John Peyton Online

Phil 4:6,7

What a tremendous promise! That in the midst of the various trials and troubles that we face each day, the peace of God is readily available to us to not only guard our hearts and our minds from plunging into needless fretting and anxiety, but also enable us to rest in the care of Heavenly Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 

The remedy is ready. The very “peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,” is available to all who ask in His name; trusting Him who has said, and in Him who has promised. Through what means then?  Paul tell us…”in everything by prayer and supplication (humble appeal), with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” “The Lord is near” (vs 5), and is willing and able to meet your every need. 

And yet how often we forget in the midst of our anxieties, who our God is, and how near He is to us. Certainly we are all given to this. Worry seems like a natural and understandable reaction to the adversities of life. The surprising death of a loved one, or a terminal illness that we or someone close to us has contracted. The news of a war that has begun, with the possibility unrest and invasion follow. The loss of personal income and the ability to sustain ourselves or the lives of our dependents. Worry is certainly understandable with these situations. 

Yet what is surprising to me, is how even the small and seemingly insignificant issues of life can still unnerve me, and compel me to question God or His timing with those situations. “Did I respond to that person appropriately?” “Did I say too much and cause offense?” “Did we get enough condiments of the the BBQ this evening?” I site these last ones simply to show the wide extent of of the issues of life that we can be compelled to worry about. Truly this is a serious matter that needs to be contended with.

A God who Controls Every Aspect of Life

The Bible is pretty clear about who is in control of every aspect of life, both the good and the bad. It’s not ourselves. It’s not chance or fate. It’s not the Devil. It’s God. Even down to the smallest detail of life. “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?” (Lam 3:37,38). “The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD” (Prov 16:1). “Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider–God has made the one as well as the other….”(Eccles 7:13,14). “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps”(Prov 16:9). “The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD” (Prov 16:33). “Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way? (Prov 20:24). “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov 21:1). “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD” (Prov 16:31).  And those are just a few. 

We’re reminded of Gods dealing with the nations and the nation of Israel alone as recorded in the Bible that bares this out. Josephs words to his brothers are a good sum up…“as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result… (Gen 50:20).

Clearly this is the perspective in the New Testament regarding Christ and His accomplished work here on earth. Peter said…“This Man (Jesus the Nazarene), delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death”(Acts 2:22,23). He went onto say on another occasion… “”For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur”(Acts 4:27). And we believe this to be true as well.

Consider how we pray. We ask God to act and to do things that we never could, not only miraculously, but also through His various means of providence. We pray for God to move in the hearts of people, to grant repentance and faith to believe¹, knowing that unless He does so, they never will². We pray for these things because we believe in a God who indeed does just that; in a God who does the impossible (Matt 19:23-26).

This is who our great God is. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure” (Isa 46:9,10). He did it at Calvary, and He continues to do so in the lives of His elect (Acts 13:48). Paul remind us that He indeed works all of the various aspects of lives “together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). 

So why the disconnect? Just our natural propensity toward unbelief? To doubt God? “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Num 23:19). On what grounds did He loose His credibility or warrant the need for our distrust? The issue is not with Him, but will us. Clearly He has demonstrated Himself as able and faithful “to accomplish all HIs good pleasure.” We dare not be like those who just after being miraculously fed on the mountain, demanded another sign so that He may believed (John 6:30). 

A Table in the Wilderness

The Psalmist recalls for us… “Then they spoke against God; They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? “Behold, He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?”(Ps 78:19). This is the voice of unbelief. Indeed their circumstances on the surface looked dire, but God was with them, and had demonstrated His power and faithfulness repeatedly. Yet their doubt remained.

Is it not the case in some sense with us as well? How needed are Christ’s words to us from the Sermon on the Mount…”For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? “And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ “For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt 6:25-34).

If God is so able and willing care for us, and has repeatedly demonstrated His faithfulness to do so, why are we so prone to doubt Him? Why are we so prone under the guise of “prudence and good stewardship” to do just the opposite of Christ’s words to us earlier in that sermon…””Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:19-21). 

Where is the biblical ground for “prepping” for the unknown in light of these passages? Quite frankly many of our current day efforts strike me more of unbelief than of those who really believe that God is indeed able to care to the needs of His children. Laying up for ourselves treasures on earth has become so common place for us under the guise of wisdom and prudence, that to even suggest otherwise, is often met with scoffing and ridicule. Clearly the scriptures call us to work, to save, to build and to invest, not only to provide for ourselves and our dependents³, but also so that we will have sometime to share with those who have needs⁴. Yet how often our efforts in amassing wealth for ourselves are really a guard against having to trust God to actually do what He said He would do. 

Dare we recall the illustration of the rich man in Luke 12? Christ in warning against the sin of covetousness said…”Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”(Luke 12:15-21).  Obviously the modern approach to retirement isn’t that modern after all. 

Oh Lord, guard us against laying up treasures for ourselves here on earth and not trusting you for what you have demonstrated and promised. “Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return (in faith) to the LORD” (Lam 3:40).  

Unbelief tells us He can’t or won’t provide, or certainly not in the manner in which we desire. So we pile it up to guard against such an outcome, and praise our efforts of “wisdom and good stewardship.” O beware my brethren of those false and deceptive motives hiding behind such supposed wisdom and human reasonings. Indeed “all the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the LORD weighs the motives” (Prov 16:2). There will come a day when the Lord will “disclose the motives of mens hearts”(1 Cor 4:5), and weigh them in the scales of His justice. Let us take heed then,“for even if (as Paul says), I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord” (1 Cor 4:4). It is indeed foolish to examine our selves by ourselves (2 Cor 10:12).

Jesus said to them…”Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid”(Matt 14:27).  God spoke through the prophet Isaiah saying…“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand”(Isa 41:10). And again…”Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”(Isa 43:2). Will He not care for His own? “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him”(Ps 103:13).

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”(Rom 8:32). Why are we so timid? How is it that we have no faith?  Again…“Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”(Num 23:19).  

Far better to trust God to care for our needs, and lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, than to lay up treasures for ourselves here on earth (as witness against us for our own doubt and unbelief), and to end up with nothing but wood hay and stubble that simple gets burned up at the judgement to come.

“He is no fool, who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what He cannot lose.”⁵

But what about when He says “No?” Or “You need to wait, and trust Me? I have things that I need you to learn through this situation, and this is the path that I have chosen for you to take in order for you to grow in faith and learn to trust Me more.” Is it reasonable to trust God in those times as well? Not just reasonable, but imperative!

What about a situation where your nation is being invaded by another, and you can do nothing about it but wait, until that conjuring nation arrives and takes you and everything you possess captive, enslaves and deports you into exile, not knowing how or if you will be cared for or if you will ever be released from captivity.  This was Habakkuk’s situation. Let’s look at his response to it…

“I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us. (But) though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; Though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food; Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls; Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. (For) the Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.” (Hab 3:16-19)

Here is a situation where it is absolutely imperative to trust God; for your very survival, and not just physically, but even more so for mental and spiritual stability. Such a situation, or others like those I had mentioned at the outset, could drive us to utter madness, to the depths of despair and hopelessness. Yet for the believer, “the Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.”   

Here is “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, that shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Here is the peace that Isaiah told us about centuries ago… “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa 26:3 KJV). “…for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7)

It is faith that can say…”He knows what’s best for me, and I will endeavor to trust Him.”

I’ll leave you with these words of our Lord… “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27). “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

And the posture of the Psalmist… “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:25,26).

For your consideration, 

May God bless a fresh resolve.

Footnotes:

1.   Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Tim 2:26; Eph 2:8; Act 13:48

2.  John 1:12,13; 6:44,65; 1 Cor 1:30; 2:14

3.  1 Thes 3:10-12; 1 Tim 5:1-16

4.  Eph 4:28; 1 Tim 6:17-19

5.  Jim Elliott – Personal journal entry –  October 28, 1949

Matthew 6:24

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Exodus 20:3

I realize that by placing these two texts together as a heading, one might get the impression that what I intend to primarily address is the issue of money and the domineering mastery that it has over our lives. That however is not my primary focus. As important as the issue of money is, and the influence that it exerts on our lives, it is really only an indicator that highlights a greater issue behind it. Like a symptom of a greater disorder that’s lying beneath the surface. But before we address the disorder, lets first take a look at this symptom.

The Bible speaks a lot about money, riches and the devastating effects that it can have on people. Jesus spoke a lot about money and possessions.  He also warned repeatedly about the dangers that a love for it can bring. Here are just a few…

• He used the illustration of the giving of alms to warn against hypocritical generosity and our desire to be honored by others (Matt 6:3-6). 
• He used the illustration of a poor widow putting into the treasury only two small copper coins, but because of the level of sacrifice that it cost her, her gift before God was actually considered of more value than all the other wealthy contributors combined (Mark 41:44).
• He used a parable about a rich man who was very productive, and wanted to store up his goods for himself so that he could take his ease and enjoy the fruits of his labor to warn against covetousness and self centeredness (Luke 12:13-21).
• He used the parable of the unrighteous, unfaithful steward to warn against being unfaithful with earthly wealth, only to jeopardize your opportunity to be given true heavenly riches (Luke 16:1-13). 
• He used a parable of a rich man who ignored the needs of others to warn of the eternal consequences that can come for doing so (Luke 16:19-31).
• He used His interaction with the rich young ruler who wanted to obtain eternal life, but left Jesus “grieved, because he…owned much property,” to warn about the devastating consequences that a love for money and possessions can have (Matt 19:16-24).

Jesus said after His interaction with this rich young ruler… “”Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”(Matt 19:23,24).

To the disciples this was truly an astonishing statement, for they understood that “it is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich”(Prov 10:22), not the other way around. A love for money can actually make it “hard,” nea “impossible,” for a man to “enter the kingdom of heaven.”

But why? Because “a rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination”(Prov 18:11), and he is prone to trust in himself rather than God for his deliverance (Prov 10:15).

Paul warned Timothy that “those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang” (1 Tim 6:9,10).  Paul says here that there are some, even in the church who “want to get rich,” that can “fall into temptation” and actually “wander away from the faith.” So this is a serious matter, indeed for all of us.  

We know that we all are prone to “love the world and the things of the world”(1 John 2:15). We are all prone to show partiality to those who are rich (James 2), and for a variety of reasons. And yet in doing so (James says), we “are committing sin and convicted by the law as transgressors” (James 2:9). We know that personal generosity can be an illusive quality for all of us, and that we can all be prone to say when we see a “brother or sister” who is in need of even basic provisions, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet not give them what is necessary for their body” (James 2:15,16).

Of course there are those who would contest the suggestion, the possibility even, that they would have a “love for money, or do such a shameful thing.  Does not the Bible call us to be “good stewards” of our possessions? Indeed it does. But if our propensity is largely toward the preserving of our wealth, rather than the sharing of it (1 Tim 6:17,18), may we not be in danger of “piercing ourselves with many a pang.”

If you think you’re not inclined to such a temperament, or becoming “funny about money,”ask yourself a few of the following questions…

• Are you always looking for or expecting to get a good deal on a product or service, and prone to get upset if you don’t?
• Do you excessively scrutinize products or services you’re considering purchasing, endeavoring to find a flaw or deficiency to get a reduced price? 
• How inclined are you to be generous? Would others consider you to be a generous person? Or do you always need to check and see if you can afford to do so?
• Would you ever give a sizable amount of money as a gift? Or are you more inclined to set up a loan, perhaps even with interest?
• When a financial need is expressed at church in the congregation, are you inclined to wait first, to see if others will met the need before you offer assistance?
• If you gave your word to provide something for someone, would you keep your word even if it costs you to do so?
• Would you ever allow yourself to be defrauded in order to deflect a slanderous report about you as a Christian?
• Have you ever told yourself or others that you can’t afford to tithe?

  It’s unsettling how many of these can register in our own minds and hearts if we’re honest. We want to be generous and share with those who have legitimate need, and yet how often we are inclined to wait, or make an excuse for why we can’t at this time. Funny isn’t it how possessive we can become of things that we actually don’t own (Ps 24:1). Indeed “what do we have that we did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7). Could it be that a love of money has become a master over me, or is something or someone else to blame?

No one can serve two masters…

I would propose that the real master here… is ourselves, or to be specific, our unredeemed flesh, which continues to wage war against “the new self” (Eph 4:24), in “the inner man” (Rom 7:22), and the Spirit of God inside us (Rom 8).  Money, or rather a love for it, is merely a symptom of our fleshly desire to continue to be the lord of our own lives, rather than Christ. We continue to refuse or resist to part with those things which are most precious to us. 

Jesus said…“No one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). Be it our money or possessions, or power and prestige, or the deepest desires and aspirations, or even the closest of our relationships (Luke 14:26), everything has to be laid at the foot of His throne. Nothing can be held back or retained.  Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it” (Matt 16:24,25). 

Christ will not share his rule over us with us. We know how we respond to others who seek to impose their will upon us that have no jurisdiction over our lives. Would you ever tolerate someone coming into your home and telling you what to do? How you should live? Yet we expect Him to accept that arrangement. Or even worse, expect Him to stand aside.

We need to remember the fact “that we are not our own… for we have been bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:19,20). As Paul said…“That I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). That “Christ died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Cor 5:14).

We gave up our right to rule ourselves when we gave our lives to Christ and became Christians.  Every time we assert our own will over His, we are in a very real sense declaring to Him… “You’re not in charge, step aside.” In so doing, we have again just violated the first commandment “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” (Deut 5:7). 

This is a sobering thought indeed, especially when we consider how often this happens throughout our day. Many of those conscious, intentional choices that we make each day (many of which seem so insignificant that to us they don’t warrant any additional thought or concern), are in fact brazen acts of rebellion against the Creator of the universe. The very One by whom “we live, and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Yet we sheepishly suggest…”Perhaps God didn’t notice that choice? Or we tell ourselves..“That’s so small, it doesn’t really matter.” Yet “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good”(Prov 15:3). If “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of men!”(Prov 15:11) 

He doesn’t miss anything. Indeed “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:12). The judgement of God is extremely pervasive. Every careless word (Matt 12:36), every deed (Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10), even our “motives” (Prov 16:2), and “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:11), we will be held accountable for. 

As Thomas Brooks said… ”There is no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against.” 

This principle could best be understood in the statement…

“The gravity of an offense is tied to the majesty of the One being offended.”¹

David clearly understood this when he said… “Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight” (Ps 51:4)

As R.C Sproul pointed out…”No traitor to any king or nation has ever approached the wickedness of our treason before God. Sin is cosmic treason. Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward One to whom we owe everything, the One who has given us life itself.”²  This is the reality of our rebellious sinful choices before God. 

James Dolezal concurred when he said that “sin is cosmic treason, but the gospel of Jesus Christ provides cosmic redemption, sufficient to forgive every sin. Sin is our supreme folly, but the death and resurrection of God’s own Son is the supreme revelation of divine wisdom and the perfect antidote for human foolishness.”³ 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Lord Jesus help us to be mindful of the daily choices that we make, and enable us to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthian 9:15)

Footnotes:

1.  Author unknown

2. R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, 151–152

3. James E. Dolezal, Sin is Cosmic Treason – Table Talk Magazine – October 2025

(Romans 7:15 – NASB)

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

(Romans 7:24 – KJV)

Sound familiar? Whether you’ve been a Christian for forty hours or forty years, the frustration with our own inability to actually live the Christian life at times can be simply overwhelming. In fact, it seems to deepen as the journey goes on. On the one hand, the more we grow in Christ, the more we get clarity about who He is and what it’s like to walk with Him on this narrow path to heaven. On the other hand the more we grow in Christ, the more we get clarity about who are, and our utter inability to do that which is pleasing in His sight; “to walk in a manner worthy” of our calling (Eph 4:1). Surely the counsel of Solomon is applicable here… “for in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (Ecc 1:18 – KJV).

I chose to sight Romans 7:24 in the KJV here because I believe it best illustrates the weight of despair that Paul is endeavoring to convey here. It also conveys a sentiment that I can best relate to. The utter frustration with my own repeated failure to obey Gods word. The levels of discouragement that feel  when I fail to regularly think, to act, and to respond to others as I should. The weight of influence that my own self-centeredness still carries and wields in my life is truly disturbing, and I am appalled and heartily ashamed of it when I consider how often I am willing to forsake the needs of others for the comforts of myself. How upset I can become when I am asked to serve another, when I had planned to serve myself. 

Truly the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh is so intense and discouraging at times, that if it wasn’t for the redeeming power of the Holy Spirit in my life that saved and is sanctifying me, I don’t see how I would ever stay the course on this narrow path to heaven, nor even want to.

When I got saved years ago, I didn’t know about this battle that would ensue between Gods Holy Spirit inside me and my own flesh. I didn’t know anything about the Christian life. I did know that I was certainly capable of messing up my own life, repeatedly.  I also knew that I never knew anyone that loved me enough to die for me, to pay the penalty for my sin against Him, so that I wouldn’t have to. The simply gospel can produce profound results (Acts 10), of which I also can bear witness. 

Yet the battle rages on, and although I can bear witness to the transforming power of God in my life, there are times when the failures are overwhelming. Why did He choose to do it this way? –  this long drawn out process of being conformed into the image of Christ? (2 Cor 3:18).  Why not just an immediate transformation (Phil 3:21)?  Certainly I could be more useful to Christ, and not so often dejected because of my own repeated failures? 

The short answer is that there is so much more that God would have us learn though the process  of sanctification (of becoming more like our Savior).  Patience, love, forgiveness, self-control, dependence on God, repentance and restoration of ourselves so that we can be used of God to encourage and restore others (Luke 22:32,33). The amazing thing is that He chooses to use broken people. 

Redeemed, but still broken. A new creation (2 Cor 5:17), but still residing in this decaying, earthly tent (2 Cor 4:16; 5:1). Why? Paul tells us… “so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God, and not of ourselves” (2 Cor 4:7). 

But I’d like to get back to this issue of why it is that this battle between “the inner man”(Rom 7:22) in whom the Spirit of God dwells (Rom 8:9), and the flesh is so intense, and so often ends in failure, at least from our prospective. I’d also like to try to unpack how it is that the Spirit of Christ inside us (Rom 8:9), brings about obedience to His word. How it is that the fruit of His Spirit within us can actually be displayed.  So many thoughts here to address, so let’s try and get them ordered.

  1.  As a redeemed Christian, we are a “new creature”(2 Cor 5:17), in-dwelt by Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9-11), and are led by His Spirit within us (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18). “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness”(2 Pet 1:3), that is, we have everything we need to “grow up into all aspects of Him (Eph 4:15). So, just so we’re clear, any failures? That’s on us. He has throughly equipped us, and set us up for success. So why then the failures? I would suggest some additional factors for your consideration…

2.  The Spirit of God inside us doesn’t shout.  As Isaiah was keen to point out…“Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30:21). He doesn’t shout, but He does speak. Sometimes rather quietly, like the “sound of a gentle blowing”(1 Kin 19:12), or sometimes much more pronounced, as He does though out the Scriptures (A good example of this would be found in the first eight chapters of Proverbs through the appeals of “Wisdom” and the “father”).  Our accusing conscience speaks loudly, nay screams at us at times. But He doesn’t; and although He often speaks quietly, we are able to hear Him when He does (Rom 8:16). 

It’s often hard to hear someone speaking quietly in a room filled with load noise, and I would dare say that this is the world in which we live. It loudly clamors for you attention, like all of those depicted in Bunyan’s Vanity Fair.¹ Make the decision to turn off the noise and put on a quieter selection like the Word of God.   

3.  We aren’t taking the necessary steps to actually “fight the good fight” of the faith (1 Tim 1:18,19). Many people seem to think that “once saved,’  they can just take their ease and leisurely stroll their way into the kingdom of God. I can understand that approach if they’re on the “broad road” that accommodates all their stuff and the desires of their hearts. But the broad road doesn’t go to heaven, even though the sign post my say so. No, Jesus spoke of the “narrow way that leads to life, and few there are that find it (Matt 7:14). He spoke of the need to “strive to enter the narrow door, for many… will seek to enter will not be able” (Luke 13;24). 

Entrance into the kingdom of God certainly requires a work of God to do so (John 3:3); and once done, He will continue to “will and to work”(Phil 2:13) in the heart of that individual new desires for things that please God, and an increasing hatred for things that are an offense to Him (Rom 7:15-25). But our unredeemed flesh is tenacious, and never gives up. Thus the battle. 

But we can take steps to fight it and win more often and lose. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to “run in such a way that you may win” (1 Cor 9:24). The writer of Hebrews called us to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”(Heb 12:1,2). Paul appealed to the Christians in Rome to “lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. –  Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Rom 13:12-14). Paul told the Ephesians to “take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm’ (Eph 6:13). 

To do so requires a concerted intention and resolve to do so.  To say no to the desires of “the flesh,” and yes to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Paul said… “I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; – but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:26,27).  That’s concerted effort and intention. We expect self disciple (which is a fruit of the Spirit – Gal 5:23), to be exercised in the life of one who desires to become an accomplished athlete, artist, dancer, musician, or doctor; should we not also expect that the same will be required to be victorious over the enemies of our soul? “Lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us.” Ask God to give you a resolve to identify and jettison the excess baggage in your life that just slows you down; as well as the wisdom to stay clear of the sin that continues to trip you up. Take a different path.

4.  We’re likely thinking that we can handle this ourselves.  Our prayer life is likely becoming shallow, infrequent, and cold. I have often found that when I am confident that I can handle something, that I’m less inclined to ask God for the help to do so. Big mistake! “The flesh profits nothing”(John 6:63). “Ok, big things? I should ask God for help with the big things, right? But what about the little things like patience with others? Knowing when to shut my mouth? Selflessly serving another who has a need?  Do I need to ask God for little things like that?”  What do you think?

The Psalms are replete with the prayers of the saints crying out for Divine assistance stay the course and keep the faith. We saw that when we looked at 119. No, Jesus told us to “ask’ (Matt 7:7), and to do so with earnestness and tenacity (Luke 18:1-8). He also told us to “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40). The biblical model is not that of a rugged individual blazing the trail by himself.  We are utterly dependent upon God for everything in this life; indeed it is “by Him that we live and move and have our being” (Act 17:28); how much more shall we need His divine assistance in “fighting the deeds of the flesh?” (Rom 8:13).  At the end of Pauls counsel regarding this struggle that we have, that “is not against flesh and blood”(Eph 6:10-18), he said “with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (vs 18).

Yet this is not our only resource that the Lord expects us to use. To be sure Ephesians 6:14-18 unpacks the various aspects of the armor we need to put on for the battle. However I’d like to point out another asset that’s available to us, and we see it here on display at the end of Ephesians 6. Pauls asks the church to “pray for all the saints, and pray on my behalf” also (vs 18,19). He also highlights that he sent Tychicus to them “so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts” (vs 22). This is the asset of the body of Christ, and the benefits of being apart of His body are replete throughout the NT.  

God never intended to fight this fight this alone. The body of Christ of divinely equipped to minister to “one another” through His Spirit (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12-14). This ministry is vitally important to our spiritual well being. The writer of Hebrews told those Christians in his letter…”Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:23-25). 

Remember the words of Christ to Peter…”Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers”(Luke 22:31,32).  Even after a fall, particularly after a fall, “strengthen for brothers,” for in doing so the Lord will strengthen you in the process.

Long term isolation is never wise. “He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom” (Prov 18:1).  As Callahan said… ”A man’s got to know his limitations.”²  

The greater our clarity regarding our own propensities and limitations; the greater our prayer life and participation in the life of the body of Christ will increase.  Just remember… “Admission is the first step of recovery.”³

5. We are prone for forget the time of affliction that God uses to teach us to follow Him.  Remember the words of the Psalmist in 119…”Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word”(vs 67). “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes” (71). God often brings affliction into our lives when we go astray, that we may learn to “keep Thy word.” The sad thing is that we often forget those times of affliction and the reason that they were needed, and slide back into the same sins again, just like the nation of Israel did.  The danger of doing so, is that forgotten lessons just half to be repeated again, and that painful. 

As the old adage goes…”You’ll never change your behavior until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change.”⁴  We need to remember the painful lessons that the Lord gave us for our good. I have personally found this very helpful when facing a fresh temptation to do something again that I know I shouldn’t.  I can remember not only the pain of disciplinary affliction, but also the sorrow and anguish of having sinned against my Lord again, and tell myself…”It’s not worth it!” Remember also the heyday that your conscience will have with you if you do. “Don’t do it.” ”It’s not worth it!”

Certainly there is a place for a godly sorrow for the sin in our lives. Indifference to it or minimizing the significants of it clearly isn’t the way to go. Seems that David understood this when he said….”Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight” (Ps 51:4). He understood that his sin was ultimately against God and Him alone. His sin against God was a weighty matter indeed. Thus we see the extent of his contrition and repentance throughout this great psalm. In fact he highlights they valuable place that they hold before God when he says…”For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise”(Ps 51:16,17). 

Paul highlights the value of a “sorrow that is according to the will of God that produces a repentance without regret, leading tosalvation and restoration (2 Cor 7;10), as we saw with some of the members of the Corinthian church.  There is great value in remembering what we have been delivered from (Eph 2:11,12), as well as the sorrow and affliction of those corrective measures of God for our good, lest we forget them, and just have to go through them again.

I’m reminded of the counsel of Peter…”Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (1 Pet 4:1-3). Whether 40 minutes or 40 years, that was sufficient, that was enough. 

”Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:21-23). 

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Cor 9:15)

Footnotes:

1. The Pilgrims Progress – John Bunyan
2. Harry Callahan – Magnum Force
3. Alcoholics Anonymous – The Twelve Steps
4. Often attributed to Tony Robbins

Psalm 119:67

“It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes.”

Psalm 119:71

“I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.”

Psalm 119:75

“This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.”

Psalm 119:50

After spending some time with Psalm 119 as a whole, I’d like to return to this psalm and focus our attention particularly on how this psalmist understood and dealt with his afflictions. We always seem to be more inclined to listen to counsel from someone “who has been there” or experienced the same thing or trial that we’re going through and survived, and maybe even come out stronger.  They can speak with a level of authority and credibility that others just don’t possess. Certainly the counsel of the soldier coming out of the battle, carries more weight than those who haven’t even put their armor on yet. 

If indeed this Psalmist is David, we have before us the counsel of a battle-weathered soldier. One who has experienced both victories and defeats, and yet has been sustained by the Lord and the power of His grace. From this section, what would he have us to know and understand? I’d like to advance a few initial observations.

I.  A sovereign God is behind his afflictions.  

“Before I was afflicted”(vs 67).  He sees his afflictions as something that was given or applied to him from God, and indeed he confirms this notion in vs 75 – “… in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.”  In his understanding, the afflictions and trials that he’s experiencing are not random, unfortunate acts; but rather intentional, sovereignly tailored trials both for him personally, as well as for multitudes. 

Certainly he knows this from the revelation of God’s word that he had available to him. He could recall the examples of God’s dealing with Joseph & Job personally,¹ as well as how God dealt with the Moses and the nation of Israel as a whole. ²  And certainly the rest of the Scriptures as they were given would fill out and support this understanding. ³ 

II. His afflictions are given to him by God for his good. 

“It is good for me that I was afflicted…”(vs 71).  Good in what sense? How were they good for him?  Well he tells us, vs 67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word.” And again in vs 71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes.” These afflictions that God has given to him were good for him because they were used as a vehicle, a corrective measure of sorts to teach him to obey Gods law and not “go astray” from it. 

This is certainly not a novel idea in Scripture…“afflictions for our good.” In fact, there are so many ways in which our afflictions are good for us, that I think it would be helpful to refresh our memory of a few of them at this point.

1. Afflictions that are corrective.  

Certainly this first one is what the Psalmist sites for us. “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Thy word.” God gave him these afflictions that he would no longer go astray, but actually learn to keep His word. 

Jeremiah recalls Ephraim grieving as that tribe bares witness to this corrective work of God upon them; “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For Thou art the LORD my God.  ‘For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed, and also humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’ (Jer 31:18,19)

We could also recall Jeremiahs words in Lamentations 3:27 – “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD. 27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone and be silent since He has laid it on him. 29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, Perhaps there is hope. 30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter; Let him be filled with reproach. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever, 32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness” (Lam 3:27-32).  He then goes on to site through to vs 40, that the Lord doesn’t “afflict willingly”(vs 33), but through all the various ways He chooses to afflict man, it is for our restorative good; that we may “examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the LORD.” 

The writers of Scripture saw the corrective work of God in the lives of His people as a good thing (Ps 94:12), and not something that was to be despised (Job 5:17,18) or rejected (Prov 3:11,12). 

2. Afflictions that cultivate the work of the God in our lives here on earth. 

Paul speaks about “exulting in our tribulations” (Rom 5:3), because they “bring about perseverance” (which is a gift of God – Rom 15:6), and “proven character, and a hope that does not disappoint”(Rom 5:4). James would highlight the same thing (Jam 1:2-4). Did Jesus not tell us in John 15 that “every branch (in Him) that bears fruit, (His father) prunes it, that it may bear more fruit”(vs 2)? Is this not a good but painful process? “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb 12:11).

Consider also Pauls “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12. Was this not assigned to Paul for his good? Indeed it was, and he saw it that way (vs 7-12).

3. Afflictions that bring about an eternal weight of glory for us in the future.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4 that these “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (vs 17). Peter says the same thing… “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:6,7). 

As does James “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jam 1:12).

As does Jesus… “”Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. – “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you”(Matt 5:10-12; Luke 6:22,23).

Thus Paul can confidently state in Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Everything. Even the bad things (which are indeed bad in an earthly sense), God uses to bring about glorious ends for His children both here on earth now, and in heaven. 

As one writer put it… 

“Our afflictions are the prescription of an infinitely wise physician.”⁴ 

What other observations can we draw out from these texts in Psalm 119?

III. God is just, and that in faithfulness God has afflicted him.

“I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me”(vs 75).  How prone are we to accuse God of being unjust in the courtroom of our own assessment when we see injustices in this world. This the psalmist wants to make clear that in light of his appointed affliction from God for his good, “God is just, and that in faithfulness God has afflicted him.” 

As another writer has penned… 

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace; 

Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.”⁵

The faithfulness of our heavenly Father…

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faith when you are reproved by Him. 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness” (Heb 12:5-10).

“…in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me”(vs 75).

If the wounds of a friend are faithful (Prov 27:6), how much more are those of our Heavenly Father?

IV.  In the midst of his afflictions, he has been revived by the truths from Gods word.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me (vs 50).”  Revived by the truths of Gods word. The truths of who God is and what He has promised for those who trust in Him. The “testimonies” and examples of His faithfulness to His elect, and the power of His outstretched arm to deliver them from all obstacles and challenges.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16 Paul says… “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying (the afflictions of vs 8-11) yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” Q: How is God doing the renewing work? Paul tells us in vs 18… “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  What things is he referring to? Promised glory to come (2 Cor 5:1-10).

We’re looking to the coming of promised glory, and it’s our faith (which is a gift of the Holy Spirit in us), in these absolute promises of God that we are being renewed by day by day.  In light of what’s in store for us, these “momentary, light afflictions” are to be counted as nothing in comparison. In fact he says in Romans 8:18…“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” 

We look to the things which are “unseen” and “eternal,” to the irrevocable promises and power of God in the hearts of His saints through the finished work of Christ. This is what Paul prays for all of us to continue to cling to and embrace, and be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man”(Eph 3:14-21). 

In closing, and in light of this passage from Psalm 119, I’m reminded of the situation that Christian and Hopeful found themselves in when they had chosen to go out of the Way, and take an easier path through By Path Meadow. Unfortunately for them, this “easier” path led them to Doughting Castle, which was owned by Giant Despair and they soon found themselves imprisoned an a stinking dungeon for many days, being regularly beaten and starved, awaiting their deaths at the hand of the giant. 

However, after a night of earnest prayer (and we pick up the narrative), “a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, broke out into this earnest speech: “What a fool,” said he, “am I to lie in a foul-smelling dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am sure, open any lock in Doubting Castle.” Then said Hopeful, “That is good news, good brother: pluck it out of thy bosom, and try.” Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After, he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went exceedingly hard, yet the key did open it.”⁶  And the pilgrims then make their way back to the Kings Highway.

The Key of Promise is indeed that which both frees us from the depths of despair, and renews us in the inner man day by day. It is the promise that by faith in the finished work and person of Jesus Christ, we have been justified before God, and finally have peace with Him (Rom 5:1).

Indeed, “all of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isa 53:6).

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was the raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:31-39)

Praise be to God that “He (has) delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom ofHis beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:13,14). 

Footnotes:

1. Gen 37-50; Job 1:21; 2:10
2. Exo 1-20; Num 11-14; 20-25; Deut 1-3; 27-32; Josh1-11; Jer 52; Ps 105 & 106 for a summary
3. Job 2:10; Lam 3:37,38;  1 Sam 2:6,7; Isa 45:7; Jer 32:42; Eccles 7:13,14
4. Believed to be a John Piper quote
5. William Cowper – “God moves in a mysterious way” 
6. John Bunyan – “The Pilgrim’s Progress”

Psalm 119:1,2

Such a fitting declaration for the beginning of such a glorious psalm.  One that is not only unrivaled in its length, but for many, also in the level of devotion of its writer. Indeed, we would be hard pressed to find one that surpasses such sustained devotion for God’s word and his longing to keep it in the whole of Scripture.

From the very beginning, “ Oh that my ways may be established To keep Thy statutes! – Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Thy commandments”(5,6); “with all my heart I have sought Thee; do not let me wander from Thy commandments. – Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee”(10,11). “I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. – I will meditate on Thy precepts, and regard Thy ways. – I shall delight in Thy statutes; I shall not forget Thy word”(14-16). “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law’(18). “My soul is crushed with longing after Thine ordinances at all times”(20). “I cleave to Thy testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!”(20). “O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day”(97). 

To be honest, I’ve been a Christian for over 40 years and have read this psalm dozens of times, and have often found it difficult to relate to this Psalmists experience. His sentiments seem almost unearthly, supernatural if you will (and indeed they are, as we shall see later on). How should I understand this? Relate to it? Such lofty expressions seem so far beyond my own experience, that they seem almost unbelievable. Nothing more than sustained hyperbole? My experience unfortunately, has all too often been more in keeping with… 

“My eyes are dry, my faith is old. My heart is hard, my prayers are cold.”1 

Thus my struggle in part with this psalmist. Almost unobtainable levels of piety. Yet I know that judging Scripture by my own experience is dangerous, and can certainly lead me to adopt many wrong conclusions about God, as did the psalmist in 73 & 77. 

To be fair, all is not rosy for this psalmist. He has his own struggles…”Turn my eyes away from looking at vanity”(37). “Oh that my ways may be established To keep Thy statutes! – then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Thy commandments”(5,6). He has his own afflictions….“I am exceedingly afflicted”(107). “Trouble and anguish have come upon me”(143). “My soul weeps because of grief”(28).  He has his enemies to deal with…“The arrogant utterly deride me”(51). “The cords of the wicked have encircled me”(61). “They have persecuted  me with a lie”(86). “They have almost destroyed me on earth”(87). “My life is continually in my hand”(109). “Many are my persecutors and my adversaries”(157), and “princes persecute me without cause”(161). The combined result is…“I have become like wineskin in smoke”(83).

Over and over again this psalmist repeatedly cries out to God… “Revive me”(25), “revive me”(40), “revive me”(88), “revive me”(107), “strengthen me”(28), “uphold me”(117). He knows that he can’t sustain or deliver himself, so he pleads with God to do so. “Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for I do not forget Thy law. – Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Thy word” (153,154). Don’t miss that, “according to Thy word,” for here is the the ground for all his hope for deliverance and redemption.

“Great are Thy mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Thine ordinances”(156). “Revive me, O LORD, according to Thy lovingkindness”(159). “Let my supplication come before Thee; deliver me according to Thy word”(170).2  Apart from general revelation in creation, everything he knows about God comes from the special revelation of the Scriptures that he limitedly had available to him at that time.3

Yet what is it that God has revealed about Himself in those portions of Scripture?  Who He is, and that He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. That He is the ruler and judge of all mankind. That He has laws that reflect His character. That although He will judge man for His sin, and requires sacrifice for sin, He is also merciful and kind to those who seek Him with all their heart and endeavor to obey His commandments. 

What’s striking about this is that, for the psalmist, that was enough to engender this level of devotion. A sobering thought indeed when we consider our own day, and how much more revelation we have been given in the Scriptures than him.  His posture, intentional focus, and practices he employs to endeavor to keep Gods commandments (particularly in light of all of the trials and adversaries that he has), certainly can have a humbling effect on us, and rightly so. “To who much is given, much is required” comes to mind. It engenders my prayer of “Lord God forgive my sin of murmuring and complaining, my sin of indolence and laziness, my sin of not loving you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me Oh Lord; revive me, sustain me, strengthen me according to Thy word, to not lose heart, to not doubt you, but to trust You for what You have declared, and to move forward in faith in Your good word and faithful promises. “Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num 23:19).

Perhaps this is why I have had so much difficulty relating to this particular psalm? By comparison, I am ashamed of my weak faith, dry eyes and cold prayers. Why can’t I be more like this psalmist, who’s level of devotion seems almost supernatural? As I said earlier, “indeed they are.”

As I poured over this psalm again and again, marveling at his earnest desire and purposeful intent to keep God’s law, I was reminded by the Lord that this is not the desires and efforts of an unregenerate man, but a regenerate one. He also, though an Old Testament saint with limited revelation, has also been saved “not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5). What I was marveling at in this psalm was simply the fruit of the Holy Spirit, in both his faith to believe and in his desire to obey.

Salvation and sanctification has always been, both in the Old Testament and New Testament by grace through faith (Eph 2:8,9). Just as “Abraham believed in the LORD; and He (that is God) reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Gen 15:6); so also every saint before and after him, was and would be be saved and sanctified the same way. This is the whole point that the writer of Hebrews is making in chapter 11.

Just because God revealed the details of His redemptive plan progressively (gradually that is), doesn’t mean that the accomplished work of Christ was applied progressively through the Holy Spirit to His saints. Justification (“being reckoned as righteous”), happens the moment an individual believes by the power of the Holy Spirit. Saving faith has never been generated by “the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13). “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption”(1 Cor 1:30).  

Every individual listed in Hebrews 11 was saved the same way as we are today, “by grace…through faith,” which is “the gift of God” (Eph 2:8), applied to us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said…“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63). Regeneration (Tit 3:5), the new birth (John 3:5), faith (Eph 2:8), repentance (Acts 11:18), perseverance (Rom 15:5), indeed “everything”,  as Peter said…“His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3). We could just as well read in Hebrews 11…“by the Holy Spirit”, Able.., and Enoch.., Noah and Abraham, Sarah and Issac.., Jacob and Joseph.., Moses.., and so on. 

The redemptive plan of the Trinity was so sure, so absolutely certain that it would come to pass, that all of the Old Testament saints were saved, and sanctified by faith in it, even before it was accomplished. Certainly what they knew about Christ was limited, but they believed God for what He had revealed to them. Even back then we can see the results of their faith…“Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). “By faith Moses… considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt (Heb 11:24,26). Even Job declared…”and as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25,26).

And what of the Psalmist? How much of the work of God in his heart do we think he understood? Well he certainly understood that he couldn’t do any of the things he desired without divine help; for he continually beseeches the Lord for help.  “Open my eyes that I may behold…”(18). “Make me understand…”(27). “Teach me, Oh Lord…”(33). “Make me walk…”(35). “Incline my heart…”(36). “Turn away my eyes…”(37). He knows he is utterly dependent on God to enable him to obey His law, to love Him with all his heart, soul and might (Deut 6:5), and thus he cries out for it repeatedly.  

Of course if David is the writer of this Psalm, we would expect him to display the same understanding and posture in his prayers to God, and indeed we do…”Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit” (Ps 51:10-12)

Do we find other passages in the scriptures that support this concept? Indeed we do. Paul tells the saints in Philippi to “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling,”(Phil 2:12). You might say… “Well, right there.., obedience is based on their own effort!” Hold on, let’s let him finish that sentence… “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). God is the one who is actually doing the acts of obedience He has prepared beforehand for us to do. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). These “good works” that Paul speaks of here are simple the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5, 1 Cor 13), which display the redeeming power of God in our lives for His glory and praise. Remember what Jesus said…”You are the light of the world; Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:14,16). 

And is this not what He promised? “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. – “And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances”  (Ezek 36:26,27). 

Augustine of Hippo years ago declared this same understanding in one of his prayers to God… “”Give me the grace [O Lord] to do as you command, and command me to do what you will! . . . O holy God . . . when your commands are obeyed, it is from you that we receive the power to obey them.”4

Interestingly the writer of Hebrews prays for the same thing in his benediction…”Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb 13:20,21).

He gives His saints a new heart, with new desires and inclinations to walk in His statues and observe His ordinances, by His power “which mightily works within us”(Col 1:29). What we see in Psalm 119 through all of these glorious desires is simply the work of the Spirit of God on display for all to see. 

Yet the enemy of our soul has been forever whispering quietly in our ears like the Wizard of OZ…”Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!” Oh how readily are we overwhelmed when we believe that we are left to ourselves to obey the commandments of Gods law, “a yoke which neither our fathers, nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10). 

Well, the One behind the veil of this world is all the members of the Trinity, perfectly, harmoniously “gathering into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). The Father has appointed who will be saved, the Son was sent to accomplish the work of redemption, and the Spirit was sent to apply that finished work to His saints. Every name that was written down in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world will be redeemed. None will be lost. None will be forsaken. 

Jesus said…”All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. – “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. – “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. – “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:37-40).

May we all remember the words of Paul as well…“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6). “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass” (1 Thes 5:24). He is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). 

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps 118:22,23). Indeed, “salvation is of the Lord” (Jon 2:9), and it is solely “by His doing” (1Cor 1:30). We see the work of His hands in the new birth of His saints (2 Cor 5:17), and as they display the fruit of His Spirit in their lives (Gal 5 & 1 Cor 13). This is all the work of God, and again… “by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD” (1 Cor 1:30,31). 

Thank you Lord for your marvelous grace to us in Christ, and for a fresh perspective of our Old Testament brothers and sisters in Christ who went before us. “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever” (Heb 13:7,8).  

Amen, and amen!

Footnotes:

1. Taken from “My eyes are dry” by Keith Green – 1978

2. Throughout Psalm 119 the Psalmist uses a variety of terms to refer to various aspects or dimensions of God word, such as His law, His commandments, His judgments, His statutes, His testimonies, His ordinances, His word, His ways and righteousness.

3. If the Psalmist here is David (as many believe that it is), that would be around 1000 BC. At best, the Pentateuch (5 books of Moses), Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Job, Psalm 90, and perhaps 1 Samuel. 

4. From “The Confessions of St. Augustine” – Book Ten (354–430 AD).

Psalm 77:4

Does that sentiment resonate with anyone?  My guess is it does. Likely it has been at some point in the lives of every human being, redeemed or unredeemed. That debilitating state of paralysis that was brought on by fear, or depression and unceasing despondency, or an ongoing, prolonged sickness, or the overwhelming sorrow and grief over the loss of the beloved friend or family member who has perished or forsaken you, and the Lord. Certainly Job would concur, as he found himself speechless for 7 days and nights, for “his pain was very great” (Job 2:13). Or perhaps over our own repeated failures to do the right thing, to think and act and respond to the Lord and others as we ought. Our own sin and self-centeredness is often the enemies greatest weapon against us, and our most frequented road traveled to despair and hopelessness.

In such despair is where we find Asaph in Psalm 77. He says in verse 2 “in the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; (and) in the night my hand was stretched out without weariness; (and yet) my soul refused to be comforted.” And unlike his experience in Psalm 73, in 77 he doesn’t site the cause of his despondency and depression, so it could be anything; or even worse, nothing at all – as many of us can testify that causeless depression can be the one of the greatest of all trials to work through. 

He is endeavoring to work through this in verses 5 and 6; perhaps some perspective will help him here, but it doesn’t seem to, for now the questioning arises… verses 7-9, “Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion?” Ever found yourself here? Here is a desperate state for the soul indeed, when despair and hopelessness leads us to questioning the character of our Heavenly Father. 

Even worse, when the ongoing trials or repeated failures cause us to become so jaded and hopeless, that we don’t see any reason to even try anymore, as he says in Psalm 73:13-14 “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning.”  Why even try anymore, this is hopeless. And yet he knows how devastating this sentiment can be, not only to himself, but also to others whom he will likely influence…verse 15 “If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children.”

The Divine Remedy

Yet he doesn’t stay here. In fact he, in a sense, acts as his own therapist in coming to terms with how he got here… verses 16-17 “When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God;”. He understands that his perspective has become twisted, jaded in fact, and in order to correct this, he needs clarity from God. Unfortunately what we can see and experience in this life does not give us a clear and accurate picture of who God is and what He is accomplishing, both in our lives, and in His “reconciling all things to Himself” (Col 1:20).

In Psalm 77 Asaph finds the same resolve. He even sights the cause of his doubting God… “Then I said, ‘It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed” (vs 10 NASB). In other words, my trouble and grief has so jaded me that I have come to the place in my life where I’m thinking and telling myself that God has changed. That He will “reject forever,” “never again be favorable,” that His “promise (will) come to an end” and that “He in anger (has) withdrawn His compassion (toward me)”. Yet none of this is true, and he knows this! So what does he resolve to do?  Verses 11-12 “I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate on all Thy work, and muse on Thy deeds.” And the content of his recollection? What does he remind himself of? Verses 13-15 “Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples. Thou hast by Thy power redeemed Thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.” 

God you are holy and just, mighty and powerful. A God who does the impossible and redeems a people for your own possession (verse 15). What god is great like our God?  You are above, and governing all that I see, and don’t see, and all for Your glory and the good of Thy people (Eph. 1, Rom 8:28).  Lord help me to remember this as I continue on my journey home. That you have not, nor ever will, leave or forsake me (John 14:18, 23). Help me to remember that “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). “Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Rom 8:35) Help me to declare with every fiber of my being…“May it never be!” For though I waver and fall, I “shall not be hurled headlong; Because the LORD is the One who holds (my) hand.” (Psalm 37:24) “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) O Lord, help me to remember that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

And Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 14:27; 16:33)