“Revive Me” (Ps 119:153-160)

Consider my affliction and deliver me,

For I do not forget Your law.

Plead my cause and redeem me;

Revive me according to Your word. (vs153-154)

God’s word promises revival, so we seek Him for it.  He says, “Revive me according to Your word”.  If the bible were a book of condemnation, instead of mercy, if there was no hope for repentance and pardon, then we wouldn’t seek mercy. But, because the bible constantly talks of God forgiving and giving more grace, we seek it, even though we are sinful.  We don’t give up on mercy, because God is faithful to show it, according to His word.

The bible is a hated book, but it is also the book of hope, the only hope. Men despise the rules and judgments of scripture, and they hate Christ enthroned, but He’ll give grace to WHOMEVER wants it.  He says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom 10:13).  So, while the bible convicts us of sin and commands us to improve, it also gives grace to sinners and saints. God’s judgment that He’ll help the poor in spirit (vs155-156).  He says, “Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord; revive me according to Your judgments”.

We aren’t asking God to do anything contrary to His will, as we come to Him for mercy in our misery. But, as a Judge, He has DECLARED that He’ll justify the ungodly, give strength to the feeble, and do all this by faith in Christ.  He says, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works” (Rom 4:5-8).  If we believe the Son, no matter what is wrong or how we’ve caused our anguish, God will help.

Finally, we want God to revive us, to encourage and enable us, according to His love (vs157-160).  He says, “Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness”.  His judgments to help the poor are favorable, but His love is another blow at our sinful unbelief and cowardice. We may BOLDLY approach the throne, because behind the gospel of God giving us His Son is the LOVE of God that saves sinners, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”, and again, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” [John 3:16; 1 John 4:10).

So, when I’m unworthy and needing help, and when all seems against you, why not lean on this love, and call God to action by His own heart’s affection?  Let us be warmed and filled by the love of Christ and this loves goodness; let us be encouraged in the future, past, and present! He is IMMEASURABLY loving, more than we can ask or think, and His love will help the wicked, lift the fallen, and strengthen the faint.  This love can be trusted and relied upon when there is NOTHING in ourselves or circumstances. He will give us what we don’t deserve through Christ.  His love is that attribute, when all has gone wrong with us, that makes us say, “There is hope in God”!

Never forget His love.  Never get into a duty gospel where His love doesn’t help the sinful.  Stand upon a higher footing than “what you deserve”, and look into Christ’s love for what He’s WILLING to give.

“I Will Joy in the God of My Salvation” (Hab 3)

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation. (vs17-18)

I will rejoice in God no matter what! He says, “I will joy in the God of my salvation”.  This great truth isn’t selfishness; it recognizes the preciousness of salvation, and though the world will be destroyed in flame of fire, and though sinners around me perish, and though I don’t have all that I desire in this world, I shall be saved!  

When we see salvation as precious, then everything else is SECONDARY. I have the main thing - eternal life - and possessing this, I only have pain and trouble a little while. He says, “while we do not look a the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18).

How can someone be inconceivably rich, having billions in the bank, and then get overly upset because his wallet was stolen, and he must miss a meal?  So it is with us. I may have heartbreak and disappointment. I may be physically infirm or persecuted and hated.  I may have many problems, see little fruit in my ministry, and desire to leave this body soon, but I also have the unsearchable riches of Christ, the eternal reward, and the thing that Jacob called “every thing”. We read, “Then Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself... And Jacob said... ‘Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have all things.’ So he urged him, and he took it” (Gen 33:9-11).  Bless God’s name that you and I put things in perspective.

Life’s present agonies are temporary and righteous, and the filling of hell is JUST.  “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her” (Rev 19:2).  We’ve escaped this condemnation by grace alone, and we’ll sing God’s praises, agreeing with Him on Judgment Day. We’ll judge, rather then being judged as unfaithful.  

Finally, bless His name for the hope of Christ, and use it! Don’t live merely pondering what you don’t have, where you’ve gone wrong, and the pain of this present existence.  Live in the light of the gospel, and wipe your tears, resting your head upon the shoulder of His grace.  He will make you more than a conqueror, and while trouble all around you is heartbreaking, He will wipe away your tears (Rev 21:4).

“Righteous and Very Faithful” (Ps 119:137-144)

Righteous are You, O Lord,

And upright are Your judgments.

Your testimonies, which You have commanded,

Are righteous and very faithful. (vs137-138)

God’s word is trustworthy and can be counted upon completely; it is “righteous and very faithful”.  Not only is He righteous in His commands and teachings, but He is faithful to bring it to pass. He not only commands good, but He’s able to bring about the reward that He’s promised and give the help that we need.  Some are righteous but have no power: they only wish their words carried weight.  Others have power, like a tyrant, to do as they please, but their commands are self-aggrandising and unfair. God is neither unjust nor powerless, so His word can be trusted forever.

We need Someone trustworthy to save and direct us. We need righteousness from God, for there is no hope in sinners, because like Satan, they will destroy. We can’t trust an unrighteous God.  But, having all-righteousness mixed with all-powerfulness unfolds a God who not only commands what is right, but is FAITHFUL in all that He says: faithful to help, faithful to damn the wicked, and faithful enough to be relied upon as the rock that is higher than us (Ps 61:2).

Don’t trust anything less than God’s word, and trust Him confidently and surely.

Secondly, we love God’s word because of its purity and beauty; it is the truth (vs139-140).  He says, “Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it”.  We don’t believe against our wills, but He unfolds the glory of God, the sinfulness of man, and we TAKE the water of life, freely, willingly, and savingly.

The Christian isn’t forced into submission.  We don’t murmur at the gospel, but reluctantly confess its facts.  We LOVE the Son of God for what He’s done for us. We see God just and the justifier of those who believe, and we see Christ as glorious, so we WILLINGLY believe, surrender all, and follow Him. Someone may see the facts of the gospel, but when they see the purity of the word, how it has no sin, how it commands no wrong, and how it forbids nothing but what should be forbidden, then they believe, casting their care upon Him.   

What do you think of Christ?  If He is GLORIOUS, then you believe the gospel, finding nothing else.

Finally, in spite of the misery of sin, the hardships of obedience, and the agonies of life, we believe and love God’s word (vs141-144).  He says, “I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.  Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.   Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights.”  We are not those who turn away from the truth, but because the truth saves, we find refuge in Christ when there’s none in the world.

We may be pained, but God’s word is the medicine. We may have troubles and fears, but God’s word isn’t the problem; it’s the solution!  Some say, “The word is causing these problems, so I will forsake it, lessen its demands, and live more worldly to escape the affliction”, but amidst the afflictions, the believers says, “The word of God will save me; it is not the problem, nor is it wise to abandon it.  I will use it even more to get encouragement and help” (Luke 8:11-15).  

You and I have troubles, but we have found ONE place of refuge, where we may turn repeatedly.  God’s word heals, gives life, and carries us to heaven.  We love it rightfully.

“I Hope In Your Word” (Ps 119:113-121)

“I hate the divided mind, but I love Your law.  You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word” (vs113-114)

Our hope is in the word of God, and not ourselves, or any other thing.  He says, “I hope in Your word”.  We don’t hope in will power, but in the word of God and His promises to us.  We don’t hope in sin, the poor reward that it gives, but we hope in God’s word, taking His truth as real, His power as our own, and what He says as the rule of our lives. We are not people who read the word of God, and say, “I hope it isn’t true”, but we LIVE by the word, hoping in the reward that He promises.

Don’t put your hope in man’s word or human ideas.  Put your hope in the bible, the word of God, and the salvation He promises in Christ.  Hope in Him to save you, keep you, and bring you to heaven’s bliss.  Hope in His word when troubled, frightened, or in need because of your sin.  Hope in Him, because He promises hope to all that believe the gospel, promising that our hope, because of His love, will not be put to shame (Rom 5:5-11).

Secondly, we don’t want to be ashamed (Ps 119:115-116). We don’t want to live for the bible, and then in the end, perish.  He says, “Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!  Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” We don’t want to trust Him to help us and have no help.  But, believing His gospel, we want Him to fulfill our hope.  It isn’t enough to have hope, as if feeling safe is the same as safety, as if wishful thinking makes something a reality.  No, we want our hope realized, so that we get what we’re seeking.

Earlier, the Psalmist said, “I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law.” He declares that he rejects the life of prayer, and then running off, as if God won’t answer.

You may hope in Christ safely because He won’t fail you.  He is the One who not only keeps promises, but He gives more than we can ask or think. All that we must do is hope in Him, look to Him, and count upon Him, and He will save.

Finally, because God punishes the wicked, we love His gospel and trust in Him (vs117-120).  He says, “You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood.  You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Your testimonies.  My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments”.  It is no idle threat that wrath approaches, and believing this, we, like Noah, build the ark, taking steps necessary for salvation.  Of him we read, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb 11:7).  We aren’t serving God for nothing: we’re ESCAPING hell and headed to heaven, forever.  The word of God is non-optional, so we put our whole self into obedience.  I’m no nice guy who loves God “just because”. I’m a sinner who FEARS wrath, so I come to Christ the Savior, and being SAVED so freely, I love God.  And, we don’t lose godly fear. The Psalmist continued, “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments” (vs120).

The fear of God MAKES me and you flee from sin and stop what we’re doing. We’d go into the fire if it didn’t burn.  But, loving Him is the fruit of this fear, so He uses it, to make us follow the word, against our natural self, and against all of the wiles of Satan.

Preach God’s WRATH, so sinners may know His love by experience.

“The Just Shall Live By His Faith” (Hab 1:1-2:4)

"Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:2-4).

You and I must walk by faith because it will be rewarded, says God.

We don’t see everything immediately how we desire it, but believing God, we wait (Hab 2:2-4). He says, "The just shall live by faith", and this isn’t momentary; it is the life and walk of true believers. God has made promises, we take them as true, and then we walk in the light of the gospel, obeying the word, waiting until our reward comes, believing things are and shall be as He says.

The grace of God isn’t easy street. There are difficulties, trials, and many woes (Hab 1:-2:1). Habakkuk said, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. Why do You shall me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgments proceeds”, and, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he”, and again, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the fortress, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (vs2, 4, 13-14, 2:1). God has promised us eternal life and promised that we are justified by faith, so we walk in this knowledge, cleaving to God’s word above else. We may FEEL forsaken, feel like sin is winning, and think our labor is vain, but this life will be rewarded. The righteous will be forever exalted and the wicked forever punished, but we wait. We wait until heaven when pain will be gone, and we wait continually, and in hope.

We are not walking by human wisdom, taking matters into our own hands, or living our way, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Cor 1:18-19). We walk with the Invisible God by faith, taking what He says as true, and living by it, following it carefully, amidst the warfare of life.

Don’t think faith is an easy life, but believe it will be as He has said (2:4). He says, “Behold the proud [those who tell God, “No, I won’t obey You”], his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith”. The Lord Jesus died for all who believe that He did, and He has saved all who trust His salvation. You have every blessing for Christ’s sake. The Spirit will help you, the Father will be faithful to you, and in the end, all tears will be gone. He promises assuredly, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). Believe, and live by what you believe, until you SEE your faith, in face to Face contact with Christ, become a reality. Believe God.

“I Have Hoped In Your Word” (Ps 119:73-80)

(vs73-74) “Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.  Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word”.

Hoping in God’s word makes us useful to others; it enables us to bring the fruits of righteousness to our brothers in the battle who also serve Christ (vs 73-74).  He says, “Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word”.  The gospel CHANGES us, forming the word inside of us, enabling us to help others see Christ and taste His love.  

You will be opposed in this world for the gospel, so it is good to be among the saints, where your godliness and zeal for Christ are positives and not negatives.

If you are single, seeking a mate, you simply need to HOPE in God’s word, and you will be attractive to someone else who fears God also.  You don’t have to change from godliness to worldliness to have friends, brothers, or people who care about you. Hope in the word, and while many will turn away, you will be beautiful to those who fear God, who have eyes to see.

This hope is trusting Him to save you, according to the word - to forgive, to cleanse, and to guide you all the way to glory.  We hope in Him to enable us to honor Him who died for us, the Center of eternal praise.

Secondly, our request to God is, "Fulfill Your word" (vs75-76). We read, “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.  Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant”.  David was promised that God would build him a house, and his Son, ultimately Jesus Christ, would sit enthroned forever (2 Sam 7:12-16).  David’s answer?  “Now, O Lord God, the word which You have spoken concerning Your servant and concerning his house, establish it forever and do as You have said” (2 Sam 7:25).  We are not satisfied hearing of mercies promised, we must receive them!

God’s goodness in the word is not for admiration, any more than food is to be stared at admirably by the starving.  Someone may pick over his dinner, or leave it until later, acknowledging the goodness of the meal, and yet not eating.  But, if he’s starving, hasn’t eaten in days, and wants to be satisfied, then he will eat. He won’t care so much for presentation, as he will for results, and this is how we must hear and read the bible. We are not spectators, playing at religion, using God’s word for EVERYTHING except internalization.  We are needy sinners, beggars at the throne, and we’re saints who need God’s grace to survive.  This isn’t cuteness; it is life or death. He says, “I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deut 30:19). Have a greedy, hungry, attitude with the word. Say, “I see it, Lord, now do it”.

Finally, we have a response to the proud and deceitful; we will ponder the word of God, live by it, and invest ourselves EVEN MORE into Christ’s gospel (vs77-80).  “Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.  Let the proud be ashamed, for they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; but I will meditate on Your precepts”.  The world is against you, friends turn to foes, church’s split, and sinners persecute the Way, even as Ishmael persecuted Isaac (Gal 4:28-29)!  Yet, the believer has clear direction.  We ponder the word, draw nearer to Christ, and we become even more of what they hate, which is a person who glorifies God, living that His name be honored in our behavior.

We won’t compromise.  We’ll take the heat and stay in the kitchen.  We will not take matters into our hands with human wisdom, but we’ll bury ourselves in God’s word, find promises, instruction, and we’ll return from the conflict with men, having humbled ourselves before God, more strengthened and sincere.

Do not let the troubles worry you.   Everything that we need for godliness and for overcoming is written by Him unto us.  We need no other wisdom, and we never need to look to sinners for a way to fight sin.  Grace has made Christ all to us, and praising His saving mercy, which is the essence of our response to the gospel, is all that we need in our response to the world.

“Whom All Asia and the World Worship” (Acts 19:21-20:12)

(vs23-27) “  And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.   For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.   He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: ‘Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."

We go against insurmountable obstacles as we preach the word, but we have a greater power than the reasonings and deceitfulness of men .  There is a Christ who saves, who has greater power than the world (vs23-27).   We read, “all Asia and the world worship”, at that time, the phony Goddess Diana, but Paul helped plant a church there at Ephesus!

On our own, the world is too strong for us, and it must perish in sin.  In the gospel, however, God works.  He gives life to dead sinners, and He gives HOPE to hopeless situations.  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13).  

Look at yourself. Do you think that you deserve to be saved? Is there any goodness in you that would have received Christ?  No?  Then why do we let the obstacles stop us?  Someone said that preaching the gospel to the world is “heavy lifting”, and it is.  Paul says that he labored according to the power of God in him (Col 1:23). Therefore, since the task won’t change or become easy, let us GO to Calvary for the strength to continue.  Preach the gospel with an eye to God, rather than man.

Secondly, thank God for law and order, justice in the kingdom, and Him ruling all things ultimately (vs28-35).  The city officer in Ephesus said, “Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.’  And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

It was a madhouse, but amidst this DISORDER, God gave sufficient order and protection to His people, and He will do so in the End.  There will be a Day of reckoning, when everyone’s deeds will be exposed. In this Day, the righteous will be fully exonerated, no matter how much evil was done to us here. We can rest assured that RIGHTEOUSNESS is the only path that we need to tread, and it shall be well with us.  “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him” (Eccl 8:12).  We never need to question the end result of doing right.

When confused and downcast, just know that you are in the Way, and suddenly, even your enemies will be at peace with you (Prov 16:7).  Suddenly, and very soon, all the clamor against you will stop.  Satan will afflict no more, sinners will oppress no longer, and you will enter Paradise.

Finally, thank God for the comfort (Acts 20:1-12)! “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.  There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.  And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus (‘Fortunate’), who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.  But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, ’Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.’  Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”

Amidst the warfare of sin - the evil within and the evil without - we have victories in Christ, souls that are restored and sinners that are saved.  Our way is HARD, and anyone promising you Easy Street as a Christian is not wise.  The doctrine is HARD on the flesh, people will hate you, and your results will be disappointing in so many ways.  But, God knows our frame, and He gives us help along the way, as we see others come to truth, others strengthened, and He uses our hand. “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9).  Everyone is a minister, and as God blesses our prayers for the family and the Church, as He gives grace to a hell-worthy sinner, He shows us the goodness and refreshment that we need.

Soon, we’ll be in heaven, face to face with Christ, and comfort will be total and eternal.  For now, amidst the warfare with sin, we get genuine comfort.  God does us and OTHERS undeserved goodness, as He forgives and strengthens, as He gives grace and repentance.

You have heard this gospel.  Cast yourself upon Christ for peace.

"Your Word Has Given Me Life" (Ps 119:49-56)

“Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (vs49-50)

The word of God is life producing, so why would we look anywhere else (vs49-50)? He says, “Your word has given me life”.  In the beginning, we were dead in sins, and He came to us by the gospel, we believed, and LIFE was the result - eternal life, peace with God, and assurance, as we make Christ known to others.  This life was ours freely by the gospel, so why turn away from it to anything else?  Maintain your way.  Life, all that we need - hope, joy, and peace - are in God’s word.  Put your faith there, follow it, and you’ll have the best life possible.  Don’t compromise or be moved.

Secondly, the gospel is God’s comforting truth of salvation by the one man Jesus Christ, His verdict that whoever believes on Him shall be saved (vs51-52).  He says, “The proud have me in great derision, yet I do not turn aside from Your law.  I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself”. God’s word declares His judgment of what is right and wrong, even justification by faith, redemption by Another, and Christ the rightful Savior of sinners judged evil and unable to help ourselves.  This moves me with joy, as does all of God’s word, because He declares believers righteous and promises us heaven in the End.

Don’t be turned away from the gospel; it declares good news, the comfort of your heart.

Finally, I do keep God’s law, obeying the word of God as commanded (vs53-56).  He says, “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep Your law”.

Don’t be ashamed to confess who you are in Christ and what He has done for you and in you, making you obedient.  You don’t obey as much as you want, but you do live for God, and doing so, you know that your prayers are heard, so that confessing what I am - saved by grace and made a willing servant - helps me to confess what God shall do for me, which is show Himself faithful to the End.  I can’t say I’m not obedient when God’s word declares that I am.  I believe on Christ, and thus I can believe His promise of reward.

Many think it is pious to reject the gospel, saying, “I’m only a sinner”, but it is true humility to receive God’s gospel and say, “Thank You, for doing this for me”.

If you are His willing servant, know that He delights to reward you.

“According to Your Word” (Ps 119:41-48)

“Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord - Your salvation according to Your word” (vs41).

I want the salvation that’s according to God’s word (vs41-42).  It doesn't do us any good to be falsely saved, to have a salvation that we’ve made up, which isn’t in harmony with Jesus Christ.  We must be saved by grace, through faith, unto good works that have been ordained and predetermined for us (Eph 2:8-10). We must be saved BY the Lord Jesus unto following and living like Him. We must have sound teaching, and we must have sound practice, both.

Many want a salvation of their own choosing, so they pick and pull from the bible as they see fit, rather than bowing and submitting to the gospel, as God sees fit, as He has written.  Salvation MUST be according to the Scriptures, for Christ died that way (1 Cor 15:1-4).  Salvation must make the Scriptures become our life, so that what they say is what we do, and we can match up with the blueprint given to us.  This takes GRACE, so the Psalmist prays!  He doesn’t want to be deceived.  He wants the real thing, to honor God, and to have what only He can give.

When I first met the woman that I’m engaged to marry, it struck me that WE could have everything together, if we’d just take it. God is utterly willing to save us, and to make us the best that we can be. He can and will do it for all who ask.  

Secondly, He won’t take away the gospel from those who trust in Him, even though we’re brought chastisements and misery upon ourselves, even though afflictions have made the promises seem unreal (vs43).  He says, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.”  This is great grace in God.  He doesn’t shaking off people who hold on to Him.  You’ve seen people pry others away from them, like an NFL running back shaking off a tackle, but this is not grace.  Hold onto the word of God by faith, and God won’t take it from you, even when it appears to be diminishing, even when trouble has you full of fears and doubts!  You may have failed and sinned, and have no right to blessings, but salvation is graciously given, free to sinners, and those who want Christ, as weak as we are, will never be thrown away for our weakness. In fact, the tiniest of faith is saving.  

Seeking is finding in the kingdom of God (vs45). He says, “And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts”. There are MANY things that you can chase and never catch. You can line your walls with pictures of movie stars or models that you’d like to marry, then never meet them, or be ignored when you do. But, you and I can’t pursue Christ in vain, so that the seeker actually HAS. He doesn’t have now, so he seeks, but like heaven itself, it is coming for sure, because men never seek grace in vain.  He is not One to ignore the pleas of His people, the cries of faith from sinners in our need, or to deny the hope of anyone who leans upon His word.  If you want it, come by faith in Christ, and it’s yours (1 John 5:14). He is coming, power is coming, sin will be broken, etc!

Thirdly, “I will not be ashamed” in the future because the grace I’m depending on will be there.  This is the resolve and the direction of my life (Vs46). “I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed”.  I don’t stand as boldly as I desire, and I seek improvement, but in the course of the believer’s life, he is someone, like Peter, who stands for the Lord Jesus Christ, openly, no matter the opposition.  We are not as faithful as we’d like, but everyone of us who believes endures until the end and confesses Christ openly by our conduct.  Be serious about this, know this is who you are, and let your resolve grow.  Realize that you’re in this until the end, no matter the costs, and keep looking to Christ to bring it to pass.

Say, “I love the Lord”, and never be ashamed to say it (vs47). He says, “And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love”.  We don’t boast about loving Christ, because we boast about God’s grace and we glory only in the cross.  Christ died for us, so that grace may justifiably be ours in the putting away of sins and establishment of righteousness before God. But we MUST recognize the grace that we’ve been given.  I can no less say, “I love God”, than I can say, “I believe”. They are the same.  This is God’s work, the gift of a new heart!

Let His word tell you how you think, what you feel, and believe it.  If it isn’t true, don’t say it and pretend. But, if you love Him because He first loved you, if you love the word because it brings you peace and heals your mind, and if you love the gospel because it is thrilling, wise, and just, then admit it. Don’t be ashamed.  Don’t love a woman, but be embarrassed to hold her hand in public for fear of what others will say.  Don’t love God and REFUSE to say it because of sin - not yours or someone else’s.   

Finally, know your path and be optimistic (hopeful in God) and determined about it (confident He’ll bring it to pass) (vs48). He says, “My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes”.  You are not promising anything based upon yourself or your strength. Every promise you’re making of faithfulness is based upon the promise that God has given, the fact that He’ll keep you faithful to the end. To say, “I will make it. I will persevere until the end” isn’t pride, so long as God’s promise and not your will power is your assurance!

Be determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, to know by experience and obedience, by teaching and by practice the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel, not because YOU have a greater resolve than others, but because God has made Christ everything to you, and God will keep it going. Have your resolves as benchmarks and sign posts, guiding and measuring the direction of your life. Wonder not aimlessly, not knowing where you’re going, tossed by the wind. But like an athlete, have a goal in mind, and then labor, day by day, to get there.  Know what you’re about in this life, which is KNOWING Christ by experience and making Him known in truth and love, and be about it confidently.

“He Will Subdue Our Iniquities” (Micah 7)

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever,because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. (vs18-20)

Confidently trust in Jesus the Lord. We deserve wrath, it is true, but He is MERCIFUL, delighting Himself in His love to sinners who deserve to be punished. “He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities” (vs19). He chastens us in love and brings about a change, using painful terrors to awaken us. But, He has a people promised life eternal, and though we DESERVE wrath, He'll save!

What is your hope? It cannot be that you haven't sinned and all is well. “The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge; the day of your watchman and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity” (vs1-4). It must be that God is gracious.

First, don't let go of this hope for any reason (vs5-7). “Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. For son dishonors father, druthers rises against her mother, daughters-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own household. Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me”. People are wicked, but you hold to Christ, trusting Him with everything. It doesn't matter what others say. They can't give the joy of Christ, and anything they give, God WILL remove. He says, “And hoe who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10:38). Trust Him though people turn from you, because God will reward you.

Trust Him, secondly, when times are tough, when sin has got you, and when you're bearing the shame of your behavior (vs8-13). “ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. 10 Then she who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is the LORD your God?" My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets.” Don't think this is a “good time” only gospel, but pull yourself up. Trust His love, when you deserve to be banished. Trust the blood to cleanse, trust the Spirit by the blood, and trust the promises and patience of God. “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal 5:5). The change will be done by Him, faithfully.

Thirdly, trust the fact He delights in mercy (vs14-20). “He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy”. When things look the worst with us, when we've been chastened and lowered because of sin, we are not cast off, but we are in the position to be used, because He saves sinners, and He uses people who have ruined things, by chastening us, destroying our idolatry, and coming back to us, revealing the GRACIOUSNESS of Himself. “In the day when your walls are to be built, in that day the decree shall go far and wide. In that day they shall come to you from Assyria and the fortified cities, from the fortress to the River, from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain. Yet the land shall be desolate because of those who dwell in it, and for the fruit of their deeds” (vs11-13). He isn't so far away, unwilling, or in any way dealing with us by what we deserve. He is gracious and mighty. Not only is He willing, but just like you love refreshment when weary, love your wife or your own soul, infinitely more, God delights to show mercy to all who believe on Him, and He will show it to all that He's chosen and predetermined. “You will give truth to Jacob (God's elect) and mercy to Abraham (the children of faith), which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old” (vs20). Don't be a downcast person trusting your merits, but have REAL hope before God based on who He is.

“I Will Not Lie to David” (Ps 89:34-52)

“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: his seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me” (vs34-36).

This fact is unchangeable, taken by faith, and it revives our hearts in the end: we are not forsaken, because we can't be, because God CAN'T forsake Jesus Christ (vs34-37). He says, “My covenant I will not break”, and again, “I will not lie to David” who pictures Christ the King (2 Sam 7:12-13; Acts 2:30). To say the promises are dead and God is unfaithful is saying that He won't reward Christ for what He's done, His promises to Him, and that is impossible. Christ MUST have His reward, so you and I must have ours too, if we believe.

Let the trouble of today bring you to the everlasting covenant, so that you praise instead of doubt God, so that you rejoice, rather than weep.

We feel distressed! He says, “But You have cast off and abhorred, You have been furious with Your anointed. You have renounced the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown by casting it to the ground”. Yes, the wife of our bosom who should bring us joy, brings grief. The church isn't loyal as she should be, and your job is a hassle. Yes, the smile is gone! The optimism has been replaced with pessimism, and we see all things against us. We are miserable, desire to be alone, and we are tempted to HATE God because, after all (we think), He's forsaken us. We say, “What's the point” because of trials and hardships. We feel misery and depression. We are DOWN.

But, like David, let us encourage ourselves in the Lord. We read, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam 30:5-6). Let us go back to our Father, covenant in hand, and say, “Why? Why am I so miserable, if all of these things are true”, and then, as we bring our hurt to the throne of grace BY faith, we'll see the pain and tears of now cannot erase the promises and blessings of eternal faithfulness. God is NOT against you! God is for you, and believing this, excites joy and hope in the storm. Knowing God's unchanging love in Christ changes us!

Can God be unfaithful to Christ? This CANNOT be (vs41-45). He says, “You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries; You have made all his enemies rejoice. You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and have not sustained him in the battle. You have made his glory cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. The days of his youth You have shortened; You have covered him with shame.” I could see Him turning to do me harm or being tired of the whole church... I could see Him leaving us to fend for ourselves, ruined. But, I can't see God breaking promises to His obedient Son, the One who laid down His life agonizingly, at God's command, redeeming the church. Therefore, I can't see God against His people, for to be against us means that He's forsaken the Obedient Son. He says, “I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; it shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky” (vs35-37). It is impossible that He fail us, the seed or children of Christ.

Let how you feel be touched by reality, and God's hand will elevate your spirit. We're prone to say, “It's over. I've had more than I can take. I'm forsaken.” But, God says, “Look at Christ and My covenant with Him. Look to His obedience, and see if I can let you down”. Then, unbelief shrinks, joy returns, and power is GIVEN to love.