February 26, 2020 - - Psalm 119:122 - - You sure of our Surety?!

Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

Psalm 119:122 English Standard Version

The Hebrew language was most helpful to me in understanding this verse. The expression “pledge of good” or “surety” is used in Genesis 43:9 and 44:32. There the man Judah promises if anything happens to his youngest brother, Benjamin, then he will make it good to their father. When the eleven brothers, sons of Jacob, go to Egypt to buy bread from Highest Official in the land—they don’t know it is the brother they sold into slavery so many years ago—Benjamin is accused of wrong-doing. He is going to be held captive in the land of Egypt. However, Judah stands up and says, “I will be the pledge of good” or “I will be your guarantee that you will be repaid”. This is a deeply Christological image.

In King David’s day, the sacrifices of lambs were the pledge of good. They pointed to the fact that one day the wrath of God against our sin would be spent on our Surety, the One Who is our Pledge of Good, Jesus Christ. Though we should stand condemned as worthy of hell, our punishment was set on Him instead. We have therefore been set free: The Judge of Heaven declared us not guilty of our sins and furthermore, He declared all the righteousness, all the obedience of Jesus, is now credited to our account.

Why is King David so urgently in need of this Surety? The arrogant are oppressing him. The insolent who mock him, strive to steal his hope, and crush his joy. They are presumptuous in their ignorance of the LORD of Glory and yet seem to have no consequences for their haughty sins. These men are persistent thorns in the life of this psalmist (see verses 51, 69, 78, 85).

Weary Christian, battle worn and scarred, look to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In worship of Him Who suffered, died, was buried; see Him now as risen from the dead, ascended to Heaven and seated at the Father’s right hand. He is our victory. He is our Surety that His enemies and ours will be thrown down.

In fact, Jesus, our Pledge of Good, is our wake-up call to pray urgently for our haughty oppressors. For these oppressors are themselves bound in heavy chains of slavery to the devil. Their own misery under Satan’s hand presses them, tortures them to acts of wickedness. Pray that they too will be released by the gift of Father’s love—Jesus Christ our Surety. Plead with the Spirit of God for their release. But for the grace of God we too would be haughty oppressors of others.

What soaring words You, Spirit of God, inspired Paul to write—^there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ! Spirit of the Living God, thank You for showing us the Treasure that is ours—Jesus our Surety. Thank You, Spirit of God for speaking to our minds and spirits—declaring louder than the shouts of our enemies and even to our own recalcitrant consciences: Abba, God our Father. We pray for those in our lives who show their hatred for King of kings and LORD of Lords by their insolence against us, Your servants. Bring them to a saving knowledge of Yourself, Triune God. At the cross Jesus defeated the enemy and disarmed him, now Glorious LORD, bring many sons and daughters to Yourself in love. Forgive our own impatience. Forgive our spite against those who are, out of their agonized service to evil, persecuting Christians. By our staunch faithfulness to You, let Your glory shine forth. Amen.

^Quotation is from Romans 8:1