Psalm 119:41-48

THE WORD AND CHALLENGES

We all will deal with challenges in life. These challenges will come from within. That is, we will deal with our own struggles. These could be related to stresses and anxieties. They can be battles with sin. They can be struggles with physical limitations or other issues surrounding our bodies.

We also face challenges from without. The variety of these struggles are almost as vast as the sand on the beach. They can be challenges from our environment. For example, someone who struggles with drunkenness will face severe challenges if their work takes them to bars, or, for the guy who battles against lust who works at the beach. Our environments, then, can present different challenges. Additionally, our interactions with people can present challenges. We all have people in our lives that are tough to interact with, thus presenting unique challenges. They can be passive, not purposefully working to cause us pain. They can be active, enemies of our souls seeking to make us miserable. Then there are the challenges of life in a fallen world. The difficulties wrought on our physical bodies are enough to provide ample proof of more challenges. Then there are the difficulties caused by the fallenness of others: think abuse, rape, etc.

Added to all of these challenges, which afflict all people, are those unique to believers. So, within this framework of challenges from within and without are challenges that believers face. This opens a whole new universe of challenges. Think of our own individual battles with sin. Then add to that our responsibilities to God as believers, and how that factors into the challenges that all face. To give you one example, consider the issue of rape. While the Scriptures declare that the rapist should be judged according to the laws of the land, they also teach that believers are to forgive. Of course, this is an extreme example, but you can certainly see how challenges are amplified, rather than minimized, by being believers.

As we have learned in examining 40 verses from this Psalm, the Bible provides the answers for all important matters for all of life. Our next session, , addresses the challenges of life. It provides the answers of how the Bible help us deal with these challenges. Now, because of the time limitations and the Scriptural parameters, we will focus on generalities. That is, I hope that you can see how this passage provides us with general principles from which you can work through the various challenges we face in life.

I. HAVE A EVER-INCREASING LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS WORD- , ,

This principle is absolutely foundational to our dealings with challenges. We must be completely in love with God and His Word if we are to overcome and thrive in challenging situations.

Why is this so important? We looked at a few weeks ago and learned that you and I were made to worship. We were created with a God-sized hole in our lives, if you will, and God is the only One Who can fill it. Additionally, our view of life is skewed by the fall. We are blind before Jesus saves us, and as we grow in our sanctification (our path toward Christ-likeness) we begin to view God, ourselves, and life different.

Let me give you a quick example. When you are in love with God and His Word, you can view a terrible situation as the workings of a sovereign and good God. Joseph does this in .

A. Love for God and His Word begins with salvation- ;

I mentioned this as a foundation from which the rest of our dealings with challenges spring, and this is the cornerstone. We must be saved in order to love God. Paul reminds us that we are completely antagonistic against God in Romans 3:10-19.

B. Love for God and His Word is a lifelong growth process-

This is such a vital truth, but so often we forget that the Christian life is a process, it is a lifelong path. Like the farmer who plants the pear seed, knowing that it will take 4-6 years before fruit will be borne, we too need to realize that it takes time loving God and His Word, obediently walking in His truth, before we change into the image of His dear Son and our precious Savior Jesus Christ.

C. Love for God and His Word is a reciprocal process-

The Psalmist states that he finds delight in God’s commandments, “which I love.” That is, as we delight ourselves in God and His Word, we will love them more and more. The more we love God and His Word, the more we will love God and His Word.

The more I learn about Hannah, the more I love her. I learn things about her, her responses, her fears, her joys, and they all cause me to love her more. For example, I love hearing her laugh. And when she is pregnant she laughs hysterically. It only increases my love of hearing her laugh. This is the attitude, the mindset that we must have as we grow in our relationship with God.

D. Love for God and His Word is a disciplined process-

The Psalmist finishes this section by declaring he lifts his hands up and meditates on the Word. The idea behind lifting up one’s hands is worship. If you compare it with you can see this idea. In addition to worship, we see meditation. These are disciplined processes. The idea of personal and corporate worship as well as meditation, the practical application of the Word of God, are ways that we can exhibit and ever-increasing love for God and His Word.

II. BASE OUR BELIEFS AND LIVES ON GOD AND HIS WORD- ,

I put belief first because what we believe informs, affects, shapes how we live. So, in order to deal with the challenges of this life we must base our beliefs and lives on God’s Truth, His Word.

In dealing with challenges from without, the psalmist focuses on God’s truth. He realizes that God’s Word provides courage, it provides an answer for the objections and challenges from without. These are people who are actively fighting against God and His Word. The Scriptures, not our whit, nor our knowledge, nor even intellectual knowledge will equip us to face these challenges. It is God’s Word that provides the answer.

He also realizes that the challenges from within can only be addressed with God’s Word. He prays that God would not remove His Word because he hopes in God’s rules. That is, he has an anticipation. Like Noah waiting to release the dove in , the Psalmist anticipates, hopes, in God’s Word. While he does not mention challenges from within, when we think of concepts of hope we typically think within us. And while it certainly has applications for challenges without, it also has implications for challenges from within.

Third, he mentions that he would walk in a wide place, or a broad place. The psalmist seeks God’s Word and as a result walks (lives) in a broad place, a wide place. Imagine the picture of walking in a narrow place. It is difficult to walk through our pews due to the narrowness. But walking down the aisle is much easier because it is wider. And walking in the parking lot is even easier, unless there are cars driving around you. While life is not easy, it is easier as we walk in light of a biblical view of God and life.

Fourth, our beliefs and lives, when based on the Word of God, allow a certain confidence when facing challenges. Thinking back in Old Testament times, speaking before a king could be extremely dangerous. The kings in biblical times had unrivaled power. If I were king and I did not like you, I could kill you and nothing would happen to me. It was the way things were. However, the psalmist declares a unique confidence that he has because of his willingness to speak (and live) the truth of Scripture in the presence of kings.

As we have an ever-increasing love for God and His Word, and as we base our beliefs and lives on God and His Word, we will....

III. BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL CHALLENGES IN A GOD-GLORIFYING WAY-

When we get these first two right, we will be able to deal with all the challenges we will face, regardless of the location (within or without), their longevity (long or short), and regardless of their intensity (strong or weak).

Think of dealing with difficult people. In verse 42 the psalmist discusses this taunter, a blasphemer. God’s Word will enable us to answer the blasphemers in such a way as to honor God, edify the saints, and evangelize the believers. Consider the testimony of Stephen. In he is elected deacon as a man of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. He preaches a convicting message, the Pharisees and scribes ultimately murder him and lay his mantle at the feet of one Saul of Tarsus. Then Saul wreaks havoc on the church. While that is going on, they bury Stephen with “great lamentation,” but the next section says they went on preaching the Gospel. That is, Stephen’s life provided glory to God for His goodness through the Gospel, edified the saints through his righteous life and trusting death, and convicted the Pharisees and scribes. Also, there is no doubt that Stephen’s death was used by God in the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.

We already dealt with personal challenges, but imagine a life lived in complete love for God and His Word, a view that is constantly configured by God’s Word. The challenges we face are overcome through these lifestyles of love and obedience.

So, Christians, let us follow the example of the Psalmist as we will surely face challenges for the rest of our lives. Let Scripture shape our view of challenges.