RESH. Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes. Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your judgments. Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word. Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness. The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

As we have noted several times through our study, afflictions will be part of the lives of those who seek to do what is right before the Lord. However, the child of God is not left to be overcome by these trials. The Psalmist calls forth to his advocate, our Lord and Creator. The Lord is our deliverer. He is our redeemer. He is the giver of life, who can and does revive us with His word. The writer states, "Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I do not turn from your testimonies." The righteous life is not an easy road. It is described in the Bible as the narrow road, the strict way, the way less travelled. Opposition will be great for those who brave to walk this path. Determination to persevere and reliance upon the Lord are key. Though many oppose him, the Psalmist assures the Lord, "...I do not turn from Your testimonies." Rather, seeing the treachery of those who oppose our God and His holy way brings disgust to the heart of the faithful. It is disheartening and baffling to see the conduct and to hear the words of the wicked. They blaspheme without thought. They curse and swear. They esteem things that are lustful and abominable in the sight of God. They seek their own way and satisfaction rather than pleasing the Lord by obedience to His word.

Regarding evil men, the writer makes a statement of fact in verse 155, "Salvation is far from the wicked..." Note however, this is not just a fact, but a warning to us. We must stay clear of the path occupied by the unrighteous. If we desire the salvation of God, we are to have no part in the ways of the wicked. Ezekiel warns, "...when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die." (Ezekiel 18:24) The wicked do not see the statutes of God, but have chosen rather to serve themselves. They care not for the will of God, but exercise their own will, and by it, bring upon themselves the penalty due – death.

Now, see the condition upon which the Lord will plead our cause and deliver us from our afflictions. The writer declares, "I do not forget Your law.", and again, "I do not turn from Your testimonies." And even again, "I love Your precepts." Our love and diligent adherence to the way of God is necessary if we are to retain and maintain Him as our council. The law which the Psalmist did not forget is the very same tool by which the Lord redeems and revives His children. Oh, how important that we be diligent students of the Word of God.

Of the Lord's promise and power to relieve the weary, the apostle Paul confidently stated, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) In the context, Paul acknowledged an extensive list of troubles which come against the Christian, and yet, affirms without doubt that God is both willing and able to give us the victory. Understand, the court in which He pleads our cause is His own courtroom! Our victory is assured.

It is noteworthy that in our text, the Psalmist three times uses the word "revive". This is translated from the Hebrew word chayah, and speaks about the sustaining and preservation of life, and not merely the bottom of the barrel life — prosperous life. John writes, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:1-3) Isn't that exciting? When the Lord gives life, it is "eternal life". John again declares, "And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life." (1 John 2:25) According to His word, His judgments, and His wonderful lovingkindness, the Lord supplies to us eternal life through His Son. So many texts come to mind wherein the glory of the life that shall be given to us is expressed, and yet it is far greater than mortal tongue is able to convey.

Finally friends, see the declaration regarding the Word of God in verse 160, "The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." Powerful!! That statement tells me that God did create the earth is six literal days. It teaches me that a worldwide flood did occur. It confirms without doubt that the sun did stand still for a day while Israel laboured in battle before the Lord. I can know for surety that nations and peoples spoken of in Scripture did exist, even though there may not yet be archaeological evidence to confirm such. You skeptic and you liberal-minded, listen good, "The entirety of Your word is truth!"

The latter phrase demands our attention as we end our article this week. The point is not that every command given and recorded in Scripture is applicable to every age. Such would bring forth contradiction, as prior to the days of Noah, men were given plants and herbs for food (Genesis 1:29-30). After the time of the flood, man was permitted to eat every living thing (Genesis 9:3). Then, when God's law through Moses was revealed, dietary restrictions were included (Leviticus 11:1-47). And now, as we live in the New Testament period, we are permitted to eat all things, with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:3-5).

Elsewhere in this Psalm, the writer has penned, "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth." (119:142), and again, "The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding, and I shall live." (119:144), and once more, "Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever." In each case, it is not a statement which binds every command of God upon every person of every age, but rather, an acknowledgement of the enduring nature of God's word. Peter stated that we have "...been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:23-25).

It certainly is not for a lack of trying that God's word has not been destroyed by men. In various ways at various times, men have attempted to silence and snuff out the word of God. And yet time after time, their efforts are vain. The Lord has made it clear, His word endures forever.

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Who was the father of Salah? Genesis 10:24 and 11:12 say Arphaxad, but Luke 3:35-36 says Cainan. Is there a contradiction?