Pastor Daniel Ho, 03/12/2011
This is the 6th in the Studies on Psalm 119 Series.
The Word of God, prayer and involvement in ministry are three things we need to do to grow. We want to be one stop closer to God and one step more open to the Lord.
We face all kinds of challenges. How should our responses be?
For the righteous in challenging times:
1. They obey and keep God’s laws in spite of challenges (v 145, 146, 153)
Psa 119:145-146,153 I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees. (146) I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. (153) Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.
Job is a man who sought to walk with God. He even offered sacrifices for his children in case they committed any sin. His wife asked him to curse God and die. Job, however acknowledged that we received both good and bad things from God. We need to respond correctly so we remain useful to God.
2. They meditate on God’s promises
Psa 119:148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.
When we cannot sleep, turn to the Word of God instead of forcing ourselves to sleep. Read the Word of God and talk to Him.
Pastor Daniel paid LGE a courtesy call during his visit to Penang recently and had a chance to talk to him and pray for him. It was during his detention that God’s promises became so real to him.
3. They put their hope in God’s Word (v147, cf. Ps 19:7-11)
Psa 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.
Psa 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (8) The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (9) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. (10) They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. (11) By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Kim Dae Jung is a former Prime Minister of South Korea who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. During a Nobel exhibition in Malaysia, Pastor Daniel noticed a Bible among Kim Dae Jung’s paraphernalia.
For the unrighteous:
1. They often concoct evil (v 150)
Psa 119:150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.
They concoct evil or distort things to cause confusion. That’s why we must understand the need to live upright in line with the Word of God.
Rev Joe Wright said this prayer to open the Kansas State Senate in 1996.
“Heavenly Father,
We come before You today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ''Woe to those who call evil good,'' but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that; we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; We have neglected the needy and called it self preservation; We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; We have abused power and called it political savvy; We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition; We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will.
I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ” (http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/k/kansasprayer.htm)
An Internal Herald Tribune article suggested that the Greek financial issue was known much earlier. The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart. The people in power covered it up. Malaysia can be a great nation if we walk right, do right and talk right.
2. They are faithless and disobedient to God’s Word (v158)
Psa 119:158 I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.
If we don’t have a common set of ethics that we agree on, there will be absolute confusion – our right may be their wrong and vice-versa.
3. Salvation is far from them. (v155)
Psa 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.
They have no heart and no desire to know God. We must continue to pray for them. We must be open to accept them. DUMC should be a church that reaches out in love, not in judgement. We pray that God will touch them in a wonderful way and salvation will be near to them.
Sometimes we are persecuting by these people. We must still pray for them. Jesus died for them and they need to experience Jesus in their life. They have been blinded and give problems to the people of God.
The assurance of the righteous:
1. God’s Word is true and everlasting (v152, 160; cf 1 Pet 1:24, 25a, Mt 24:35)
Psa 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.
Psa 119:160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
1Pe 1:24-25 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers
and the flowers fall, (25) but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
If we are smart investors, we should invest in the Word of God which is eternal.
2. The Lord is near (v151, cf Ps 145:18}
Psa 119:151 Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true.
Psa 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
As God’s people, we have enormous privilege. We tend to come to God when we are in a crisis, in serious problems. Do ourselves a service, look for him.
3. God’s compassion is great (v 156; cf Ps 51:1)
Psa 119:156 Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws.
Psa 51:1b … Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
When we still have time and strength and energy, we need to make good use of them. Do not waste the opportunity to serve God with what we have.
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