Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19981115.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm One Hundred And Nineteen (Ayin) - Handling Strong Oppression For Taking A Right Stand
(Psalm 119:121-128)
  1. Introduction
    1. When a believer takes a stand on an issue in conscientious obedience to Scripture, and the stand is strongly opposed by oppressors, he needs God's help to keep to that stand. Otherwise, he may cave into pressure as oppressors play mind games with him or intimidate him to cause him to abandon his correct stand.
    2. Psalm 119:121-128 supplies insight on how one can obtain God's support for taking a stand in accord with the Word after his facing strong oppression for that stand as follows:
  2. Handling Strong Oppression For Taking A Right Stand, Psalm 119:121-128.
    1. The psalmist states he has made a decision in life that is upright, 119:121a.
    2. However, there is a challenge for his having made that decision in the form of oppressors who are against that stand, and who in some way want to make him cave in on his stand, Psalm 119:121b.
    3. Thus, the psalmist takes the following steps to handle this oppression for his right stand, 119:122-126:
      1. Step One - In prayer, the psalmist asks God not to abandon him to the will of his oppressors, v. 121b.
      2. Step Two - In prayer, the psalmist asks God to support his upright stand like a powerful cosigner on a loan would back him up in a financial debt that is more formidable than he alone can handle, 119:122.
      3. Step Three - In prayer, the psalmist urges God to help him quickly in view of the drain of the persecution he faces from the oppressors, Ps. 119:123.
      4. Step Four - In prayer, the psalmist calls upon the Lord to deal with him according to Scripture's promises regarding his stand, Ps. 119:124a.
      5. Step Five - In prayer, the psalmist asks God to instruct him so that he can be discerning on knowing God's will for any steps he must take in response to the oppressors' moves, Ps. 119:124b-125.
      6. Step Six - In prayer, the psalmist asks God to act in his behalf as his oppressors are violating Scripture in the whole confrontation at hand, Ps. 119:126.
    4. Apparently satisfied with God's answer to this prayer effort, the psalmist boldly expresses joy as he finds God's help to offset his oppressors' opposition to his initial upright stand, Ps. 119:127-128.
      1. The psalmist expresses his deep appreciation and value of God's Word because it comes in handy in directing him on what to do to find God's support in such a time of being opposed, Ps. 119:127.
      2. He also becomes more committed than ever to the validity of Scripture, Ps. 119:128a.
      3. He further finds himself despising every non-Biblical stand epitomized in the views of opponents, 128b.
Lesson: To handle being oppressed for taking a Biblical stand, and thereby face difficult mind games or intimidations by opponents who try to get us to recant our initial, correct stand, we must (1) go to PRAYER for God's help. (2) In so doing, we must pray for the following: (a) pray for protection and provision in light of the strong efforts of the oppressors; (b) pray for divine provisions outside of ourselves that back up the validity of our stand to offset mind games and intimidating efforts of oppressors; (c) pray for QUICK divine help lest we cave in on the stand; (d) pray for God to keep His promises to us upon which we based our stand; (e) for instruction or discernment on knowing God's leading on any steps He wants us to take to counter t he oppressors (e) and pray for God to uphold His Word as oppressors violate it in opposing us. (3) We will then come to appreciate God's Word that directs us in keeping such stands against strong opponents and be more committed to the Word and less influen ced by our opponents' views than ever before!

Application: When facing oppression for taking a right stand, we are to be (1) Scripture-based in all we think and do, and (2) pray for God's help, intervention and discernment for the next step(s) in offsetting the humanly or Satanically formidabl e efforts of opponents. (3) Doing these things will equip us to grow in our faith and commitment to God's Word opposite the error of oppressors.