THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CXIX: Appreciating And Applying Scripture For Every Spiritual Need, Psalm 119

K. Caph - Handling Prolonged, Exhausting Trials By Living Within Protective Biblical Parameters

(Psalm 119:81-88)

I. Introduction

A. Psalm 119 is about the profitable use of God's written Word, the Scriptures, with the psalm being formed as an acrostic where each section has a Hebrew letter that begins each of the eight verses in its respective section.

B. Section "Caph" in Psalm 119:81-88 explains how the believer is to respond constructively to prolonged, exhausting trials, and we view this section for our insight and edification (as follows):

II. Handling Prolonged, Exhausting Trials By Living Within Protective Biblical Parameters, Psa. 119:81-88.

A. The verse numbering system in the Hebrew text matches that of the English Bible (Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1083), so we stay with the English Bible's numbering system for this lesson.

B. We thus translate Psalm 119:81-88 (as follows):

1. "My life principle is exhausted upon longing for Your salvation, but I hope in Your Word," Psalm 119:81.

2. "My eyes are exhausted, looking for Your promise; I say, 'At what time will You comfort me?'" (v. 82)

3. "When I have become like a shrivelled, blackened and hence useless wineskin in the smoke (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Psalm 119:83), I do not forget Your decrees," Psalm 119:83.

4. "How many are the days of Your servant? At what time will You perform verdicts of judgment with those who persecute me?" (Psalm 119:84)

5. "The arrogant dig pitfalls for me which are not in accord with Your law," Psalm 119:85.

6. "All of Your commands are reliable, but with falsehood they persecute me; help me!" (Psalm 119:86)

7. "They have almost consumed me in the earth, but I myself (emph. pron.) have not forsaken Your precepts," Psalm 119:87.

8. "According to Your loyal love, give me life, and I will keep the statutes of Your mouth," Psalm 119:88.

C. We consider significant observations regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. The psalmist described his dilemma of being exhausted by a prolonged persecution by evil foes, v. 81-84: (a) he was exhausted though he still retained hope in God's Word, v. 81. (b) Even his hope was waning as he wondered when God would comfort him, v. 82. (c) Though feeling exhausted by the prolonged trial as if he were a shriveled and hence useless wineskin in the smoke, the psalmist still trusted God's Word, v. 83. (d) In this position of great need, the psalmist cried out for God's help, v. 84.

2. God's way of handling this situation was for the psalmist to function within protective Biblical parameters as described in verses 85-86 (as follows): (a) unlike his proud foes, the psalmist was biblically humble, v. 85a (implied). (b) Unlike his proud foes who lived independently of Scripture, the psalmist lived in submission to Scripture, v. 85b with 81b, 83b. (c) Unlike his unbiblically proud foes who lived independently of Scripture and persecuted him with falsehood, the psalmist had biblical just cause for his actions, v. 86a,b. (d) Based on such facts, the psalmist confidently called unto God for His help, v. 86c.

3. The solution to this trial is realized and described in Psalm 119:87-88 as follows: (a) regardless of the draining effects of the prolonged trial, the psalmist still did not forsake God's Word, for unlike his foes, he was humble, he lived in submission to Scripture and he had biblical just cause for his every action, v. 85-86. (b) In accord with these facts, the psalmist still hoped in God's loyal love to fulfill His promised deliverance to preserve him, and he still kept heeding God's Word in the trial, Psalm 119:87-88.

Lesson: When the psalmist was humanly exhausted in a prolonged trial from persecuting foes, he still clung to his faith in God's Word as he functioned within God's protective Biblical parameters -- retaining a biblical humble viewpoint, submitting to Scripture versus acting independently of it and having biblical just cause for every action. Armed with such protective, Biblical parameters in conduct, his faith stayed strong in his draining, prolonged trial.

Application: (1) If facing a prolonged, humanly exhausting trial of persecution by godless foes, we must resist the temptation either to quit doing God's assignment so as to avoid the trial or to attack the foe in carnality to end the persecution pain by functioning within protective Biblical parameters to retain God's edifying blessing. (2) If God lets us face a prolonged persecution trial, He intends to train us to KEEP ON BEING focused on functioning within His protective biblical parameters for blessing! (3) In time, He will deal with our foes!