March 7, 2020 -- Psalm 119:128 -- A conscience set free

Therefore I consider your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:128 English Standard Version

This morning I was reading about something called “The Conscience Fund”. Let me explain. The agency in the United States of America that collects taxes has set up this “conscience fund”. When a person has cheated on their taxes and wants to make restitution, without getting penalized for their past wrongs, they can make an anonymous payment. One man paid $500. and added a note with it, something to the effect “I have been having trouble sleeping because of this. Here is a payment. If I still can’t sleep, I’ll pay the rest”. Doesn’t that just show how our hearts hate to do what is right?

In our stanza, the Ayin Stanza of Psalm 119, the writer has been struggling with his conscience. In earlier verses we read how he finally cried out to the LORD of Justice and Mercy and asked for the LORD to act—to wipe away his sins. To clear the slate and his conscience. What is beyond description is this: God the All-Knowing has seen all that this psalmist has done, is fully aware of his sins and He has provided the way of salvation. Jesus paid it all—He took on Himself the Father’s wrath and punishment for sin—and because of Jesus’ accomplished work He sets prisoners free.

Whoever believes in Father and the Son sent by the Father, knows these great blessings:

We no longer face punishment.

We do not need a “conscience fund” with the Holy One—He has seen the worst of our behaviour, knows our current rebellious streak, and still shows us His salvation.

We know our Father calls us, returned prodigals that we are, His daughters and sons.

We know He disciplines those He loves so that we will learn to fight sin—the sin that lingers in us, the temptations that the devil throws at us, and the persistent wickedness that surrounds us in the world.

The psalmist rejoices in the precepts of God—the rules and laws which God has appointed to be done—because these now guide his feet in thankful living. These precepts now show him the pathway of salvation. The precepts of God keep the writer from going back to a place where he might need a “conscience fund”. When he recognizes he is about to, or has once again, gone down a false way, he can openly confess it before the High King of Heaven—with tears and sadness he admits his sins and longs for the restoration which the God of Mercy promises. With praise-filled awe he notes and celebrates God’s gracious answer given us in Jesus Christ—the slate is wiped clean. The Spirit of God speaks to our spirit and confirms we are children of God—forgiven and loved.

Carefully note this, we will still face the consequences of our sinful behaviour. We will still need to make restitution where we have cheated others. We will need to work at restoring community This is why we do not evangelize boastfully, speaking to others from a place of moral superiority. Instead, we speak with humble wonder and joy. We know we are sinners who have been rescued. What we have grasped is this: God has come near in Jesus Christ and given us the extravagant gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Our hearts are then set on fire with devotion to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit directs us in confession, showing us our wrong-doing and our need for repentance. The Spirit heals us in community with God and with other believers. The Holy Spirit kneads into every part of our person the holy-making power of God.

God our Father thank You for the great gift of Jesus Christ. Thank You for showing us all the blessings You have laid out for us in Christ and making these things known to us by Your Spirit and the Word of God. We confess how we are prideful, thinking we have added anything to our salvation. We confess we are arrogant, prepared to look at others with disdain because we know things they do not. Forgive us. Help us to hate every false way—especially when we are going along false ways because of our pride or our thoughts that we are morally superior. Debtors as we are, to God’s grace and mercy poured out to us in Christ, show us, Spirit of Truth how to live as those who now have no out-standing debt except the debt to love God and love those whom He has placed in our lives. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Blessed Trinity, let our lives bring You glory and praise. Amen.