February 20, 2020 -- Psalm 119:118 -- The Clarion Call
/You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
Psalm 119:118 English Standard Version
At first reading of this verse one has to wonder—”who has any hope?” Haven’t we all gone astray from the statutes of God? Haven’t we all run from Him and refused to submit to His rules? In fact the very last verse of Psalm 119 is “I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant” (verse 176 a). The second phrase of this brief verse helps us to understand what is taking place—the deceitfulness of such men is what is in view. These who are going astray are planning this, they are cunning, purposeful in their deceit and their hearts are hard to the word of the LORD.
Whenever the writer of Psalm 119 refers to his own waywardness, he adds an important qualification—let’s look at Psalm 119:176 again: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.” This is a pattern repeated quite often in this Psalm [check out: 37, 59, 67]. Notice that in his straying he is still aware of the commandments of the Living God. Though he has rebelled, his flesh is at odds with his heart’s desire—which is to remain in step with God his King. The Spirit of God has placed in this man a restraining power so that sin will not, can not, fully master this man.
Our passage this morning is a clarion call [the urgent, shrill sounding of the trumpet summoning the soldier to action]. O fellow believer, keep your heart true to our King. If the passage this morning has awakened your conscience to your wrong-doing, bring it to the King of Mercy. Confess your sin. Recognize the work of Jesus Christ is not to save lost sinners, but to make the the dead alive. We were dead in our sins and misery. As those dead in sin, we could not know how rotten we were. The Spirit of God has, at our baptism, united us with Jesus in His death and burial, and raised us to newness of life. The Word of God shows us any time we go near the festering, pile of our former ways, we should catch the stench of death and be warned off and go to our knees and repent. Turn from our sin and ask for the Spirit to apply to our hearts and minds the redemption work of Jesus.
This passage is a dire warning for those who are hardened in their sin against the God of Glory. To be spurned by God is to be trampled underfoot. It is to be utterly ruined in one’s rebellion. No matter our status or power, money or family connections, there will be a day of reckoning. Death comes to every man. No one escapes it. And at the Judgment Seat there will be a full accounting and every wrong, every act of deceit and cunning against God will be punished in the fires of hell. If your heart recoils at this and you know you need a Savior, turn to Jesus. Confess you are a sinner in need of His resurrection life.
These words of our text are written so that the sinner may awaken from being dead in sin and by the Spirit rise to newness of life.
These words are written to confirm those who hear and yet grow harder in their rebellion will face the justice of God, without any mercy, when they stand at His Judgment Seat.
These words are written so that all who believe in Jesus rejoice now at the lavish love and mercy, justice and grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We read such warnings and know He has awakened our soul from death and brought us to life. We are assured by faith we have a Father in heaven, Who knows we are inclined to every sin and wrong-doing and by His Spirit He is restraining our evil ways, and giving us a new heart, a deeper love for Him and a greater appreciation for the limitless perfections of His laws which lead us to Christ our Savior and King.
Terrible and complete is Your wrath against sin, O God of all perfection and holiness. You have issued Your warnings, complete and thorough, to all men and women of this planet. Spirit of the Living God, call out believers from every tribe and language, nation and people group. Spirit of Glory, lift sinners from their tombs of death: addictions, slavery to sin, hatred of all that is holy. As those who were once notorious in their hatred of God, we have become completely transformed in Christ, blessed, joy-filled children of the Most High. In our lives, our words and worship may Your Name be praised, King Jesus. May the Majestic Mercy and Unmatched Kindness of God stagger all who witness it in us. To You belongs all praise and triumph, victory and credit. Amen.
