In tonight's section of this Psalm we find the psalmist again referring to the persecution and harassment from evildoers. The general subject is the psalmist's determination to resist those who mock God's Word.
There are four basic divisions within this section. The psalmist tells us:
a. The way he will resist (113-115).
b. His satisfaction when he succeeds in resisting (116, 117).
c. God's contempt for the foolishness of the resisters (118-119).
d. The fear those resisters should have for God (120).
We face opposition, harassment, and at times, persecution for our faith. Tonight let's look at this section and glean from it principles that we can apply in our walk for the Lord. The enemy is real, and the attack inevitable
I. The Way of Resistance v113-115
A. By hating vain thoughts and loving the pure truth of God's law.
1. One subtle tool of the enemy is to cause us to doubt God's Word.
2. Remember the first attack?
3. Genesis 3:1 "…hath God said…"
4. We must be firm in our faith in what God has said to us through His Word.
5. If we vacillate on this, the enemy will succeed.
(James 1:8) "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
B. By allowing the Word of God to be our hiding place, our shield, and the anchor for our hope.
1. We cannot trust in our own thoughts and understanding.
(Jer 17:9) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
2. We cannot trust in ourselves, but only in God and His Word.
3. Others may scoff and mock us for our faith, but God's Word is the place for our protection as well as for our hope.
(Eph 2:12) "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"
(1 Th 4:13) "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
C. By rejecting the doctrines of the evil doers and renewing our pledge to keep God's commandments.
1. Elijah called upon the people of Israel to make up their minds concerning God once and for all.
2. We must make up our minds as well!
3. Note: 1 Kings 18:21
(1 Ki 18:21) "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word."
4. We must reject that which is false and embrace the Truth.
II. Benefits of Resistance v116-117
A. When we realize that it is God….
1. Who upholds us by His Word…
2. We will not be ashamed of placing our hope in Him and in His Word.
B. Our assurance of safety grows and enhances our respect for His statutes.
1. As the song says, 'the longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows'.
2. Also, the longer we serve Him, the greater our respect and appreciation for His Word.
3. We learn that God's Word is more than just religious rhetoric, it is life.
(John 6:63) "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
C. The Word of God, tried and proven in our experiences will greatly strengthen us spiritually.
III. The Foolishness of Defamers v118-119
A. They fail to learn from the past.
1. Wasn't it Lincoln who said that, 'those who fail to learn from the past are destined to repeat it'?
2. If there is one thing that is clear from looking into God's Word…it is that God judges those who reject His Word.
3. Adam and Eve learned this lesson…
4. Lot learned this lesson…
5. Moses learned this lesson…
6. Jonah learned this lesson…
7. And the list could go on and on!
B. This is a truth that is seen in the lives of those who were heathens, and those who were God's people.
C. The psalmist points out this foolishness by referring to God's judgment upon the wicked as one who removes the worthless dross in refining ore.
D. Truly he is a fool who says there is no God of vengeance.
(Nahum 1:2) "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."
(Rom 12:19) "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
IV. The Fear of God is Missing v120
A. The psalmist relates his own fear of God.
1. This is not only right, but it is expected.
2. The more we know God the more we should fear Him and His judgments.
3. It is a matter of respect and honor of who He is… He is Almighty God!
(Psa 91:1) "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
B. There is no fear of God before their eyes.
1. Paul lists the wickedness of sinful man and points to the reason that they continue in their wickedness.
(Rom 3:18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
2. Those who mock, harass, and persecute us simply have no fear of God.
3. We know that the fear of God is
a. "…the beginning of wisdom…" Pr. 9:10
b. "…the fountain of life…" Pr. 14:27
c. "…riches, and honor…" Pr. 22:4
C. Those who reject Him and His Word now, will have to acknowledge Him later.
(Isa 45:23) "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."
(Phil 2:10-11) "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
D. One day, all who defame God's Word will tremble under His righteous judgment.
James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. Tonight's section of Ps. 119 tells us how to resist, the benefits of resistance, and how God will deal with those who attack us and harass us. This passage should be an encouragement to every believer, and it should also be a challenge to those who have rejected God and His Word.