Hold the Line

v162, “I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.” v167, “My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.”

The Word of God is like a great treasure chest. It is the greatest treasure chest to ever exist. If a man were to take all the gold, silver, and priceless gems in the world and pile them up into the biggest treasure chest constructed, the Word of God would still be greater. All the wealth of the world is worthless rubbish when compared to God’s Truth. If I was given a choice between the two, I’d take my Bible and leave the gold piled up where it sat to rust away.

Every word, every sentence from the smallest to the longest is precious and priceless. No material wealth in the world can even be compared to it. The Holy Spirit opens the eyes of those who love Him to see into the mind of God through it, and we find life through it in Jesus Christ. A very interesting point too is that Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

I love God’s Word, and I make every effort to seek out the truth in it’s pages. Truth and knowing the God of truth is more important to me than traditional dogma, what I have been taught growing up, or what I want to believe about God. I am here to be pleasing to God, believe, and teach the truth, not to be pleasing to men, confirm error, or continue contradiction.

It is amazing what men will do for treasure, and it is amazing how some treat God’s Word. It sits on the shelf and collects dust, while people are out working themselves to death to earn treasure. They treat God’s Word with contempt and don’t realize that in its pages is the greatest treasure to ever exist. That treasure is focused on Jesus. Some will do anything for treasure, but the real treasure is ignored and abandoned. It is one of the greatest tragedies of humanity.

Inside the church (and I’m speaking generally here), I have simply been dumbfounded with some people and how they treat God’s Word. They only want to study certain parts that they like. They never teach parts that are offensive to them, or they try to explain the parts they don’t like away. Some suppress the truth of God’s Word because it does not line up with what they believe. And then you have some in the church who do not even believe God’s Word is what it claims to be. They dismiss it as the writing of people centuries ago who were backward and ignorant. It is shameful.

Traditional dogma, what I have been taught growing up, or what I want to believe about God is irrelevant in light of God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. It is my obligation, and my priority to believe what God has revealed about Himself despite what anyone else thinks. That is the reason I have come into conflict at my last two churches that I was a member. And it is the reason I am an un-ordained pastor. I wear that as a badge of honor because it is for believing God’s Word over men that I am excluded.

So let it be, My Lord and King.

v158, “I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.”

For anyone who truly loves God, the Psalmist makes a very important point in regard to how we should see sin. Not keeping God’s Word and sinning against Him should be disgusting to Christians. When we sin against God we are acting the same as those who never keep His Word. That is one reason we should endeavor with all our will and strength to live pure and pleasing lives before the Lord. And we are not to judge unbelievers. How can the disgusting judge the disgusting? God is the judge, and He will judge the disgusting hearts of men.

I think the word “disgusted” is a good label to put on the state of the sinfulness in this world. The wickedness of man across the planet has reached a terrible level. I could recount the terrible things going on everyday in every nation on earth, but I don’t have the time to do so. I want to focus on a different aspect to it. Men have always been evil, but when evil is accepted by the culture we begin to have a real problem. A good example is the judges in California who legalized Homosexual marriage. Governor Arnold will uphold the court’s decision even though he vetoed the legislation (news story).

Homosexuality is a sin just like any other, and I would not say it is any worse than fornication, adultery, or vulgar speech. But it is a sin none-the-less. I do not care what other people do, and I don’t care what kind of relationships they have. The one thing I do care about is what God thinks. A part of the Homosexual agenda is to make everyone believe that it is a normal way of life. It is sin in God’s eyes, and I will never think it is an appropriate life choice. I do not want my children to be taught it is normal. And it is said that those of us who think it is wrong are homophobic, evil bigots. I guess they can label us whatever they want. It is an abomination in God’s eyes. For a culture to call what God says is evil, good, is a very dangerous place to be. It prepares a people for the judgment of God.

Isaiah 5:20, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

2 Timothy 3:1-4 , “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.“

v145a, “I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD!”

I believe this is the only way God will hear us. God wants us to love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength (Mark 12:30). The only genuine prayer that can be uttered is with a whole heart. The depth of the writers emotion is apparent here. He is crying out fully to God with no reservation. When we come before Him any moment of the day, we should cry out with everything we are. It is those who seek Him with their whole heart who find Him (Deut 4:29; Prov 8:27; Jeremiah 29:13). Anytime we pray, we are not just saying words or going through a routine. When we seek God, especially in prayer, the words we say, the intention of our hearts, and the thoughts of our minds must having meaning and carry our utter dependence on Him. The promise God makes as in Jeremiah 29:13, is when we seek Him in that fashion, we will find Him.

Let it never be said of us as Jesus spoke about the religious leaders of the day “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”

We are to be people who cry out to God with our whole hearts in prayer, lift up our hands and worship Him with our whole hearts, and we should be His servants with our whole hearts. Anything that interferes with that purpose should be laid aside.

“Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments.”

One thing that we can never forget is that God is right in everything that He does. Every decision God makes is right. Every action that God performs is right. Every plan of God is right. He is perfectly pure and holy in all things. He is so far above us, separate, and different than us. His thoughts are above ours, and His ways are different that ours.

Recently we had the massive typhoon disaster and terrible earthquake in the far east that has killed thousands of people. We’ve seen tornadoes and terrible storms in our country as well. People have lost their lives. Many people look to the Lord and want to ask Him why. Only God can answer that question ultimately, but I know God was not caught by surprise when these disasters happened.

I believe that God is in complete control of everything that happens on this earth and in the universe, and God allowed these things to happen. It is His will for these things to happen. It may be judgement, those lives may be required of the Lord and their time is over, it may be God is sending a message that He is displeased with the nations. Only He knows for sure. Whatever the reason may be, everything He does is right and according to His will. We have to submit to His will and recognize that He is right in all things. Even when it comes to suffering.

Isa 45:7-9, “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.’”

Psalm 115:3, “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”

Jesus said in Matthew 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.”

If even sparrows cannot fall to the ground outside of God’s will, nothing else can happen on this earth outside of His will. We as human beings have a difficult time with the concept of God’s sovereingty. Many don’t like to accept that there someone who is in complete control, especially when God does things contrary to their opinion or understanding.

The example of Job is very important to understand. In Job 1:8 we read, “Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ ” It is interesting to notice that God pointed out Job. It wasn’t Satan who went after him first. After all the sufferings of Job had taken place, and Job wants to question God about the things that had happened, God’s response to Him in Job 38:4 says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Ultimately, we do not know the mind of God, nor His infinite wisdom, His ways, His purpose, or His design. It is not our place to question Him or His purposes. We are the created, He is the creator and can do as He pleases. And He is right to do so.

As a Christian, I came to a point where I was confronted with this truth. Once I accepted it, submitted to God’s control and power (not that I was ever outside of it), and stood in awe and wonder at His great decisions, I felt like I crossed into a new spiritual understanding. God is glorified even in disaster. God is glorified even in the suffering we endure during this life time. We learn obedience, trust, and patience, and God is revealed in His omnipotence. Praise to His name, for He is right in all His ways.

The difference between darkness and light is simple. Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is simply a result or effect, not a cause. Light is a cause and the result of that: there is no darkness.

“The Day the Trees Fell” last November introduced me to utter darkness in our area. The power was gone for a number of days, and when the sun went down there was nothing. The darkness was like someone poured a vial of black ink over the world. I don’t believe I have ever been exposed to utter darkness before, and for me it felt very oppresive. There were times during that event that I clung to my flash light, lantern, or the head lights of my vehicle.

The Psalmst says that the entrance of God’s Word gives light. The heart of man and all its intent is utter darkness separate from God. Why? God is the source of all light and without Him you have complete darkness (spiritually, emotionally, morally, physicaly etc). When men rejected God, when they suppressed His truth (Rom 1:18) the result was darkness.

Rom 1:21-22a”For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.”

Men blinded their own hearts even though God had revealed Himself to them from the very beginning. Adam and Eve carried the knowledge of God. Noah and his family carried that knowledge with them out of the ark. God has always had someone in every generation who carried His light. It was man who suppressed the truth and brought spiritual darkness down on themselves. Even to the point today where there are people around the world isolated in jungles and remote places without the knowledge of God. And the fault does not lie with God, it lies with men. Every single human being that has lived and is living is without excuse before God because He has made the knowledge of Himself known through creation and from the very beginning (Rom 1:19-20). He has written His existence onto the conscience of our heart (Rom 2:15).

So what does God have to do? His Word, His self revelation, enters into the world and gives light! And as the Psalmist writes it gives understanding to the simple.

2 Cor 4:6″For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The truth of God’s initiation of salvation is Him shining the light of the Gospel of Christ into our hearts. The cause of our life is His light. The result of His light in our hearts is life.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him'” (Luke 10:21-22).

The Psalmist writes in v131, “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.” And again in v135, “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.” Again we have this light shining down on His servant. And the light comes from God’s face. So His Word is light, and He is light. When He looks on His servant that light bathes Him in its glory. And the mark of one who truly loves God is a consuming thirst for His Word (light).

Shine your light upon me oh Lord, and fill me with your light just as I am consumed with thirst for life giving water.

And Jesus answers His servants across time and from His thone at the right hand of the father:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). The promise of the Lord is that we will be satisfied, He gives us the life giving water to drink. He is the water, He is the life.

I hear and feel the same way as the Psalmist writes in v134 and v136. Redeem me from the oppression of man to keep your precepts, and rivers of water run down from my eyes for men do not keep your law.

I am so thankful that I live in a country where we can openly and without oppression worship and live out our Faith. Pray for our brothers and sisters in the the world who are oppressed and hindered in their practice of God’s precepts from day to day.

2 Peter 2:7-8[God] delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)

Those who love God and love His truth will experience these feelings. I grieve over the wickedness going on in the world. I worked for a police department for a couple of years while I attended college as a 911 operator. That was one small suburb in one area, in one state of this nation and the amount of evil occuring each night was staggering.

One final thought on the entrance of God’s Word gives light is in reference to Christ’s second coming.

In Revelation 16:10-11, John writes concerning the fourth bowl of judgement poured out on the earth, “Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.”

At the time of Christ’s return the earth will be smouldering with destruction from wars and God’s judgment on the evil of men. The sun will be black. The scene will reflect the darkness of men’s hearts. The anti-christ and his armies will be gathered together in Israel to fight against Christ.

And we read these texts, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:29-30).

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Amen, come Lord Jesus.

v123 My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation and Your righteous word.

It is so true that we can fail to seek God’s salvation and righteous Word for our lives. Our love burns so hot and bright for Him, yet at times we seem to have that fire grow low. We have fires outdoors at my house from time to time, and I’ll throw a lot of wood on. Which, causes the fire to blaze, but after a while the fire consumes the wood and the need will arise to throw more wood on.

I think sometimes it has to do with familiarity or routine. We do the same things over and over and we begin to get callous. Like putting scriptures around the house where I can see them. For awhile they make an impact. Then the time comes when I don’t even see them anymore.

I take care of 2 different sites in my job, and there was a lady that worked at one site for a long time that I knew. She is a Pastor’s wife here locally. Then she left and went to another school for a long time. Then she came to my other site. For a while we would exchange good mornings enthusiastically. Then after a while we’d wave or say hi. Just the other day I saw her when I stepped outside my office. And we didn’t say anything at all. Time and routine has that effect.

So when it comes to looking to God’s salvation and righteous Word, there comes a time when we get used to it and the fires burn low.

Jesus said to the church at Laodicea in Rev 3 that they were lukewarm. And the result would be rejection. And in Rev 2 Jesus tells the Ephesians they have lost their first love. Jesus’ correction said to them in verse 4, “Repent and do the things you did at first.”

So throw more wood on the fire, change your routine, change the way you do things, change the scriptures to new ones, but above all else LOVE Jesus with undieing passion and fervent devotion. Seek Him, His salvation, and His truth. Don’t let yourself grow cold or even lukewarm. Call a brother and tell him to start loving Jesus!

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb 10:23-25)

“Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Pet 1:13)

“Uphold me… that I may live.” God is the one who holds us in His hand. He is the one that keeps us from faultering. He is the one that sustains us unto salvation. Its good to recognize as the Psalmist does that it is by His grace that we have assurance of life.

And the writer says “Uphold me according to your word.” The Lord’s promise is that He has sealed us, paid for us, justified us, and is sanctifying us to present us as a pure Bride to sing His praise.

Isa 43:20-21, “The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.”

We should always love the Lord’s law, be glad that we have it to read, to show us the difference between right and wrong. It reveals the Lord’s will to us. It is the Lord’s will that we love Him, obey Him, and trust Him for all things.

Every day we have in this life are given to us by Him. He sees them from beginning to end, and our destinies are to be with the Lord forever.

“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them” (Psa 139:16).

The Psalmist writes, “My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.” I read through the book of Revelation last week, and I have to say that my heart trembled at the wrath of God. I think that was the first time where I deeply felt that way. God sees all things, knows every thought, every action, and every word said in secret. If it wasn’t for the precious blood of our Lord, His atonement on our behalf, we would pay the full, unfiltered, unrestrained wrath of God against us for our wickedness. Words cannot express the fear that I feel in regard to having God’s wrath focused on me. And words cannot express how much I appreciate what Jesus did for me. The greatness of His love and mercy, His grace and compassion confound me. That He would do that for me when I deserve the opposite.

Blessed be His name.

I think it is so interesting how the author of this Psalm says “teach me.” That is the truth of it. God must teach us His ways and His truth. The Spirit is the one that opens the Word to us. May He burn His Word into our hearts and minds forever, so that we obey it and follow the Lord every moment.

I think part of the purpose of living through this life is to be taught by God. In eternity, how would we ever have an understanding of God’s grace for example, unless we directly experienced it. How would we understand being made perfect and having a good, perfect nature and the greatness of obeying God if we hadn’t experienced the opposite.

The writer of Hebrews states, “Although he [Jesus] was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb 5:8).

Like Jesus, we will learn trust and obedience through the lessons God gives us, so patiently endure all things with faith and obedience.

Not to go off on a tangent, but it is interesting too that Jesus learned obedience from suffering. He is God after all and does not have to obey anyone. Yet, He obeyed the father’s will through the experience of the Passion. And prior to that in the Garden, He asked the Father if the cup could pass from Him, but He asked for the Father’s will instead of His own. So obedience is laying aside our will (desires, purpose, selfishness) and letting the will of the Lord be our will.