Psalm 119 vav | HSB Series

Psalm 119:41–48 (KJV 1900)

41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.

42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments.

44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes.

Introduction

How do you live the Christian life?

You live the Christian life by faith. You live the Christian life by faith in God, you live the Christian life by faith in His promises, and you live the Christian life by faith in His Word.

Our salvation is from the Lord and our salvation is according to promise.

Psalm 119:41 “41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.”

Two truths here.

Salvation is from the Lord

Salvation is according to a promise.

Two implications of these truths.

Our trust must be focused on the Lord and His Word. Psalm 119:41 “41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.”

Great emphasis in Psalms on it being God’s Word. God’s command. God’s statutes.

The Psalmist focuses himself on the Word as a Word from God

So many conversations. So little problem solving, so little counseling, centers around the promises of God. Let that not be true about us as a community. — Resource

C. H. Spurgeon, The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith: Being Precious Promises Arranged for Daily Use with Brief Comments (New York: American Tract Society, 1893), 260.

Matthew 10:42 “42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”

WELL, I can do as much as that. I can do a kind act towards the Lord’s servant. The Lord knows I love them all, and would count it an honour to wash their feet. For the sake of their Master I love the disciples. How gracious of the Lord to mention so insignificant an action—“to give to drink a cup of cold water only”!

This I can do, however poor: this I may do, however lowly: this I will do right cheerfully. This, which seems so little, the Lord notices—notices when done to the least of his followers. Evidently it is not the cost, nor the skill, nor the quantity, that he looks at, but the motive: that which we do to a disciple, because he is a disciple, his Lord observes, and recompenses. He does not reward us for the merit of what we do, but according to the riches of his grace. I give a cup of cold water, and he makes me to drink of living water. I give to one of his little ones, and he treats me as one of them. Jesus finds an apology for his liberality in that which his grace has led me to do, and he says, “He shall in no wise lose his reward.” // fitting for our Sunday afternoon event.

We must live by faith.

There are so many things that you cannot make sense of in this life by sight.

Hab 2:4 “4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: But the just shall live by his faith.” Paul quotes in Romans 1:17 “17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Continues this thought in Galatians 2:20 “20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Hebrews 11 gives us example of the life of a believer. It is lived “by faith”

You come to places in the Word of God where God asks you to do hard things. Walk by faith.

We have become quite good at not needing to walk by faith. Where the Bible demands something of us and it is tolerable or enjoyable we follow. When the Bible confronts us and we submit, obey, and walk by faith — we often force the Word of God to conform to our desires.

“It is impossible to do well in the Christian life or to maintain any successful war against sin unless we have faith. The Word of God is powerless to help us until it is believed. Its vast treasures are unlocked by the hand of faith only. Without faith, providence is absolutely crushing in many of its dispensations, but faith makes salvation ours. He that will not trust shall not conquer.” - William Plummer

Our salvation is from the Lord and our salvation is according to promises of God. This teaches us that the Christian life must be lived by trust in Him and in His Word.

We walk by faith even in the face of ridicule.

Psalm 119:42 “42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word.”

This provides context for the challenge of walking by faith.

This is more common than we might first recognize.

Even for those of you who do not believe you have any enemies their is always the “accuser of the brethren”

In his book The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan describes a battle between the accuser, Apollyon, and Christian in the Valley of Humiliation. One of Apollyon’s ploys is to recite a laundry list of Christian’s sins: “Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost choked in the Gulf of Despond; thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy Prince had taken it off; thou didst sinfully sleep and lose thy choice thing; thou wast also almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions; and when thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest.” Christian’s response to the accuser is full of humility and faith: “All this is true; and much more which thou hast left out: but the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful and ready to forgive. But besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy country; for there I sucked them in, and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my Prince.”

At the mention of Christ’s forgiveness, Apollyon flies into a rage; Satan the accuser cannot abide the fact that his accusations are overcome by the grace of God in Christ.

Psalmist finds a confidence that would liberate him to speak of God’s testimonies even in front of kings.

Psalm 119:46 “46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.”

We must be prepared to bear reproach for the sake of God, the Gospel, and the truth of God's Word.

My heart goes to the next generation. Our 2,000+ yr old Christian held beliefs and values are no longer welcomed in many places in this world.

It will be essential for us to love well that we be willing to bear reproach.

This verse needs to something that is known, understood, and memorized by us all. 1 Timothy 4:10 “10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

This “speak of testimonies before Kings” is lived out in Acts 4:23-25 “23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?”

What is their response to this reproach. Acts 4:29-30 “29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”

We are given an identity

Psalm 60:3-4 “3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. (difficulty) 4 Thou hast given a banner (identity) to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.”

Valor is courage on behalf of others. Psalm 60:12 “12 Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that shall tread down our enemies.”

Liberty found in God

Psalm 119:43-46 “43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.”

Walk of liberty has the following

God brought us mercies from God and they come from His Word. Psalm 119:41 “41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.”

we need His mercies

Trust in His Word gives us an answer to those who reproach us

So we pray it is never taken from our mouth. Psalm 119:43 “43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments.”

God’s law is broad, wide, and brings freedom. Allows us to run. To the unbeliever it seems restrictive. Psalm 119:45 “45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts.”

hoping in Him

keeping the law

seeking precepts

mouth filled with the word of His truth

“All that love God love His government and therefore love all His commandments.” - Matthew Henry

Closing

Liberty, confidence and delight come from walking in Liberty

We should give God’s Word affection, honor, and time. Psalm 119:48 “48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes.”

It is surely hypocritical to pray for God to fulfill his promises in the word and not be committed to obeying that same word.

Liberty gives us incredible liberty. Not only from the reproach of others but the ability to speak boldly. Psalm 119:

Through the Word we have found life (in salvation) and we also find liberty (from following His commands)