Psalm 119: Heth
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Who is your King?
Who is your King?
Heth
Psalm 119:57-64 in Hebrew
57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
If God is our portion?
If God is our portion?
Our portion is our share. It is what is intended for us. It is what we need. It may even include some things we desire. It is what is rightfully ours.
If Jesus is our King, who determines our portion?
So we ask, if God is our portion, what are the results of that relationship. The Psalmist answers that beautifully in this section.
If God is our portion . . .
If God is our portion . . .
We keep His word (vs. 57)
We keep His word (vs. 57)
57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
We seek what we need from him (vs. 58)
We seek what we need from him (vs. 58)
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
We follow His ways (vs. 59)
We follow His ways (vs. 59)
59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;
We are quick to obey Him (vs. 60)
We are quick to obey Him (vs. 60)
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
We do not forget his standards (vs. 61)
We do not forget his standards (vs. 61)
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
We worship Him because of His righteous rules (vs. 62)
We worship Him because of His righteous rules (vs. 62)
62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
We surround ourselves with others who follow Him (vs. 63)
We surround ourselves with others who follow Him (vs. 63)
63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
We see the Love of God at work everywhere (vs. 64)
We see the Love of God at work everywhere (vs. 64)
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
Through all this beautiful praise and through this well lived life, the Psalmist drops one discordant thought into this section. It is meant to sound wrong. It is meant to stand out in a bad way.
You know, like that perfect bite of dinner that has a hair in it.
Look at verse 61 again
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
What are the cords of the wicked?
What are the cords of the wicked?
These are pictured as ropes that tie us down or drag us where we do not want to go.
There are two kinds of cords that I think of when I consider how the wicked trap us. There are snares and their are shackles. One we walk into and the other is forced upon us.
The snares of the wicked
The snares of the wicked
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ”
20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
The snares of the wicked are the things that look good and might even be used for good but are designed to trap our souls, bind our love to them, and steal our strength. Once all we have to give is spent on these things, we have nothing left for the Lord. Not our love, not our time, not our loyalty. We then learn to love the snare that we are stuck in.
The shackles of the wicked
The shackles of the wicked
8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
The shackles of the wicked are designed to beat you down and wear you out. Through persecution, they hope to turn you hearts bitter and sour toward the things of God.
The Psalmist points to the fact that though the wicked have bound him, his life, his worship, his love belong to the Lord and to His commands.
How do you get free from a snare?
How do you get free from a snare?
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Listening to the advice of the Psalmist you would:
We keep His word (vs. 57)
We seek what we need from him (vs. 58)
We follow His ways (vs. 59)
We are quick to obey Him (vs. 60)
We do not forget his standards (vs. 61)
We worship Him because of His righteous rules (vs. 62)
We surround ourselves with others who follow Him (vs. 63)
We see the Love of God at work everywhere (vs. 64)
How do you deal with shackles?
How do you deal with shackles?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
We keep His word (vs. 57)
We seek what we need from him (vs. 58)
We follow His ways (vs. 59)
We are quick to obey Him (vs. 60)
We do not forget his standards (vs. 61)
We worship Him because of His righteous rules (vs. 62)
We surround ourselves with others who follow Him (vs. 63)
We see the Love of God at work everywhere (vs. 64)
