TEXT: Psalm 119:49-56
READING: Psalm 119:33-48
SUBJ: The believer’s ability to obtain comfort through claiming the Word of God before the Lord
AIM: To encourage such a claim through knowledge of the divine precept in Justification and in Sanctification.
INTR: We will see in this passage that we are encouraged to exercise boldness and confidence in the knowledge of the teachings of the Word of God.
1. None of the Lord’s benefits may be known apart from His word received in a regenerate heart – all of that which is revealed is comforting and reassuring to us.
2. It is perfectly honorable and proper to approach God with a claim from the Word.
3. We are taught these precepts that we might experience more than mere obedience – This we will explore.
THESIS: “He that will live Godly will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12) but such serves to reveal the comfort given by the Lord through His Word.
I. A solid basis for comfort (vv. 49-50)
1. The Psalmist here presses a reminder on the Lord. This is not because the Lord needs to be reminded, but rather that we need to reflect that we trust Him and His faithfulness.
1) That His own shall continue to come: John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
2) An obligatory reference to past experience: Psalms 63:7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
2. Comfort comes because of “quickening” (v. 50).
1) A living hope of comfort is enabled.
2) The effect of quickening is to put us unmistakably in union with the source of life.
3) Quickening is necessary to understand both affliction and comfort.
3. It is important that we see the role of the Word in quickening. In particular: James 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. AND 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. – This Word is the Gospel.
II. A proper method in comfort (51-52)
1. Derision is no occasion to be distracted from the word or the practice of His Law.
1) It is a fact that the proud will be derisive where there is conformity to the Word.
2) But we must understand that it is not us, but Christ in us that is the object of derision.
2. “I remembered…” and compare with v. 49. The reference to the Judgments of old reminds of us the importance of history.
1) Consider this quote from Charles Bridges: “One class will pay a prominent attention to the preceptive, another to the doctrinal, parts of revelation – each forgetting that the historical records comprise a full and striking illustration of both and have always proved most supporting grounds of consolation to the Lord’s people.”
2) See then the message of Paul: Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
3. To comfort oneself is to avenge the causes of discomfort. Literally the idea is to strike back at that which offends our sense of peace.
III. An experience of comfort (vv. 53-56)
1. The thought of “horror” in verse 53 implies indignation. Note that true believers are very tender in things that seem to offend God’s holiness or His Law.
2. The songs of the pilgrims are the Lord’s statutes. Certainly, they are not grievous, but we delight and sing with respect to them. Psalms 108:1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. AND Psalms 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
3. The Name of the Lord remembered and the very person that it represents.
1) Bridges: Recollections without faith are shadowy notions.
2) The substance of His Name must be remembered: Exodus 34:5-7 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
3) His Name is Remembered in the night. Compare: Job 35:10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; AND Psalms 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
4. The knowledge of a personal interest in the saving grace of God is a matter of possession and in the possession of His precepts, we possess (this I had) comfort.
