Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19981011.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Nineteen (Lamedh) - Handling Ungodly Opponents Over A Prolonged Period
(Psalm 119:89-96)
  1. Introduction
    1. A believer may understand from Ps. 119:81-88 how to take the right stand on an issue, how to handle trials that are prolonged in nature and even how to stay vibrant under trials in general.
    2. However, facing people who oppose the believer, people who constantly scheme and come at him in ways calculated to destroy can really wear the believer down.
    3. Psalm 119:89-96 answers this problem with God's solution as follows:
  2. Handling Ungodly Opponents Over A Prolonged Period, Psalm 119:89-96.
    1. The psalmist expresses he faced the trial of facing secret efforts by opponents to bring him down, 119:95a.
    2. The fact that these efforts covered a long time period is implied in the psalmist's effort to seek solace in the eternality and longevity of provision supplied in God's Word, Ps. 119:89-92.
    3. Thus, to offset this strong, persistent opposition, he makes himself diligently consider Scripture, v. 95b.
    4. What the psalmist finds so helpful in this concern is for him to concentrate on the way God's promises surpass the strengths of his opponents:
      1. The psalmist considers how God's Word is eternal -- it stands from time immemorial and will continue standing after all in this life is over, Ps. 119:89a.
      2. The psalmist considers how God's Word is immutable -- it is unaffected by what happens on this sin-ladened earth as it is firmly settled in heaven, Ps. 119:89b.
      3. The psalmist considers how God is Master of creation, the fact that is behind the longevity of God's Word to men, Ps. 119:91.
      4. The psalmist considers how generations of people come and go, but that God's faithfulness in keeping His promises outlasts them ALL, Ps. 119:90a,b.
      5. In fact, the psalmist is aware that everything -- including the wicked by way of application -- are limited though they try to be perfect in their strengths and ways; conversely, God's Word is unlimite d in contrast to creation's tiny efforts or powers, Ps. 119:91.
    5. In view of these observations, the psalmist gains encouragement to remain faithful to staying righteous in his facing strong, persistent persecution from his ungodly opponents, Ps. 119:92-94:
      1. The psalmist recognizes that his love for God's Word has sustained him in his trial at hand, Ps. 119:92.
      2. He thus pledges eternally not to forget God's precepts, Ps. 119:93.
      3. He asks for a solution to the trial based on his commitment of faith to Scripture, Ps. 119:94.
Lesson: When facing evil persecutors where the opponents are humanly stronger than we are due to the LONG TIME, MOTIVATION or ABILITIES of the opponents or great force of their efforts, we need to look to GOD. God is immutable, or unaffected by our opponents' strengths or efforts. He is unchanging, eternal and sovereign, and His promises regarding our situation is GREATER than those we face. Thinking on these truths, we shift from leaning on OURSELVES to depend on ALMIGHTY GOD. Then GOD deals with our difficult opponent(s), NOT US!

Application: (1) We must make it a point to avoid personally trying to take on any opponents we face in doing God's will, and let GOD take them on! (2) To ACHIEVE this, we must (a) immerse ourselves in SCRIPTURE so that we (b) KNOW God's w ill and thus can (c) DO it with God's blessing. Also, (d) SCRIPTURE provides us the encouragement we need to keep going as it tells us that GOD is bigger than the OPPONENTS, and HE will OUTLAST them)!

Illustration: In the wrestling world, a "tag team match" has wrestlers taking turns to vie with the opposing team. To borrow from this analogy, we should make sure that we tag our Partner, God and NEVER tag him back so that HE wrestles opponents d uring the WHOLE match!