Only One Call Away

It is important for the creature to acknowledge his or her status before the Creator God. The psalmist muses, “Thy hands made me and fashioned me (Psalm 119:73a).” Natural man imagines himself to be independent of God, as one who is captain of his own destiny. He believes he can change his fortune by good discipline, diligent works, or clever treachery.

The child of God acknowledges his utter dependence on God, who designed each soul and each body, according to His will and for His purpose (Prv 16:4; Eph 1:11; 3:11). This includes the mind, with all of its post-fall, sin laden thoughts (Eph 4:17). In humility, the psalmist prays, “Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments (119:73b).” It is a grace from God to know Christ (2 Pet 3:18), and to know our divine Teacher, the Holy Spirit (Lk 12:2; Jn 14:26).

The student of God’s Word learns that one cannot rush God’s providential time for all things. In hope, the psalmist waits for God’s Word to accomplish all that concerns him (Ps 119:74b; 138:8). Because people of faith are peculiar (Dt 14:2; Ps 135:4; Titus 2:14), others observe them, both believers and unbelievers (Phil 2:15). It is the heart’s desire for him, who attends to the Lord in earnest, “May those who fear thee see me and be glad (119:74a; Heb 12:2).”

The psalmist waits amidst afflictions, knowing their origin, “in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (119:75b; Col 1:24).” Knowing God’s Word results in an affirmation from David, “I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous (119:75a).” The saint knows she is under good discipline, from her heavenly Father (Heb 12:4–11). It is not easy.

The same Word that disciplines us, is the Word that comforts God’s servant (119:76). Praying for comfort, for help in the midst of suffering, is an expression of faith (2 Tim 2:22). Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, is our Comforter and Helper in the day of trouble (Jn 14:16, 26; 16:33; Acts 9:31). It is the Spirit in us (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), who prays and groans in our state of weakness (Rom 8:26).

“May Thy compassion come to me that I may live (119:77a),” is the beleaguered saint’s meditation. He knows that God, in His lovingkindness and grace, is compassionate (Ps 86:15; Ex 34:6). When the Word of God is consulted, and as the Word consoles, “Thy law is my delight (119:77b).” There is no counsel for the Christian like the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (Jn 17:17). The wisdom of God and the power of God are at work (1 Cor 1:24), when the Almighty is consulted (Is 55:6). If we will not come to Him on our own accord, circumstances and the arrogant will help us to return to God’s throne of grace (Hos 5:15).

“May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie (119:78a),” is the meditation of those bullied and afflicted. David had no shortage of enemies, outside of Israel and within the company of God’s chosen people, even his own family.

Some serve the father of lies (Jn 8:44), as a thorn in the side of God’s servant (2 Cor 12:7), while others fantasize they are serving God, in killing the servant of God (Jn 16:2), be it in body or spirit. Their passion is to hinder the Gospel, while posing as angels of light (2 Cor 11:14; 1 Thess 2:18).

What is David’s response to the devilish intrigue of the proud? “But I shall meditate on Thy precepts (119:78b),” is truly insightful. There was no conjuring revenge, for their deceitful machinations, but strength did rise for the man of God, as he waited and meditated on the Word (119:28; 2 Thess 2:17). The enemies of God’s anointed gained no ground, in their ruse to displace David from Jerusalem, as did Absalom, when he stole the hearts of the men of Israel (2 Sam 15:6).

Again, the psalmist mediates in hope, “May those who fear Thee turn to me (119:79a),” is strange politics in the world of men. The power hungry will prostitute themselves, to win favor with the people, as if Israel was led via popularity contest. This was the sin of the Corinthian church (1 Cor 1), with its competitive leadership format. The servant of the Lord must not strive (2 Tim 2:24).

The psalmist knows his own heart, a heart longing for the glory of God (Gal 6:14). David had a heart after God’s own heart, and God affirmed him in that fact (1 Kgs 11:4; Acts 13:22). Who will turn to God’s anointed? “Even those who know Thy testimonies (119:79b),” will search until they find the shepherd/Shepherd they know will feed them (Jn 21:17; 1 Pet 5:1–5).

David was the shepherd of Israel, who typified Christ the King (Mt 21:9, 15). Thus, he longed to be the man of God that would please the Lord (2 Cor 5:9), “May my heart be blameless in Thy statutes (119:80a).” Of course, only Jesus Christ is blameless (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15), but the man of God with Christ living in him (Gal 2:20), aspires to conformity with His Lord (1 Thess 2:10; 2 Pet 3:14; Jude 1:24), “that I may not be ashamed (119:80b).”

Now deep in the heart of Psalm 119, we should see the Word of God, as the medicine for what ails us, in the Christian life. Your afflictions are real and customized by God, who gave them to you. Do not despair, for His plans for you are good (1 Cor 2:9). Only be strong and very courageous (Jos 1:7), and remember this is only feasible upon regular meetings with the Lord (Ps 1:2).

Christian, God made you, and He has chosen to re-make you, as a Potter with a broken clay pot (Jer 18:1–6; Rom 9:21). His careful re-configuring of you in Christ Jesus takes time, along with gracious procedures to remove the dross from you (1 Thess 4:3). When the whole world feels as if it is out to ruin you, return to God’s Word and pray in the Holy Spirit…these very words which He has provided for you in the Psalms. He is only one call away.

David Norczyk

Flathead Lake, Montana

July 26, 2022