January 17, 2020 - - Psalm 119:95 -- God's Truth against Wickedness
/The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider all your testimonies.
Psalm 119:95 English Standard Version
Where are the wicked? Where are those wicked people who lie in wait to destroy the faithful follower of the Living God?
They are in the church. Jesus reminded us that the wheat and the weeds grow up together. When they are little sprouts, it is impossible to pull one out without affecting the other (Matthew 13:24ff). Don’t be surprised to know that wicked people are in the church as well as outside the church.
The wicked are in the world. The world is not neutral: Ephesians 6:12. The public school system is not neutral. The government is not neutral. All the powers of the world are infected with the sins of this age and those who follow Jesus Christ will face hostility.
The wickedness of the world and the enemy infects our hearts. Romans 7 Paul speaks so poignantly of the fact he wants to do good and instead the very good he wants to do he leaves undone and the wickedness he would avoid, this is what he does.
Thanks be to God, He rescues us from this body of death. Thanks be to God He sends His Spirit to guard us in the way everlasting.
The testimonies of the LORD hold up a mirror to the church and show us the need for the power of forgiveness which Jesus Christ gives us. It is the power to allow for true and deep community among people who are broken and reaching for the grace of Jesus Christ.
The testimonies of the LORD unmask the purposes of the world and agencies, governments and people in power. There is no one person who will lead a political party who could possibly make all things right. The government is on the shoulders of Jesus Christ—He is ruling at the right hand of the Father and He will make all things right at the final judgment.
The testimonies of the LORD reveal our own hearts and their divided intentions and purposes. We would serve the LORD, but we serve ourselves. We want to be whole-heartedly His…but all too often we go our own way and wake up, once again in our old patterns of sin. As Psalm-writer declares it: I consider Your testimonies. Paul anchors such testimonies on Jesus: “who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:24-25a)!
God of Truth—we confess that we are blind to our own wickedness. We need Your testimonies. God of Truth, let the Light of Christ and His Word shine out so that we will discern wickedness in ourselves, in our world and in the Church. Let Your Word direct us into the love of Christ, the forgiveness of our LORD and life everlasting. Thank You for the rich salvation. You have given us. Thank You for all that is in store because of Your mighty, unstoppable grace. Amen.
