“If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” -Psalm 119:92
The psalmist is honest with the two choices he saw before him: life or death. If he had not loved God and clung to His promises, the psalmist would have been crushed under heavy anguish. But Hope is his friend, faithfulness a companion. God has given us tools to combat spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18). All affliction is a type of spiritual warfare, whether the battle rages in the dark places of the inner man or external circumstances threaten our firm foundation. We have means of grace to carry us through affliction such as fellowship with other believers, prayer, lifting our voices in songs of truth, baptism, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, the Lord’s Supper, and the Bible. Scripture revives our weary hearts, becoming a delight because of Who these words speak of. The God of grace and mercy is found within these pages. Nothing else matters when we possess absolute truth, words of eternal life. The soul which cherishes the Word of God loves the Author, believing the Gospel to be true. The soul which believes, hopes, loves and obeys Jesus Christ will not perish but have everlasting life, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.
June 24, 2022 was a day for celebration when Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court. America has celebrated her independence as a nation every year on July 4th since 1776. Sadly, there are American Christians today acknowledging these landmark occasions with a tepid response. Ever since Donald Trump entered the White House, a group of academic theologians (along with mainstream media) formed a vocal stand against his presidency. His moral failings were too visible, his charisma rating too low. This man was hated by the hard left, a source of embarrassment to many on the right. And yet God saw fit to use this former tv reality star/millionaire, a loose canon, to enforce moral law, or at the very least stand with morality. When do you remember another president attending a pro-life rally? Well, Trump was the first president to do so. God then providentially gives this same man the power to appoint three Supreme Court Justices over his four year term. Those justices went on to overrule the legality of abortion on the federal government level, thereby overturning Roe v. Wade.
Christians should have united together in celebration after the last few years of intense cracked fault lines in the Church. We have not seen eye to eye on Critical Race Theory, Covid mandates or what to do about the Southern Baptist Convention. But this- the ending of free reign on child murder, the thousands of people who have fought and prayed for decades, for voters to finally decide in each state and not a heavy-handed government interpreting what existence is through bogus arguments- abortion is finally receding into the shadows and where was the party?
Twitter did not blow up with shouts of praise that fateful June day, at least not from the cultural Christian elites. Some churches did not even publicly praise God for His mercy on the unborn generations. If anything, there was an obligatory whisper of thanksgiving sandwiched somewhere in the prayer of general blessings. We have prayed more for the war on Ukraine from the pulpit than praised God for this victory in ending the war against unborn children in our own country.
The connection between the lukewarm celebrations in the overturn of Roe v. Wade and Independence Day is stemmed I believe, from ungrateful hearts. “Christian nationalism” is used as a slur toward Christians who openly thank God for the blessings on America. This does not mean we worship our country and replace God’s rightful authority, nor does it mean patriotic believers are looking for a political Messiah. But the spirit of the age is to hate all America stands for, which happens to be rooted in Biblical morals, and reconstruct it with anti-Biblical policies. At the very least we seem embarrassed by our citizenship. Yes, there are stains of sin in America’s history just like every other nation. America has never been so self-righteous as to not acknowledge this. Quite the opposite, as many Americans have sought to abolish, rectify and heal the wrongs done specifically with slavery and racial injustices of the past. Yet some loud voices of today would have us move backward in history to carry guilt we are not culpable for, and create disunity from a false reality in 2022.
We who live in America have a lot to be thankful for. I have personally never known anything but a free country. I can go to the grocery store and see stocked shelves, buy whatever I need or want. You and I can attend church without fear of imprisonment or losing our lives. We can speak freely in the public square. We have the privilege to vote for leaders we think are best suited for the job. We have enjoyed decades of peacetime on American soil.
I believe these abundant blessings have caused us to not only love the gifts more than the Giver, but to expect them. Just as the Israelites were given responsibility to keep God’s commands when He gave them the land of Canaan, so we too have a responsibility to be good stewards with what God has given us. Israel rejected God’s authority, allowing idolatry into their worship. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah speak in great length about God’s discipline toward wayward Israel and His mercy to bring them back. God is just and compassionate. I am not saying America is the new Israel but I do think there are lessons to be learned from the past. It is good to look at history to see how man repeats his errors and what God does to restore fellowship. Ultimately, God redeems rebel hearted sinners through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.
Let us not forget the Lord our God in this free land. The freedoms we enjoy are a blessing from God. We are to take these gifts with solemn responsibility and joy, not with a sense of entitlement or shame. May we repent of the sins of apathy and pride. God has seen fit to begin purging America of the evil of abortion- praise God! We have much to be thankful for in the United States. Let us not be ashamed of those blessings but rejoice. There is everything right and Christian in celebrating Independence Day. When Congress voted to approve the resolution for independence on July 2nd, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail,
The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.[8]
It wasn’t until two days later on July 4th when Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, the day we observe as a national holiday.
God has shed His grace on this country. He alone is to be praised on this day as we celebrate freedom as a nation. Do not rob God the praise which is due Him. He works through unlikely men and women to accomplish his purposes. Who are we to keep silent, refusing to acknowledge His hand of mercy and grace? Take John Adam’s advice and observe this day with gratitude over God Almighty’s blessings on America. My husband and I have taken this weekend to watch the John Adamsmini-series. It is well done and worth watching to remember God’s remarkable hand of providence in bringing about a nation which celebrates freedom and liberty. Praise God.
“Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You.” -Psalm 119:91
This verse nicely compliments the previous two verses. The psalmist is still praising God for the endurance of His Word. God in His lovingkindness has proved Himself faithful over the course of human history to reveal His Truth to us. We would be eternally lost if the Lord had not left His instruction on how to find Him. What does the Bible say on how to find God? Jesus said, “I AM The Way, and The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). If we want to know God and His ways of saving faith, we need not look any further than His Son Jesus Christ (John 17).
All things serve God as well. Even a soul which does not know or acknowledge their Creator, God in His Sovereignty can use whatever tool He pleases for His purpose. The Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart to accomplish His plan in redeeming enslaved Israel through Moses (Romans 9:14-24). God appointed Cyrus, a pagan ruler of Persia, to allow the Jews to return to Israel after 70 years of captivity. Isaiah even prophecies Cyrus’ role in Jewish history, calling him by name, 150 years before Cyrus was even born:
“This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge Me.” (Isaiah 45:1-4)
God gives each of us a will which He can use in His foreknowledge for His purpose. Nothing takes the Father by surprise, there is no ‘plan B’. This is the beautiful mystery of man’s will and God’s sovereignty at work. Praise God He allows us to mine the depths of His revealed wisdom. Yet I believe we have only begun to scratch the surface of this incomprehensible, indescribable, unchanging Lord of all. In writing his letter to the Roman church, Paul stops two-thirds of the way and exclaims,
“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
“Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth, and it endures.” -Psalm 119:90
There will always be a remnant to proclaim the wonders of God from one generation to the next. God’s Word has promised this. It is part of the Lord’s faithfulness to us. Our duty as Christians is the amazing privilege of working with the Lord, serving Him by going and telling others the Gospel. We get to disciple our children, training them in the way they should go, not merely to be outstanding citizens in society but learn what it means to die to self and follow Christ. If believers refuse to obey these commands, taking them seriously, then we not only lose rewards in Heaven but will be held accountable for our sins of omission (James 4:17; James 1:22-25; Matthew 12:47; Luke 11:42). The rocks will cry out and praise Him if we do not. Creation will testify to its Maker more than it already does because all of creation is made to worship (Luke 19:40; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 148).
God doesn’t need us, but desires to include us in His good purpose, loving His own dearly. Whether we obey or not, His Name, His World, will endure until He is ready to change the current Earth and Heaven into something new (Revelation 21:1). God does nothing half-way. He has firmly established His Creation, His people, His Word- and now we actively wait in eager anticipation of the Lord’s promises fulfilled at the end of this Age, the Era of Grace (Romans 8:19-25).
“Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the Heavens.” -Psalm 119:89
Each verse in Psalm 119 is a beautiful stand alone prayer framed as a plea, or a confession, of adoration, or thanksgiving. Here the psalmist praises in adoration the true and trustworthy Word of God. He proclaims God’s words are eternal. The Scriptures are truly our most treasured possession as Christians. God did not anoint us as pilgrims and then leave us alone to figure everything out. He has given us His own instructions, which if we follow them, will lead to goodness and mercy all the days of our lives and into eternal glory.
God’s Word is eternal. It will never be irrelevant or forgotten in human history as thousands of other books have. Even when we fade and wither, returning back to the earth, God’s Word stands forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). The Bible is the one book which leads to everlasting life, because of whom it points to. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, The Life (John 14:6). All of Scripture points to Him as the Redeemer of mankind. What blessing, what mercy, for us to have the Bible at our fingertips.
“Preserve my life according to Your love, and I will obey the statutes of Your mouth.” -Psalm 119:88
The cry of the psalmist for preservation is not unique to him. Many frightened and weary souls have pleaded for the Lord to protect their physical beings as well as preserve their souls. The psalmist’s prayer is for God to keep him “according to Your love.” He petitions God to remember how much He loves this poor pitiful creature. Then the psalmist declares to pursue holiness as God refreshes his spirit.
There are times to be brought low and times to be lifted up. We cannot thrive in the valley indefinitely. The Lord knows our weak frame would wear out and wither. He may not remove the affliction, but He does promise to refresh you with His grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). God will give us exactly what we need for optimum spiritual growth. Whatever He decides for us to personally endure He will be faithful to keep you close to Him to the very end. Our Father will not forsake His own. He cannot and will not be faithless. And what will your response be? Will you forget His mercies on you and go about your business? Or will you stop and consider His grace in preserving your spirit for all eternity? The latter response leads to worship and obedience to the Preserver of our souls. No matter our external circumstances, God has promised soul rest through His Son Jesus for all who trust in His sufficient work on the cross. Praise God for our Great Shepherd and High Priest, for now we can approach His Throne of Grace in our time of need and God not only listens to our pleas, but He cares and responds accordingly in His Sovereign Wisdom.
“They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.” -Psalm 119:87
This is a heavy topic. Evil men plotted not only to smear David’s reputation, but sought to kill him. The Bible is full of gritty, messy, real life stories. Perhaps you aren’t fearing for your life, but this type of behavior to “wipe someone from the face of the earth” still happens today in our cancel culture. It is an attempt to silence a voice, discredit their opinion and make them irrelevant. Wickedness seeks to bury truth, but truth-tellers will be justified. If not in this life then in final victory when God will make all things right. They do not forget God’s Word but cling faithfully to clarity in a world of confusion.
The true believer will echo the psalmist in perseverance of God. The harder we are assaulted for our faith, the tighter we hold on to what we know is true. Like the old hymn says, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.” Ask the Lord to daily renew a fresh fire in your heart to pursue Him. He promises to draw near to those who still seek Him (James 4:8).
“All Your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause.” -Psalm 119:86
The first part of this verse is an acknowledgment that our Lord, Maker and Law-Giver can be trusted. He will never deceive, never lead us astray from what is good, what is best for us eternally. God’s Word is absolute Truth. External circumstances do not change the object of our Hope or salvation status for the one who follows Christ the Lord no matter the cost. Their souls are secure so the inner man can rest despite the trials of life.
The latter part of the verse is a cry for help. Even if the writer knows God can be trusted, he still prays for his suffering to end. Affliction is not without purpose, but unless our spirits are refreshed even with one cool drink, we will wither. Man cannot stand alone against our adversary the devil apart from God’s divine help. The thorn may never be removed, but our perspective can change. The psalmist also does not take matters into his own hands but instead trusts in the One who loves him best, the Perfect Judge. He will avenge His elect, His Bride, one day with complete finality when every tear will be wiped away and pain will no longer exist (Revelation 21:3-5). The reason you and I can have such outrageous hope is because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. The God of the Universe came down to us because we could not go to Him on our own (John 1:14). He endured not only the hatred of men through persecution and murder, but experienced God the Father’s wrath, so those who place their faith in His sufficient blood never have to eternally bear God’s punishment for their sins. Our sins have been pardoned, wiped away, because of the matchless grace of King Jesus. He is worthy of our trust at all times, He is worthy of worship in all of life, even in persecution.
“The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to Your law.” -Psalm 119:85
The wicked will not win the war, yet they can do much harm on this side of Heaven. When assaulted over the havoc they cause, it is good to remember Matthew 10:28:
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
Many brothers and sisters have gone before us in a martyr’s death. Their reward is great (Revelation 6:9-11). We also have an example of how Jesus responded to His enemies on the cross. He forgave them (Luke 23:34). Pray for strength to endure as Christ did. Let us ask for God to help us stay faithful to Him as He is faithful to us, not acting contrary to His law like the wicked rebels who sought to sabotage the psalmist. Learning to love others (even our enemies) and loving God will keep us from digging our own pits to fall into. Paul reminds the church in Rome how to respond to their enemies writing,
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him: If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
Grace upon grace,
April
The Voice of the Martyrs remembers Christians who have paid the ultimate cost of laying down their lives for Jesus in death. June 29 is the day of remembrance.
“How long must Your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?” -Psalm 119:84
Once again the question of “when?” is submitted before God’s Throne. Although believers trust in the Lord’s Sovereignty and Wisdom, we can inquire of God’s plans. Even if He does not answer how we expect, it is good to remember His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are higher (better) than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This verse is a prayer formed as questions, transparent in emotion, meaning David feels God is trustworthy to bring his suffering to the One who not only listens to his cries, but is able to deliver him.
Along with bringing our own questions before God, our prayers need to circle back to pleas for His help. The Christian resolves to worship and trust in the One True God who loves him best, even when he doesn’t get all the answers. Your view of God in the midst of suffering reveals what the heart truly trusts and loves. Is God still good? Does He care for you? Does He love you? The answer is yes- infinitely yes for the soul covered in Christ Jesus. More than this, our God is not only willing to meet us in our pain, but He is able to comfort, deliver, and encourage our weary spirit as He sees fit. We are only called to submit to His wisdom and persevere in faith. May the Lord help us stay faithful as we learn to wait on Him.
Grace upon grace,
April
Growing deeper: Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7-11; Psalm 42-43
redeemed in grace 