November 29, 2019 -- Psalm 119:62 -- Midnight Praises
/At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
Psalm 119:62 English Standard Version
There are many reasons a person will rise at midnight—it may be to empty the bladder, or to grab a snack. Perhaps someone is wrestling with frustrations at work and her mind cannot shut off. Maybe it is bitterness against someone who seems to have sinned against you and now seems to be living without any consequences for those actions.
The psalmist rises at midnight for a completely different reason. The writer of this psalm rises to give praise and thanks to the God of Justice. He intentionally worships the King of Heaven. And the reasons for this worship are slightly obscured in our translation. A more literal translation of the second phrase would read: “because of your righteous judgments”.
When the God Who Keeps His Promises renders His judgment a man is determined to be guilty or innocent. That is the righteous judgment of the LORD. So, King David rises at midnight to praise the LORD Who pronounces guilt or innocence. This frees David up to praise God. If anyone has acted unjustly against David, it is the LORD Who will vindicate David. The system of sacrifices which David lived under pointed to Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament a lamb was slaughtered—because only blood and death could wipe away sins. Even so, the lambs and other sacrifices were continually made because these did not take away the guilt and sin of a man, but they pointed to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who would come, Who takes away the sin of the world.
When David rose at midnight and prayed for the ones who abused him or hated him—he prayed on the basis of God’s righteous judgment. If such an enemy confessed his sins, and repented, and obeyed the LORD of the Glory, then David would be praising God because an enemy has come to know the same mercy and kindness he himself has found. That enemy has turned from his hostility and has become an ally in serving God.
If an enemy has not repented and still breathes out violence against David, even in that circumstance David praises God because the judgments of God mean this enemy will be punished with greater severity than David could ever mete out. I wonder, would this mean when David rose and prayed, he’d ask for God’s mercy even on his enemy because David himself knew what it was to suffer punishment at the hands of God’s discipline?
LORD Jesus we rejoice in You. We rise and bless Your Name. What David only dimly perceived in the system of sacrifices, we know in fullest measure—in Jesus Christ our sins are fully paid for and we are set free. Father in heaven, God of Justice—we pray for those who are racing headlong to hell in their wickedness and rebellion. Direct them by Your Word, Your Spirit and the testimony of believers—use even me!—to direct them on the path of humble confession and repentance. Turn such from being enemies of the cross of Christ to those who find hope and help under its shadow. Choirs and churches, soloists and orchestras this Christmas season are declaring the glory of Jesus, Who has made His blessings flow far as the curse is found. We rise at midnight and praise You, Oh God. We declare Your Sovereign goodness in the light of day. We long for the glorious return of Jesus when sin will be utterly vanquished, death itself hurled to hell defeated. Blessed are You, Triune God forever and ever. Amen.
