Psalm 119:145-152

The stanzas on soul-obedience and affirming God’s righteousness do not mean the Psalmist’s affliction is past.  They only indicate significant growth steps.  When we experience these steps we may think that God will now take away our problem.  But part of those steps is coming to terms with God’s sovereignty in the matter of how long the trial may last, knowing that He will be faithful (Heb. 10:13).

Therefore we see in this stanza that the trial is still intense.  Three times he cries out to the Lord (145-147).  Pay close attention to 3 ideas that are related to his cries to the Lord.

First is the timing.  On the one hand he is up before dawn, crying out (147). On the other hand, during the night he is meditating on God’s word (148).  Does this not fit experience?  We wake up early thinking about our loved ones who are in trouble or our problems at work or the latest national crisis.  Then it hits us: now is the time to get out of bed, bow before the Lord, and give Him our cares.  Again, when we go to bed in the evening we may find sleep eludes us.  We are again full of anxiety, until it occurs to us to submit the issues to the word of God.  We meditate on His word, considering specific passages and applying them to the various anxieties.  

Second, note the marvelous prayer that forms the substance of his cry to the Lord (149).  Initially he prays that God would be gracious and merciful in hearing him.  Yet he also prays that God would restore or revive him according to justice.  Only through the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ can God’s grace and justice operate together.  God’s reviving work is just only because by grace Christ has borne our sins in His body on the tree.

Finally note the matter of distance.  Imagine yourself standing, with your enemies on your left and God on your right.  Your enemies are near to you but far from God’s law (150).  God is near to you through His word of truth (151).  The trial is intense so the man of God cries out to the Lord.  He is confident because God’s word is so real to him.  The nearer you are to God the farther you are from the enemy.  

The word that you have trusted since childhood is forever (152).  So cry out to the Lord.  Pour out your heart to Him.  He will draw near to you through His word.