Weekly Sermon
In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist, this faithful servant of the Lord, stated, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”
As a whole, the theme of Psalm 119 is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word. In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist speaks for the first time concerning the affliction and reproach under which he was suffering. Indeed, he was suffering reproach and contempt. He was being slandered. Many were speaking against him. Yet the psalmist, as a faithful servant of the Lord, also presented his response unto that affliction and reproach. In the closing portion of Psalm 119:23, he declared, “But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.” Even so, with a study throughout Psalm 119, we may learn how a faithful servant of the Lord responds in the face of affliction and reproach.
In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist, this faithful servant of the Lord, stated, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”
As a whole, the theme of Psalm 119 is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word. In Psalm 119:22-23 the psalmist speaks for the first time concerning the affliction and reproach under which he was suffering. Indeed, he was suffering reproach and contempt. He was being slandered. Many were speaking against him. Yet the psalmist, as a faithful servant of the Lord, also presented his response unto that affliction and reproach. In the closing portion of Psalm 119:23, he declared, “But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.” Even so, with a study throughout Psalm 119, we may learn how a faithful servant of the Lord responds in the face of affliction and reproach.
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord meditates in truth and promises of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:23 this faithful servant of the Lord declared, “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.” Again in Psalm 119:78 he declared, “Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.” Yet again in Psalm 119:94-95 he declared, “I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.” Finally, in Psalm 119:148 he declared, “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord prays according to the truth and promises of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:25 this faithful servant of the Lord prayed, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.” Again in Psalm 119:28 he prayed, “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” Yet again in Psalm 119:39 he prayed, “Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.” Yet again in Psalm 119:41 he prayed, “Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.” Yet again in Psalm 119:58 he prayed, “I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.” Yet again in Psalm 119:84-86 he prayed, “How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.” Yet again in Psalm 119:107 he prayed, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.” Yet again in Psalm 119:121-124 he prayed, “I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.” Yet again in Psalm 119:145-147 he prayed, “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.” Yet again in Psalm 119:153-156 he prayed, “Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.” Finally, in Psalm 119:169-170 he prayed, “Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord sets his trust and hope in the truth and promises of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:42-43 this faithful servant of the Lord proclaimed, “So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth
utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.” Again in Psalm 119:49 he proclaimed, “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.” Yet again in Psalm 119:74 he proclaimed, “They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.” And yet again in Psalm 119:81 he proclaimed, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” Finally, in Psalm 119:147 he proclaimed, “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord finds his comfort in the truth and promises of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:50 this faithful servant of the Lord stated, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” Again in Psalm 119:52-54 he stated, “I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord refuses to forget or forsake the truth and precepts of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:51 this faithful servant of the Lord declared, “The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.” Again in Psalm 119:61 he declared, “The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.” Yet again in Psalm 119:82-83 he declared, “Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.” Yet again in Psalm 119:87 he declared, “They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.” Yet again in Psalm 119:109 he declared, “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.” Yet again in Psalm 119:141 he declared, “I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.” Yet again in Psalm 119:153 he prayed, “Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.” Finally, in Psalm 119:157 he declared, “Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord repents of any disobedience against the truth and precepts of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:67 this faithful servant of the Lord proclaimed, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Again in Psalm 119:71 he proclaimed, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Yet again in Psalm 119:75 he proclaimed, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord commits himself to obey the truth and precepts of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:67 this faithful servant of the Lord proclaimed, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Again in Psalm 119:69 he proclaimed, “The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.” Yet again in Psalm 119:110 he proclaimed, “The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.” Yet again in Psalm 119:134 he proclaimed, “Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.” Yet again in Psalm 119:145-146 he proclaimed, “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.” Finally, in Psalm 119:166-168 he proclaimed, “LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.”
In the face of affliction and reproach, a faithful servant of the Lord finds his delight in the truth and promises of God’s Word.
In Psalm 119:70 this faithful servant of the Lord stated, “Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.” Again in Psalm 119:92 he stated, “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” Yet again in Psalm 119:143 he stated, “Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.” Yet again in Psalm 119:161-162 he stated, “Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.” Finally, in Psalm 119:173-174 he stated, “Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Psalms, Serving the Lord, Word of God, Godly Meditation, Prayer, Trust in God,
Spiritual Peace, Faithfulness, Repentance of Sin, Obedience to the Lord, Godly Priorities
Please share this post with others: