Psalm 119:41-48

GOOD MORNING! Every Christian is entitled to the two-fold testimony of lip and life. The apostle wrote to the saints at Philippi, "Only let your conversation be at it becometh the gospel of Christ. … that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"[1]

The part of PSALM 119 that we are reading today, (verses 41-48) dwells on the desire of a godly life for the full expression of the holy will of God in the day-by-day of living. "Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes."[2]

The great -the exceeding great- love of God is expressed in the salvation He has brought down to us in the person of His Son, our LORD JESUS CHRIST. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."[3]

Let us think of the mercies of God that are exercised in our behalf, Let us "Behold the goodness and severity of God:" [4] You and I were spared to hear the gospel; The Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins and of our need of the Saviour. He called us to Himself by the appeal of the gospel; He made us children of God the very moment we trusted in the JESUS CHRIST our LORD; He made us right with God by the cleansing of the precious blood; and the Holy Spirit began the work of making us like the LORD Jesus.

How truly we thank the LORD for the mercy that keeps us. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," [5]

The Psalmist speaks of the liberty that belongs to the saints. "I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts." The Saviour saith, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." [6] … "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed,"[7]

Obeying the LORD JESUS, by continuing in His word, makes us His true disciples, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." [8] Living by the gospel of Christ is not a grievous life. No! It is an abundant life!

To follow men, to follow men's doctrines, to bow the knee to the idols of men's making, is only to live in blindness and darkness and slavery. What a contrast there is between that which God offers and what man offers!

O do not let the word depart, And close thine eyes against the light. Truly happy it is to "lift up my hands unto Thy commandments," to love the word of the LORD.

"… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." [9]
AMEN.

[1] Philippians 1:27
[2] Psalm 119:41-48
[3] Titus 2:11-14
[4] Romans 11:22
[5] 1 Peter 1:3
[6] John 8:36
[7] James 1:25
[8] John 8:32
[9] 2 Timothy 1:12