April 20, 2020 -- Psalm 119:154 -- Who pleads your cause?

Plead my cause and redeem me,

give me life according to your promise!

Psalm 119:154 English Standard Version

Those of you who have a good study bible will know that the first word of our verse today comes from a courtroom setting. The Psalmist, using the expression plead my cause is crying out for someone to act as his attorney or mediator. When the LORD chooses to put a crook into our lot (see April 19th to understand that phrase) who can undo what He has done? In His great mercy and love the Father has given us such afflictions to drive us to Himself. Jesus is seated at the Father’s right hand, praying for us. He is our mediator. He is ready to hear us when we in our desperation and longing finally turn to God. It is at that moment we realize our need for a mediator strong enough to engage the Living God.

Revive me, or as it is written, give me life—that is the very work of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God animates us and gives us what we need so that we will not be crushed under our loads and burdens. Rather than sink down into despair and listlessness the Spirit of God reinvigorates us as our troubles and afflictions drive us to Jesus Christ, in Whom we have the exact mediator we need.

Jesus is fully human. He understands the weakness of the flesh. He knows how sin and temptation are constantly banging at the door of our hearts and randomly shooting wayward arrows of fiery thoughts designed to lead the vulnerable astray. In His humanity Jesus was fully equipped and revived by the Spirit of God to withstand every single temptation. At the Garden of Gethsemane, the night He was betrayed, just before Judas the betrayer arrived, Jesus’ prayers were so intense His sweat became drops of blood. One aspect of the victory of Jesus is seen in the fact He was tempted in every way we are and He never yielded, not even for an instant.

Jesus is fully divine. In His divinity He took the punishment meted out by the Father, Who is holy. This is what is so difficult for us as mere mortals to grasp. How utterly perfect and holy God is. How vile is any act of sin on our part. We are ready to justify away what we do. We are ready to obfuscate and try to distract God the glorious and holy from what we are doing. None of it works. The holiness of God cannot endure any slight movement towards sin. Therefore, Jesus in His divinity was able to bear the full weight of God’s anger against sin.

Recently I was chatting with a group of guys and one of them had a crusty hanging from his nose. It was obvious. It was gross. It was observed by all except the bearer of that particular grossness. There are only three possible ways for this to be addressed. The friends would point it out. The man would see himself in a mirror. The man would happen to wipe his nose and realize this awkwardness. We humans are not aware of the filth of sin that clings to us like an unwanted crusty billowing from the nose. Amazing how such a small thing evokes a strong reaction from us. How much more is our sin an affront and grossness before the the utter perfect holiness of God.

He has provided the way for us to be cleansed. He has provided the Word, the promises of God which are like a mirror for our souls. And He has given us the Spirit of God so that we will have the strength and courage to go to the throne of grace where we find Jesus Christ—seated at the Father’s right hand—the Friend of Sinners Who is our mediator and salvation. How gloriously has the psalmist’s urgent prayer been answered. Run to Jesus this day and find in Him all hope, cleansing, and help.

Reviving Spirit help us. We often don’t even know what to pray because of the turmoil churning within us. Bring us to Jesus our intercessor and king. Cleanse and heal us we pray. Amen.