January 4, 2020 -- Psalm 119:87 -- Facing spiritual battles, rousing obedience within

They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

Psalm 119:87 English Standard Version

“They” refers to the persecutors, the insolent, and the ones who by opposing the laws, statutes and precepts of God are making life very difficult for the writer of this psalm. Why do we, as Christians, endure this kind of hardship? Why is there push-back?

Ephesians 6 reminds us that we are facing spiritual warfare all the time: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). Satan hates believers. Satan is enraged against all who follow the LORD of Glory. Anyone who has vowed to follow Jesus Christ and serve Him only will be faced with tremendous hardships in this life. Since the devil cannot touch Jesus, he goes after all who love Jesus and devote themselves to Him.

Despite this onslaught, the psalmist vows to God and reminds himself: but I have not forsaken your precepts. The precepts of God are the rules by which He sets the direction for our lives. They are the boundary markers helping us to know right from wrong and they are dispassionate. Just think how easily Satan baits the hook of temptation with things we want. He appears disguised as an angel of light. Whispering with breath hot from hell “Why would God deny you this pleasure?”

The precepts of God give clarity. The precepts of God found in His Word point us to Jesus Christ, Who for the joy set before Him, endured suffering and the cross and did not succumb to the temptations of the devil. Jesus is both our example and He is our Teacher in every crisis. In great love the Father and the Son give to Christians the Holy Spirit, Who lives in us so that we by the Scripture and prayer we can discern what is truth and what is a lure from hell. More even that this, by His precepts He stamps us as beloved sons and daughters.

Not that long ago I saw a movie where a family had a slogan. One of the sons struggled with belonging to this family. He rebelled against his father. He caused his mother no end of grief. When he was faced with a particularly difficult trial he suddenly remembered the family slogan. He spoke it out-loud thus pushing back the forces that opposed him outwardly and inwardly calling on his own heart and mind to cast out the rebellion that had almost consumed him.

So it is with the psalm writer of our passage today. He is calling out “I have not forsaken Your precepts!” He is shouting this against the physical enemies of God. He is declaring this against the spiritual forces of darkness that are threatening him. He is calling forth from within himself obedience and faithfulness, rousing himself to stand up for the glory of the triune God. He is reminding himself of verses 1 & 2
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart…

The day is just beginning for us, O LORD of Hosts, and we do not know what we will face. Some of us have battled strong enemies in the last hours or days. Others of us may find themselves taken by surprise; attacked when we least expected it. But God, You are the strength of our lives. Christ we profess You to be the anchor of our souls. Spirit of the Living God, You are the forger of all true believing within us. Using every hammer blow of difficulty to shape us; by the red hot fires of trials You make us malleable for Your work within us. Therefore we cry out to You, triune God, thereby stirring up our souls to faithfulness in the midst of the battles ahead: “I have not, I will not, forsake Your precepts!” In our lives, God our King, be glorified! Amen.