September 22, 2019 -- Psalm 119:22 -- Rolling away scorn

Take away from me scorn and contempt

for I have kept your testimonies.

Psalm 119:22 English Standard Version

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on this verse, writes “Hard and foul words indeed break no bones, and yet they are very grievous to a tender and ingenuous^ spirit; therefore David prays, ‘Lord, remove them from me, that I may not be thereby either driven from my duty or discouraged in it.”

[^innocent, unsuspecting] Mathew Henry Commentaries BibleWorks10 Reference Library

In fact that word “remove” can be translated: roll them away. As if they are a great crushing weight. Interesting that even a king, great as David feels the weight of words and scorn. The very same word, “roll” is used in Joshua “And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.” (Joshua 5:9 note Gilgal sounds like the word “roll” so it is a place name that refers to God’s salvation.)

It is a very odd story. Here is the history: the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt. God formed them as His covenant people, claiming them as His Own, His Kingdom, His priests, His treasured people at Mt. Sinai and having made this declaration He gave them the 10 Commandments. This people went to the Promised Land and were given the opportunity to take it. Ten spies came back with a report: “It is too hard, giants are in the land—we cannot overtake them.” That is true. There were giants. It is also true the people of Israel, who could not save themselves from slavery in Egypt would never be able to move as a military unit capable of invading the Promised Land and conquering the mighty inhabitants. In this instance only God the Warrior (as He described Himself in Exodus) could prevail. Two of the twelve spies pointed this truth out: God Himself is their Warrior.

Israel, in fear, rebelled against the two spies and against Moses their leader and their punishment was to have that generation of adults die off in the wilderness. Anyone twenty or older would die before the LORD of Glory would ever bring His people back to the Promised Land. The forty years passed. That generation which did not believe God’s promises died out. Only the two faithful spies remained and would receive the blessing of entering the Promised Land.

In Joshua 5:9 the army of the LORD is circumcised. They are on the edge of hostile territory. Surrounded by mighty kingdoms. Adult men who are circumcised are in pain for a few weeks. It is odd. An army circumcised is helpless to defend themselves. That is exactly the point. These soldiers, these men, by ways of this act of submission state all their protection and all their hope is fixed on God Who alone can protect them and save them. The reproach of Egypt is taken from this army—they no longer trust themselves, or their own power, powerless they are fully entrusting themselves to the Living God.

David is claiming God alone can roll away the scorn and reproach he experiences. Only the LORD can defend him and cause the scornful and contempt-filled words to lose their power over him. And David is reminding God that he is guarding and keeping his ways according to the LORD’s commandments. He is a soldier in the army of the King of Kings. In Hebrews Jesus is described as: “The Captain of our Salvation”. Men are no longer circumcised. Baptism has replaced the Old Testament sacrament of circumcision. Men and women are covered by the sacrament of baptism and claim they are helpless and unable to rescue themselves unless Jesus the Captain of our Salvation should claim us as His Own.

All our hope for living our new life as sons and daughters of God is fixed on You, Jesus. You alone have rolled away the reproach of our sins and given us new life. Jesus, lead us by Your Word and by Your Spirit—Who lives in us. In our lives God our King be glorified. Amen.