PSALM 119:153-160 TOURMALINE TESTAMONIES

TOURMALINE TESTAMONIES

PSALM 119:153-160

ר (Resh)

 Psalm 119:153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Susan: The psalmist has centered his life on the Lord and obedience to His law.

Susie: We saw back in Psalm 119:11 that he had committed God’s word to memory to help him avoid committing sin.

Susan: Because of his devotion to the law and to the Lord, the psalmist has the reasonable expectation that the Lord will fulfill His word to protect, defend, and deliver him. He was being afflicted by his enemies but anticipated that the Lord would set things right.

Psalm 119:154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Susie: “Plead my cause” sounds like the psalmist is asking the Lord to be his attorney. He is asking God to intercede for him with his enemies. Job knew the truth that God was his advocate:

Job 16:19 (NASB) “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

Susan: In the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is our advocate, another word for someone representing us. He advocates with the Father when the enemy, Satan, accuses us.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Psalm 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Psalm 119:155 (VOICE) Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not live in pursuit of Your precepts.

Susan: Salvation is as far or near to person as they are to God’s word. Eternal salvation is found only in trusting Jesus Christ, and the path to that trust is articulated in the scriptures.

Susie: Those who refuse to hear or read the word of God, who reject the Bible, are far from the salvation offered in its pages.

Psalm 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Susie: The Lord’s judgements are always just and true . . .

Susan: Therefore, the psalmist can rely on them.

Susie: The Lord exudes lovingkindness and is merciful to us even though we fall short of His standards. He extends grace to those who believe His word and trust in His Son, Jesus.

Lamentations 3:22-23 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Psalm 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

Susan: The psalmist is surrounded by his enemies, but that does not move him. In the midst of an onslaught of persecutors, he remains steadfast.

Susie: He stands firm, anticipating the deliverance promised in the word of God. He continues to obey the law even though the outcome does not yet appear to be what he desires.

Psalm 119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

Susie: Transgressors were those who dealt treacherously, traitors . . .

Susan: Turncoats.

Susie: These were people who said one thing but did another. They were not obedient to God’s will and ways.

Susan: They were stridently disobedient.

Susie: The psalmist is grieved in three ways. He is grieved at their treatment of him, grieved because of the judgment they were bringing upon themselves, and grieved because they were dishonoring the name of the God he loved.

Psalm 25:3 (Berean Study Bible) Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame; but those who are faithless without cause will be disgraced.

Psalm 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.

Susie: The psalmist says, “On the other hand, Lord, look at me!”

Susan: He is like a child say, “Watch me, Daddy, watch me!” The psalmist asks the Lord to remind Himself of their love relationship and the deep love he has of the scriptures.

Susie: He asks the Lord to revive him, not based on his own merit but in keeping with God’s lovingkindness. No matter how much we strive to obey God’s word, we will fail. Our plea is that the Lord, according to His nature of love and grace, will forgive and restore us despite our failures.

Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 119:160  (Berean Study Bible) Your word is the essence of truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure.

Susan: The Hebraic thought expressed here is that the sum, the totality of God’s word is truth.

Points to Ponder:

·     The Lord is our deliverer

·     The Lord is our advocate

·     Salvation is found through God’s word

·     Deliverance is a result of God’s grace, not our worthiness

·     We should be grieved for those who do not believe

·     God’s word is eternal and never fails

Reflection Question: The Bible is God’s testimony of His character. It is filled with gems such as: God is love (1 John 4:8), God’s judgments are true and lasting (Psalm 119:160), God is good (Nahum 1:7), God is slow to anger (Nahum 1:3), God is Holy (1 Samuel 2:2), and many more. When the psalmist was in trouble, he made a point to remember these truths about the Lord. Take time a memorize scripture that reminds you who God is and how He works in your life. Do you have scripture memorized in preparation for times of difficulty?