Psalm 119:121-128
Have
you ever had someone to "co-sign" a loan for you? That
person became a "surety" for you. A "surety"
is a pledge or formal promise made to secure against loss, damage,
or default; a guarantee or security-- To pledge one life for another
(cf. Gen. 43:9).
One who
has co-signed (the surety) becomes responsible for the debt in
the event of default. To be a surety one must: (1)
Be willing; (2) Have the resources to secure the loan.
Proverbs
11:15 says, "He that is surety for a stranger shall
smart for it…" That's what Jesus did for me--
"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament" (Heb. 7:22). I was a stranger and He became
my surety for good. He smarted for it! He paid the debt and delivered
me from my oppressors--Sin, Satan, and the Sentence of death!
Let's
notice four things about the Psalmist's surety:
I. HIS PURE CONSCIENCE
(vs. 121-122).
A. He was
saying he had done right ("judgment and justice").
B. His prayer
(v. 121b) is similar to that of Nehemiah-- "Think
upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for
this people… Remember me, O my God, concerning this also,
and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy"
(5:19; 13:22) and Isaiah (38:14--"O LORD, I am
oppressed; undertake for me,").
II. HIS PURSUANT CONFIDENCE (vs. 123-125). Confidence never
goes uncontested.
A. Longing
and waiting for God's salvation-- Conflict between impatience
/ unbelief and waiting on the Lord in faith (v. 123). "I
am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while
I wait for my God" (Ps. 69:3 cf. 143:6-12).
B. Two basic
needs of God's servants ("thy servant," vs. 124-125).
1. I am guilty--Mercy in God's dealings (v. 124). The more
you learn of God's statutes, the greater sense of your need of
God's mercy.
2. I am ignorant--Divine instruction / understanding of
God's Word (vs. 124-125).
I obtain MERCY through the
blood of Christ--TEACHING through the ministry of His Spirit.
I first experience God's mercy in salvation, then I need God's
instruction in following Him.
III. HIS PLEA FOR
CHANGE (v. 126). Doctrinally,
this pertains to Daniel's 70th Week
(Dan. 7:25).
IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO WORK…
A. When men seek to make void the Word of God-- How do men make
void the law of God?
1. By the theories of man
2. By the traditions of man (Mk. 7:13).
3. By the treachery of man (2 Cor. 7:17).
4. By the twisting of man (2 Pet. 3:16).
B. When nothing else will work-- When human resources have been
exhausted.
"God Likes
To Work, When Nothing Else Will!"
God likes to work when your
back's to the wall.
When faith's in the balance
and you're just about to fall.
So there'll be no mistaking
when He blesses and heals.
God likes to work when nothing
else will!
IV. HIS PREEMINENT
CALCULATION (vs. 127-128).
Notice again the essential contrasting virtues of hate and love.
A. If a man hates "every false way" in the 20th century, he'll end up with a list longer than his
arm. False ways in politics, music, art, entertainment, law, religion,
Bible translations, new media, psychology (psycho-babel).
B. God's way is right (v. 128), even when He doesn't appear
to be right.
C. No one can put a price tag on the value of God's Word-- All
the money in the world could not buy the wisdom and knowledge
contained in this Book! (v. 127 cf. 19:10; Job 23:12; 28:16, 19).
1. Gold-- Divine provision. No man can manufacture gold.
2. Gold-- Definitive standard of value. Is there anything in this
world more valuable? Your heart will be where your treasure is
(Mt. 6:21).
3. A conductor of power. Only silver and copper are better conductors.
4. Widely distributed, mostly in metallic form as dust, grains,
flakes, or nuggets. (USA Today article on "The New
Gold Rush" 7/21/97).
5. Obtained through hard labor.
D. The way
the God's enemies attack the Bible shows the worth of it. If the
Bible were not worth something, why would men spend so much time
trying to get rid of it?
E. Since
the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10), the love
of God's Word is the root of all righteousness!