November 30, 2019 -- Psalm 119:63 -- A True Companion

I am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

Psalm 119:63 English Standard Version

While volunteering at an addiction recovery centre, Harvest House Atlantic, I heard an expression I really like. It is: “fellowship up”. Those who are leaving addictions to alcohol and drugs leave behind the people who used to be the circle of friends with whom they’d engage in their addictive behaviors. To fellowship up is to find people whom you admire or respect, whose way of life is a worthy pattern for you to follow.

The word “companion” in the original Hebrew language is one not often used in the Old Testament. It is used negatively in Isaiah—with the sense of being thick as thieves. And in Judges with the sense of being deeply united in a common cause. Our former sinful way of life has a tremendous pull on us. It is easy to go to old patterns and familiar sins. It is hard work to fellowship up and find new friends and deep personal connections where we are challenged to be men and women of integrity. Yet this is exactly what we are called to be in Christ—those who seek deep and meaningful friendship with true believers.

The ‘fear of the LORD’ is a wonderful expression that I don’t hear very often anymore. To walk in the fear of the LORD is to honour Him. It is a profound desire to acknowledge He is holy. It invokes in us a commitment to make a searching inventory of our lives, our words, thoughts and deeds so that we do not offend His reputation by our conduct. The fear of the LORD is the ultimate step of ‘fellowshipping up’. In Jesus Christ we have our closest companion, in fact, we who were slaves to sin are now called friends of God in Christ, even co-heirs with Christ. We make a sincere promise that we will not defile this rich inheritance by our conduct or by the friends we keep.

For a third time in this stanza the writer makes a vow: “I am a companion…to those who keep your precepts.” That verb to keep has been used in verses 57 and 60. This three-fold emphasis signals his deeply held commitment to the precepts of God, His judgments and Word. It is so easy to drift off into sin. When you are holding onto your canoe alongside a dock, before you’ve fully tied onto the dock and big waves from a power boat splash against the dock you’ll find it incredibly hard to hold on. So it is with our commitments to keeping the precepts of God. If have not tied ourselves to Christ—whom Hebrews calls the Anchor of our Salvation—we are in danger of being swept back into our old sins and old ways of life. Casting our anchor in Jesus Christ is the wisest course of action, it is the only way we’ll survive the tempest of this sin-riddled world. It is the best way to fellowship up and find through service to Him other companions who are faithful and true.

Jesus, You taught we need not fear the devil who can torment us and even kill us. Rather, we are to fear Him Who has the power of life and death and the power to send someone to the new heavens and new earth or to eternal punishment in hell. Yes, the Judge of Heaven and Earth we are to fear Him. Jesus, help us to fellowship up, to know You are both our Savior and our Judge. You Redeemed us from our sin and You are the Anchor of our Salvation. May our devotion to You be fueled and strengthened by the Spirit and as we live for You may our Father in heaven be pleased and be praised. Amen.