Psalm 119:161-168 (text: v. 165)
"I'm offended!"
"You offended me." "I resent that." No victorious
Christian will talk that way.
Meaning
of "offended"-- To cause resentment or wounded feelings;
To make stumble.
REASON people
get offended-- It is a matter of CHOICE. People choose to
allow themselves to get offended.
CHARACTERISTICS
of offended people-- "touchy", "short-fused,"
hyper-sensitive, spiritually immature and full of pride. Humility
cannot be offended. You can only offend someone's pride.
Many of
our troubles come by allowing ourselves to get offended. Pride
is what keeps us in trouble. "Only by pride cometh contention…"
(Prov. 13:10).
Pride says,
"I have a right to be bitter." Once a person has been
offended, if they harbor the grudge of the offense, it will turn
into a DUNGEON of bitterness. Proverbs 18:19 says, "A
brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their
contentions are like the BARS OF A CASTLE." How
true.
It is amazing
how much abuse a politician can take without getting offended,
but how little it takes to offend the average thin-skinned Christian
today. They are offended at the slightest ENCROACHMENT upon their
"rights" or personal space.
The LORD
JESUS CHRIST was never resentful at the way He was treated (1
Pet. 2:19-23).
What are
the elements of an offense-free life?
I. DAUNTLESS IN PERSECUTION (v. 161).
A. David
was treated badly; had his life threatened; was falsely accused;
deserted by his wife and his son lead a rebellion against him.
1. Who were the princes? They were sons of the king--men
of high position. The basic idea of the word prince is official
authority.
2. Men of resolute purpose. The idea in the word persecute
is pursuit, such as in the hunting of animals; always indicates
hostile intent.
3. Men of unjust cause. The Psalmist was innocent. Offenses
usually come when people think they've been treated unfairly
or falsely accused. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely…" (Mt. 5:11).
B. He did
not stand in awe of his persecutors. He is awed by God's Word.
1. Because God's Word subdues our fear of persecution (v. 161)
2. Because God's Word rejoices the heart (v. 162).
3. Because God's Word inspires praise to God (v. 164).
4. Because God's Word instills peace in every situation (v. 165)
5. Because God's Word sustains hope in the inner man (v. 166).
II. DELIGHTED BY THE
PRIZE (v. 162). You
cannot rejoice and be offended at the same time.
He rejoices
like one finding great spoil.
A. Spoils
of war do not come easily or casually. Finding precious truths
of God's Word takes hours of labor, prayer, and study. Sometimes
you must "fight" in some crisis of life before a spiritual
truth is discovered.
B. "GREAT
spoil…" --The blessings of God's Word are greater
than anything ever taken from any battle victory on earth.
III. DIRECT IN POISE
(v. 163). He is straightforward
about where he stood.
A. What
he hates (Note the double negative "hate [intense
dislike] and abhor [to bristle/shiver; detest, loathe;
contempt; sickening]"
1. Religious lying--False doctrine is lying (Jer. 14:14).
2. Some are offended when you expose religious lies.
3. Tobacco industry lies; Liquor industry lies; News media lies
B. What
he loves (vs. 163, 165, 167)-- God's Word-- "Thy word
is TRUTH…" He loved God's Word "EXCEEDINGLY"
(v. 167).
IV. DEVOTED IN PRAISE (v. 164). Seven is God's number
of completeness-- He either had set times to praise God or He
praised God all the time.
A. You cannot
be offended and be praising God at the same time.
B. Praise
God for your critics.
1. If your critic is wrong in his criticism, then he has a problem.
If my watch is broken or has a problem, I don't get upset at the
watch. I try to repair the watch. (ILLUS.-- David and Shimei--2
Sam. 16:5-13).
2. If your critic is right, then the problem is yours. You should
be grateful that the Lord used your critic to point out a problem
in your life.
V. DELIBERATE IN PEACE (v. 165). Matter of FOCUS-- Peace
is the result of focusing on God and His Word (cf. v. 161; Isa.
26:3).
A. Knowing
God is working all things together for my good gives me peace.
B. Jesus
said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that
ye should not be offended" (John 16:1). People who have
a Scriptural view of themselves cannot be offended by what others
may say.
VI. DUTIFUL IN PRECEPTS (vs. 166-168).
A. Obey
Malachi 3:10, you won't be offended by preaching on tithing.
B. Obey
2 Cor. 6:17, you won't be offended by preaching on separation.
C. Obey
1 Cor. 6:19, you won't be offended by preaching on drugs/tobacco.
CONCLUSION: The blessing of living a life
free of offense. It is up to you. If you get offended it is your
own fault.
The key
to an offensive-proof life is your relationship to God's Word: