April 14, 2020 -- Psalm 119:150 -- Influence Leaders

They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

Psalm 119:150 English Standard Version

There are a wide variety of translations of this particular verse; and these variants helps to uncover what this text is telling us. Consider these two alternate translations of our passage:

Those who follow after wickedness draw near; they are far from Thy law. (Ps. 119:150 NAS)

They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. (Ps. 119:150 KJV)

The difference in these translations is uncovered in those first two phrases. The English Standard Version (at the top of the page) seems to make the identity of the evil intending people more obvious. The English Standard Version makes the evil intent most blatant. If we weren’t in the current coronavirus I’d suggest it almost seems as if the ones drawing near were masked as prepared to rob a bank or rob your soul. [Of course, everywhere we go now, everyone is masked!) As a matter of fact, the NAS and KJV translations show us the approach of evil is much more subtle.

All three translations agree there is a degree of friendship or familiarity between the writer of the Psalm and the evil-doer. The one bent on evil draws near—as if by right of friendship or as a servant or as a coworker or as one in some other such relationship with the writer. What is less clear is the approach. Someone whose eyes are alight with mischief is one who seems the least threatening. To our modern senses there is almost a playful sense in the KJV translation. Mischief is not so ominous sounding to our ears. Yet the final phrase of this verse clearly identified the problem: “they are far from your law”.

There is a comedian, Drew Barth, who is on the You Tube channel: Dry Bar Comedy. He has a disheveled handsome air about him, slightly affected drawl and a very dry wit. As part of his routine he looks right at the camera and says:

Just surround yourself with smart people, if you can. I know dumb people are fun.

I am not going to deny that. And if you are dumb, thank you. You are really entertaining.

So, thank you. [At this point the audience is laughing, obviously many can relate to this].

If you swap out your dumb friends for smart ones you are gonna cut way down

on the texts you receive at 3 A.M. that read “I need $200 right now and I can’t explain why”.

[Again the audience is laughing, as if self-consciously relating to a common problem.]

Isn’t that how mischief or evil begins? It is a text message, an invitation, a casual call from a friend, leading to something that seems edgy and funny and in hindsight you know it is not really well-thought-out.

The evil purposes of others, their mischief isn’t fully apparent from the start. In joining with them you are setting your foot on a pathway that leads further and further from safety until you sort of shake your head exasperatedly and ask: “How did I get here?”

The law of God reveals the difference between good and evil.

The law of God plots of the course of our pathway: away from evil to Jesus our Savior-King.

The law of God quickly separates those who are bent on evil from those who are seeking good. The law of God is distasteful to those who are, according to scripture “dumb” or “fools” (Psalm 14:1).

Those who are dearest in your life, who are your closest advisors, let them be ones who love the law of God and therefore, more importantly, love the Father Who gives the law. Those whom you are trying to reach in the Name of Jesus are ones who are bent on mischief or evil—you may love them, but do not let them be your advisors and coaches in your life. They cannot steer the ship of your life anywhere else but to the rocks and shoals.

The Spirit of God takes the Law of God and makes it precious to the believer and the same Spirit empowers holy living so that it becomes our desire to honour God by our obedience. Even the comedians of our world observe: Just surround yourself with smart people.

Mighty God of All Wisdom, You declare: “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts^”. Lift us, God of Wisdom, from the empty and foolish ways of our life. Set our thoughts and pathway on the way of Jesus Christ and by Your Spirit’s mighty presence in our hearts guard us—hearts, thoughts, minds and actions—for all good. Let us be influence-leaders for good and godliness—in Jesus’ Name we pray this: Amen.

(^Isaiah 55:8)