Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19980830.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Nineteen (Waw) - Handling The Anxiety Of Anticipating Unjust Insults
(Psalm 119:41-48)
  1. Introduction
    1. Any time a party takes a stand for what is upright in God's eyes, he sets himself up for opposition from those who are opposed to the truth. What is particularly challenging is having to anticipate being verbally insulted by a party known to oppose one's stand when having to meet such a party is inevitable.
    2. To prepare for such an inescapable "showdown", Psalm 119:41-48 supplies the following insight:
  2. Handling The Anxiety Of Anticipating Unjust Insults, Psalm 119:41-48.
    1. The psalmist wished for God's loyal love to be used to help him in facing a difficult event, Ps. 119:41-42a.
    2. That event is the psalmist's being confronted by an opponent who would say sharp insults against him, 42b.
    3. The psalmist desired to handle this foreboding event by using a Scripture promise regarding such a confrontation: as he says the right and BIBLICAL thing in the presence of the insulter at the confrontation, the psalmist expects God to fulfill His promise to override the insulter's efforts, 119:42c-43.
    4. The marvelous blessings provided for such a victorious handling of such confrontations with insulters of a godly stand are enumerated by the psalmist in Ps. 119:44-48:
      1. First, those who use Scripture this way to offset the efforts of insulters are relieved at the victory they gain in such confrontations. This relief makes them ever more committed to observing what God's saving Word says, Ps. 119:41-4 3, 44.
      2. Second, those who use Scripture for relief from efforts by insulters find the blessing of relief from the oppression intended by those who insult, Ps. 119:45.
      3. Third, those who use Scripture for relief from efforts by insulters find the blessing of relief from feeling intimidated by the efforts of insulters, Ps. 119:46.
      4. Fourth, those who use Scripture for relief from efforts by insulters have their resulting appreciation for Scripture's help in such cases intensify their fellowship with God, bringing added blessings, 119:47-48.
      5. Fifth, with the insulting party placed to be thus confronted by God, God's intervening action can act to introduce the insulting party to God, aiding in his discipleship (compare Acts 7:54-60 with 26:12-15).
Lesson: (1) When one takes a godly stand, one that supports the stands of God in Scripture, he automatically stands on the WINNING side. As Proverbs 21:30 NIV puts it, "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord." ( 2) Accordingly, one handles the intimidating insults of opponents by making sure he (a) first KNOWS and then (b) HEEDS what SCRIPTURE says on any issue he STANDS (c) so that the INSULTER is left having to deal with GOD! (d) That makes the insulter LOSE, no matter how intimidating he may SEEM! (e) Doing so, the insulter is introduced to an interaction with God for his potential discipleship!

(3) KNOWING this route to handling insulters and USING it produces all sorts of blessings: (a) it leads to a deeper commitment to SCRIPTURE on the part of the one facing oppression, a commitment that can only HELP in future similar events! (b) It leads to relief from oppression as one knows he stands on the truth of God. (c) It leads to relief from feeling intimidated by an insulter. (d) It leads to a deeper commitment to the God of Scripture with many other blessings.

Application: (1) We do well to PROTECT ourselves from feeling INTIMIDATED or DEFEATED at the efforts of unjust insulters when everything we do and think is Bible-based. That is because their INSULTS become directed toward GOD, and that puts the insulter in the position of having to face DIVINE repercussions for his efforts! (2) Accordingly, we must spend time READING and thus LEARNING the Word, and couching every aspect of our lives under the PROTECTIVE shield of God's Word to enjoy His blessing!