October 29, 2019 -- Psalm 119:41-42 -- Disarming the Accuser

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

Psalm 119:41-42 English Standard Version

Who taunts the writer of this psalm? Well, according to verse 28 his own soul melts away with sorrow. Princes sit plotting against him (verse 23). He is subjected to scorn and contempt (verse 22). So it is evident even at the beginning of this Psalm (which has 176 verses!) that he faces taunting from enemies within his own heart—his conscience is seared. If this is King David, then the princes plotting against him are his own sons—and that makes sense as two of his own sons rise up against him in rebellion, trying to take the kingdom from him.

We know the devil taunts us as well. He is the accuser (Revelation 12:10); in fact his name “Satan” means “accuser”. He whispers into our ears and poisons our minds, asking “Can God really forgive that sin?” He smirks at our discomfort and continues, “You have asked forgiveness so often for this very same sin, surely there must be a limit to God’s mercy?!”

How can the follower of God answer his own conscience, his enemies, and the Accuser? The answer is found in verse 41—it is the love of God and the promise of God. I Peter 1 notes that the Old Testament writers prophesied the sufferings of Christ and His subsequent glories, and even angels longed to look into such things (I Peter 1:10-12). Jesus Christ is the Incarnation of God’s love demonstrated to us—while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We cannot point to any good we have done or are doing or will do. God sent Jesus for the salvation of sinners, those who were chosen before the foundation of the world for the glory of His Name and the glory of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

We can answer the ones who taunt us and would seek to burden us with remembrances of our sins by this declaration: Jesus paid it all. We can point to the cross and be assured no accusation of the enemy will ever stand, because the cross disarmed the Accuser—(Colossians 2:15). What blessed freedom we have as Christians to serve our King Jesus! We trust in Jesus because His Word reassures us that all these promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 1:20). Our sins are gone—the punishment against them was poured out on Jesus. The writer of Psalm 119 loves the Word of God and the Law of God because it guides his feet in paths of righteousness. We add our affirmations as we read what the psalmist wrote. The testimonies of God our Creator show us the way to live in thankfulness. We know the justice of God and the love of our Father are fully satisfied in Jesus Christ and in His Name we deny the sinful passions of our flesh and we live for Him.

In view of Your great love, God our Father, we have an answer against any and all who accuse us. In view of the glory of the cross of Jesus Christ we know the answer is always “Jesus paid it all”. Spirit of God, stir us up so that we hate our sins more and more and as we confess them we will truly repent. Even in this desire to repent we know how much we need You, Spirit of Power, to turn us away from the very sins we are repenting of, and so seek to live where the boundary lines have fallen for us in pleasant places—that is, within the will of God our Sovereign Master. Thank You for the rock solid trustworthiness of Your Word—thank You that all Your promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ. Amen.