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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We return to Psalm 119 and Verses 49 - 56. This word, written some 3000 years ago is so relevant - appropriate - meaningful - for the times and days in which we are living - and to the situations in which we find ourselves.
Here again is a recent translation/paraphrase of this section where each line begins with the same latter – U . Psalm 119 is a remarkable piece of writing – but there is a remarkable God behind it – our loving gracious God.
Upon Your Word I live in hope – don’t take it from me, O Lord.
Underlying my suffering is the comfort of Your life preserving promise.
Ubiquitous men mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from Your law.
Unto Your ancient laws I turn, O Lord, and find comfort.
Unholy men who have forsaken Your law cause me to be gripped with indignation.
Unendingly , Your decrees are the theme of my song.
Under cover of darkness, I remember Your name O Lord, and I will keep Your law.
Until now this has been my practice. I obey your precepts.
The Psalmist prays - Remember Your Word to your servant, for you have given me hope. We like to sing “All my hope on God is founded” – O how that is needed in these present times.
This is one of the missing ingredients in much of today’s preaching and teaching - HOPE - ASSURANCE.
This is more than just hoping that it might be a nice day. HOPE has that note of certainty – faith, hope and love - for years I have translated these three words as -obedience, assurance and loyalty. Paul said - “I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that what I have committed to him He will keep”.
David asks for no new word but to have the old word fulfilled.
He does not say, remember my service to Thee - but remember Thy Word to me!
If God’s Word to us as His servants is so precious - how much more precious is it when we are His sons. He was pleased to be a servant - this was his qualifications - to be a servant - the highest qualifications a man can have - to be a servant of the living GOD.
‘Remember’ is a very tender word – and suits those who are sorrowing or sad - it is like when we say - I must REMEMBER to send Tom a card - it is not that I have forgotten him - it is just that I want to do something meaningful and practical.
Verse 50. My comfort in my suffering is this - even the man of God - even the writer of the Psalm - even the king - even the disciple of Jesus Christ experiences SUFFERING. Accept this early on. We never know what form it will take - how it will confront us in our lives - but it will be there - it will be present. Jesus called it - ‘taking up your cross’.
“Your promise renews my life.” That is the comfort ! “Almighty God, You have given me a promise - and whatever happens, that promise which I know You cannot break, will renew my life - when I am down - when I am disappointed - when I am broken.”
That is a big prayer to pray.
Comfort is desirable at all times - but comfort in times of trouble and distress affliction and sadness is like a lamp in a dark place. When we feel duty a burden, life can appear - when we are cold or indifferent, the Holy Spirit comes and warms our heart, and gives us life – and troubles and problems which weigh us down when we are not feeling well - become mere trifles when we are strong and full of life - and we need to remember that.
Verse 51. There is no limit to what people will say about me - those who are arrogant - self-sufficient - but I am not turning from Your law - from Your Word.
Proud men seldom love gracious men. In this case their hatred is revealed in ridicule.
Men must have strange eyes to see a farce in faith - or a comedy in holiness - although we are very much living in this kind of day. When a man hates sin and when that becomes widely known - it can set tongues a-wagging.
They laughed - but they did not win him over. God’s law - His Word - is our highway to peace and safety and victory.
It is a great thing for a soldier to behave well when under fire. When people bark at you for being a disciple of Jesus Christ, be victorious and overcome - become an overcomer.
Verse 52. I remember your ancient laws - I find COMFORT - FORTRESSING - in them. This whole section directs our attention to the comfort which we receive from the Word of God - and we receive this comfort because GOD has promised to provide comfort through His Word - and we read in this Psalm of how the Word of God sustains us in times of affliction and pain and suffering.
The Psalmist was not running around looking for something new - something to excite him for a season - something to entertain him spiritually and thrill him for a short while. He was going to hold on to what GOD has said - and that is what I want to do - and that is what I want to teach you to do. I want to point out - to indicate - HOLD ON TO WHAT GOD HAS SAID IN HIS WORD. You too will discover a strength there which you will receive from no other source.
Verse 53. David became very angry when he saw certain things happening around him - and we all experience this too - people who have just turned away from GOD - forsaken His Laws and His Ways and His Son JESUS - who want nothing to do with JESUS.
I find this one of the most upsetting things - disturbing. People do things - make decisions that will affect other peoples’ lives - sometimes ruining relationships - and destroying what God has laid down - and they get off with it - they appear to get off with it. Yes, we know, for a season. But so much harm and havoc and hurt has been caused while that action has been taken. Their laughter at him did not upset him - but this did.
This type of immoral behaviour which has become acceptable in our lifetimes.
This is nothing new. We need to know this - it may not always comfort us, nor help us - but at least we know it has happened over and over again.
It also makes me take care that I do not do anything which might make others consider me as being wicked. I do not want to make people indignant because of what I do or say as a result of turning away from following Jesus. Our aim is to lead people in the paths of righteousness - in the ways of God - and point them to Jesus - to his mercy - his love - his ability to heal and rescue and restore and renew.
Verse 54. Your Word - Your Ways - are the theme of my song - wherever I go - and the sense is, as a pilgrim. David knew he was a pilgrim - this was not his home.
Men will sing in various settings - this man of God would sing praises to his GOD. It matters where we sing - when we sing - and what we sing.
The law used to be in verse so that people could sing the law as we sing the Psalm and hymns - and so that we could learn it by heart. And travellers used to sing, to pass the time - along the journey - David did this in his pilgrimage. (People will do it today on a bus outing.)
The wicked shun the law - the righteous sing about it.
Verse 55. In the night I will remember Your Name. When it is dark - when I am alone - when things can appear to be worse than they really are - when I cannot sleep - when no-one can see me - when no-one is aware.
The Name of Jesus can be soothing - comforting - almost soporific.
“Talk to the shepherd - don’t count sheep!”
His Name - includes His character - His attributes - His holiness and wisdom. There is never a time when it is not proper to turn our thoughts towards GOD.
Verse 56. This has been my practice - this is what I have done for years - I used to do this when I was a shepherd boy in the Bethlehem fields. I am not looking for some new gimmick - for something to give me a new spiritual high - Your Word and Your Name and Your Promises suffice. This is amazingly simple. This is what imparts comfort and peace - this enables you to sing - and gives you courage to face the enemy.
And we see this in the life of Jesus - Jesus was so uncomplicated - and our calling is to follow him.
Jesus went about doing good - releasing people who were in the grip of sin and pain and evil - training disciples - yes, ruffling and upsetting a few people who were not open to him and to his ways - but there was nothing complex in what he did or what he said. Read Acts Chapter 10 verses 34to 48 – note verse 38 .
“Almighty God, You have given me a promise - and whatever happens, that promise which I know You cannot break, will renew my life - when I am down - when I am disappointed - when I am broken. Thank You for the Psalm. Thank You for every part of the Bible. May these words be spiritual food and light and guidance – and comfort, O God of comfort – in Jesus Name. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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