Psalms 119:143

Psalms 119:143 says, “Psa 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.”

This verse is warning us about something very important in life. Life has sorrows, disappointments, and tragedies. Don’t let the troubles and anguishes of life that come your way keep you from serving God. This is what happens to many people in life. Tragedy strikes and they blame God for it. Instead of looking at the tragic circumstances of life that come their way through faith they respond the opposite way.

There are many many people who turn away from Jesus because of some tragedy: the death of loved one, some plan and dream in their life that did not work out, perhaps even because of their own failure or mistake.

The same fire that melts the wax hardens the clay. A wise person will not let the trials of life harden their heart against God. Instead of getting angry at Jesus and turning away from Jesus when tragedy strikes a wise person will cling to the promises of God. Promises such as Romans 8:28 which says, “Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

If all things work together for good to them that love God then God has a plan and a purpose for that tragedy and suffering in your life. He will use it some how for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the end you will be thankful for the sufferings that you went through rather than broken and your faith destroyed by such tragedies and sufferings.

Psalms 119:114 says, “Psa 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.”

There is that which is temporary and that which is eternal. God is eternal. God’s Word is eternal. God’s righteousness is eternal. There is eternal life in Jesus Christ. Why would anyone choose something temporary over something eternal? In fact people who allow the tragedies of their life to harden their hearts and turn them away from Christ are people who are deciding to choose the temporary over the eternal.

Psalms 119:145 says, “Psa 119:145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.”

When a person comes to Jesus for salvation they come all the way. There is no such thing as being half saved, or half believing. In other words when a person comes to Jesus they come with the whole heart. The challenge is after becoming saved, continuing to follow Jesus with the whole heart.

It is so easy to let the cares of this world creep into our hearts and choke away our love for Christ. Every Christian starts out following Jesus with the whole heart but how many end that way? If you don’t love God more than you love yourself, if you don’t love Jesus more than you love your family or your job, or the entertainments of the world, or your hopes and dreams about the future, If you don’t love God more than the things of this life then eventually the things of this life will find a way to creep into your heart and choke out your love for Christ.

Psalms 119:146 says, “Psa 119:146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.”

This verse teaches us something very important about how salvation works. A person that comes to Christ for salvation is a person that in their heart truly wants to and intends to do what is right. You don’t get saved because you want to be a member of a church. You don’t get saved because you want some kind of religious social status. You don’t get saved because your family is Christian. You get saved because Jesus comes to you and you respond with a sincere desire to change your life, to change your sinful ways. And once you trust in Christ through His power He makes it happen.

Psalms 119:147-148 says, “Psa 119:147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Psa 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”

The dawning of the morning and the night watches. In other words a person who beings their day early and begins it with God’s Word and also a person who stays up late to feed upon the word. It’s not that you have to get up early or late. But most people, in life are very busy. They have work and family and chores and so to find time alone with God in His Word it might very well take rising early and staying up late to make that time.

The benefits and blessings of believing, studying and following God’s word are limitless. God’s word will give you the strength mind and joy of Spirit to face any circumstance in life no matter how challenging or how dire. The word of God will give you all the practical wisdom you need in life which includes things like what kind of friends to make, how to marry the right person, how to work hard and save for the future, and of course most importantly, how to be a testimony for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 119:149 says, “Psa 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.”

Lovingkindness has to do with the tender mercies of God. Because of Jesus, because of what Jesus did on the cross we can pray to God and He will hear us. The first prayer and most important prayer that someone should make to Jesus is the prayer of salvation. Once a person enters into a relationship with Jesus the doorway of communication with God is also open and we have access to the great throne of grace. Because the righteousness of Christ is imputed unto us through faith and not through works we have great power in prayer. The same power Jesus had when He was on this earth and He prayed to the Father.

The prayer that the Psalmist prayed in this verse is, quicken me according to thy judgment. To be quickened means to be made alive. What happens to a person is at the moment of salvation, at the very moment a person turns from their sins to Jesus and accepts Jesus into their heart, the Spirit of God comes to dwell inside that person, washing them clean of their sins and also making them alive spiritually.

Consider these verses in Romans which talk about this spiritual life received at the moment of salvation. Romans 6:4-11 says, “Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

To trust in Jesus is to become crucified with Christ, dead to sin and therefore alive in that newness of life through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Psalms 119:149 says, “Psa 119:149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.”

In a way you could say a Christian is always in the process of becoming more alive. As we grow in Christ and slowly over the years become more conformed to His image we are more alive. The more we walk in truth the more alive we are through the Spirit of God.

Some people in this world are very focused on being alive, feeling alive, enjoying their life, experiencing what life has to offer. And there is nothing wrong with this. But the truth you are not truly alive until you are made spiritually alive through Christ. It’s then when your sins have been nailed to the cross and the Holy Ghost comes to dwell inside you that are truly alive and capable of living and enjoying your life to the fullest. It’s not much life after all if you go through life never thankful for what Christ has done for you. It is that thankfulness to Christ and the spiritual life that he gives us which makes us capable of truly living this live to the fullest the way it was meant to be lived, in service towards His gospel. Until you walk the gospel road, the same road Jesus walked, until you pick up your cross and follow him, you will never truly experience the romance of life, the beauty of life and the fullness of life. O yes there are many things to enjoy in this world. But they are empty and vain without Jesus.

Psalms 119:150, “Psa 119:150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.”

The word mischief has to do with premeditated wickedness. It’s not talking about sins that people commit in a moment of weakness like saying the wrong words in a moment of anger. But it’s talking about a mind that plots and plans out evil and then enacts it out. It says that such people are drawing night. But drawing nigh to what?

Well the previous verse talked about the judgment of God. So they are drawing nigh the judgment of God. Yes God is patient and merciful because of Jesus. But God hates sin and God will judge sin especially those who follow after mischief.

Proverbs 15:3 says, “Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

God knows all and God sees all including the plotting of the wicked. If you think you can hide your evil plans from God your wrong. Men often get very good at lying even at saying the very opposite of what they intend to do. You might deceive other men but you can’t deceive God. Politicians and rulers of countries are often notorious for using such lying tactics. Most of them are only after money and power. They will say, “these laws we are passing are going to help you,” but in truth the law are only designed to give them more power and take away your freedom. But do not fear. God knows what they are thinking and what they are plotting. They will not escape their judgment.

This is why as Christians we do not need worry nor fear. We don’t need to be afraid what is going to happen in the future. And we certainly do not need to be troubled over any current events nor politics. God is in control. God has a plan. And God is all knowing. He sees what the wicked are doing and plotting to do in their minds. Nothing is hidden from God. Those who oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ are on the losing side. They will not win. Their human wills are not strong than the almighty will of God. In the end the truth shall prevail and righteousness shall prevail.

God will have the final say. The final say is not in this life but is at the great white throne judgment when we must all stand before God and the books will be opened and every man will be judged according to those things written in the books because God is keeping a record. A record of everything word and deed that every human being does and says.

Because of this truth we should be very careful about the judgments we make in our own minds in regards to other people. We cannot see all the things that God sees. We do not know all the things that God knows. Be discerning yes but remember God is the one who will be passing judgment on all men not us.

Psalms 119:151 says, “Psa 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

How is the Lord near? Well first of all God is everywhere. God is omni present. That being said He is not that far away. All you have to do is reach out in faith to Jesus and repent of your sins and you will find that God is there and will come and dwell inside of you. There is no need to ever feel far from God once you have come to faith in Jesus Christ because of several reasons. 1. The Holy Spirit dwells inside you. With God dwelling inside of you He is never far away but is always right there along side of you wherever you go in life and whatever you do. 2. Remember what the Word of God says. Jesus made a great promise when He promised in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 3. As afore said just remember God is everywhere. God is omnipresent. You can’t escape the presence of God, even if you tried. He won’t let you because you are His child and He loves you so much that He will not let you go.

Psalms 119:151 says, “Psa 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

God’s word is true. The Bible is the Word of God. That means its perfect, without error. It shall endure forever. It has no contradictions. And it does not teach anything evil. Now if you think otherwise then you have been lied too. Lied to by the world and by the devil and maybe even lied to by yourself.

Every supposed contradiction in the bible can be refuted, every supposed error or missing passage can through archeological evident be proven that God’s Word is without error, and every supposed evil teaching that some claim the bible has can be refuted as well. The question is are you willing to see the truth?

If you think ill of God’s Word then you will think ill of God. There is nothing worse than to go through life thinking that a perfect Holy loving God, doesn’t love, or makes mistakes, or has unjust anger, or doesn’t even exist. To live this way is to miss out on life, to miss out on the most exciting and interesting relationship and personality there is that of God and a relationship with Him.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior then you can turn to Him today. He calling out, reaching out to you. Jesus has reached out to you through time when He came to this earth and died on the cross and rose from the grave. All it takes is to repent of your sins and trust in Him and He will save you. Jesus will save you from the power of sin and the eternal judgment of hell. Jesus will wash you clean from your sins and give you a new life, a changed life, a life that begins with intimate fellowship with Him and which will take you down the wonderful gospel road and into heaven.

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