed reverence as people head bob in time with the music, play air instruments and sing along. That is our culture’s praise for the artist, for the things of this world and through these exhibiting its defiance against the LORD.

Christians gather together and sing hymns, and songs and spiritual songs. These are freewill offerings of praise—voluntarily we stand outside of our culture and its ethos and focus on the great blessing of knowing the LORD. As we praise God we long for His rules to soak deep into our hearts, filling our thoughts and attitudes, directing our behaviour and restraining us from evil.

Many congregations and worship centres want to blur the lines between worldly entertainment and their times of praise. Ultimately it is not a question of what I prefer or what you prefer, the issue is this: what brings honour to the LORD Who is worthy of all praise and glory, blessing and dominion?! Perhaps as believers we need to go back to basics, listening to the instruction given in the Word of God and be guided by its instruction on praise and honour, lament and worship. For we present ourselves to the High King of Heaven, God, Who alone is worthy!

With the angels and the saints, the living creatures and the twelve tribes and twelve apostles before Your throne we join our voices in praise and adoration to You, King of kings and LORD of lords! Blessed and holy are You. Just and True are all Your ways. Perfect are Your judgments and glorious are all Your ways. Let the words of our mouth and the meditations of our lips bring You blessing and joy. Spirit of the Living God, bring us to prayer and praise through-out the day, whenever we think of Jesus and all He has accomplished in magnifying God the Father and bringing salvation to His people. Amen.

February 6, 2020 -- Psalm 119:107 -- Taken from face plant to being transplanted for glory

I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O LORD, according to your word!

Psalm 119:107 English Standard Version

Recently I was speaking with a clergyman—he is also a pastor who visits in prisons. He is in his sixties. He related how, on Easter Sunday when it was snowy and icy and he went down. He fell, flat-out face plant, kissing the pavement, in front of his parishioners. Instead of getting angry, he blessed God. It was startling. It is a great response.

We know, based on the previous verses of this psalm, that the writer has had many adversities. Consider the fact that the aged around him, who should know the LORD better and follow Him dearly, do not (verse 100). His teachers are not wise to the ways of the LORD (verse 99). His enemies surround him (verse 98). In earlier verses his afflictions are not named (verse 92). Yet they are heavy on him.

Why are these verses repeated? We get it. He suffers a lot. Before we get too impatient, it is important for us to grasp what is taking place. This man who walked in the blessing of our Covenant-Keeping God experienced deep suffering and assaults of troubles and affliction. Do not skim that or neglect to reflect on this truth.

The followers of Jesus Christ will suffer. Jesus noted that a servant is not greater than his master. Since Jesus, the Master suffered—He makes the point that the servants of the Master who are not greater than the Master will suffer as well (John 13:16ff). Such affliction drives us to our Savior. The psalmist cries out in his agony, “Give me life according to Your Word”.

We need to take this up on our lips again and again—Jesus promised: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Jesus identifies Himself as God Who gives life—equal to the Father in Heaven. Consider these words of the Living God from the Old Testament—words which declare the power and right of God over life and death:

“See now that I, even I, am he,
    and there is no god beside me;
I kill and I make alive;
    I wound and I heal;
    and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

Deuteronomy 32:39 English Standard Version

It is so common for us to run to old sinful patterns rather than wait on God (if you have a moment read Exodus 14:14 and Isaiah 40:27-31). It is the habit of the rebellious heart to say, just this once I’m going to do this or that, rather than allow God to be our Rescuer (Isaiah 46:4). The psalmist is not going to fall into that pattern. He recognizes he is unable to save himself so he cries out to the God of all power: give me life according to Your Word. If you are feeling pressed in on every side, squeezed and struggling, do not give up hope! Place your confidence and faith fully in the One Who Rescues completely and saves us for life.

Do you feel like you’ve just taken a face-plant to the pavement? Rise up and bless the LORD Who gives life to the afflicted—every time, every day and twice on Sunday!

Words. Words. Words. LORD of All Power, it seems sometimes we hear so many words, but do not experience the grave-defying power of the Living Word Jesus. With the psalm-writer we pray this day: “Give us life according to your Word!” By the presence of Your Spirit within us, fill us with life that wells up in us to eternal life. By the power of the written word of Scripture, give us jubilant obedience to walk in this pathway of life, no matter the strength of our adversaries, who even now are passing from life to death, to torment that will not end. To You, our Majestic King be honour and praise, glory and honour now and forevermore. Amen.