Psalm 129: Afflicted, but Victorious

Today’s reading is Psalm 129.

Like a Root OUt of Dry Ground

The Blessed Man of Psalm 1 is most certainly the son/king of Psalm 2 set by God on Zion, the holy hill. In those psalms, the wicked kings who want to cast away the Lord’s cord from them must learn to take refuge in Zion and in Zion’s king. Otherwise, the king’s wrath will be quickly kindled against them and they will perish in the way.

As we saw on Monday, Psalm 129 reminds us of those psalms, but brings in some formerly deleted scenes. The Blessed Man of God is afflicted from His youth. Does that sound familiar to you? Consider the following:

For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
–Isaiah 53:2-5 (ESV)

Our Jewish friends tell us the suffering servant of Isaiah refers to Israel. They actually have a case to be made (see Isaiah 41:8-9; 44:1-2). But this is the very point. We should not be surprised to know the story of Israel is actually the story of Israel’s King and Messiah. He is, after all, the ultimate Israelite. Just as Jacob’s story was Israel’s story, Israel’s story is Jesus’s story. We are not surprised to see Jesus afflicted. We are not surprised to see those who afflict Him torment Him as if plowers made long furrows along His back. But we are also not surprised to see the righteous LORD cut the cords of the wicked. We are not surprised to see for all the affliction they caused, the haters of Zion did not prevail against the Christ.

On the third day, He rose from the grave. Praise the Lord!!!

If we will be blessed, we must take refuge in our King who sits enthroned on the heavenly Mt. Zion (see Hebrews 12:22-24). All those who hate Zion reject God’s blessing. Come to Mt. Zion. Come to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven. Come to Jesus Christ the mediator of a new covenant. Come to the spirits of the righteous being made perfect.

If you do, it may be that in your “youth” you will suffer affliction. But in the end, those who pass by will say about you, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Psalm 130.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from Psalm 129?

Psalm 119:113-128: Are We Really to Be Afraid of God’s Judgments?

Today’s reading is Psalm 119.

Be Very Afraid and Have No Fear

Yesterday, we were surprised in SAMEKH to read about hating the double-minded and demanding evildoers depart. Today, we get to the last line of SAMEKH and we are surprised again:

My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
-Psalm 119:120 (ESV)

We don’t even get to hedge, claiming this “fear” is “merely” a reverential, worshipful awe. It’s not. This is the same word used in Isaiah 2:10, 19, to describe how people should act before the judgment of the Lord, hiding under rocks and holes in the ground for terror before the Lord.

Surely, this psalmist loves the Lord. Doesn’t perfect love cast out fear? (see 1 John 4:18). Are we who love God’s Word to be terrified, trembling before the Lord, afraid of His judgment? Or are we to declare love has cast out terror and we have nothing to fear?

Yes.

Take SAMEKH as a whole. Yes, the last line talks about terror, but look at vs. 114:

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word (ESV).

Unlike the terrified folks of Isaiah 2:10, 19 who hide under rocks and in caves, the psalmist actually hides and finds shelter in God. Does that sound like terror before God? Or does that sound like confidence because of God? The psalmist further pleads with God to be the upholding strength to give him safety. Is that terror or is that hope?

Now, which is it? Is God the terrifying deity before whom there is no protection and from which we will try to flee? Or is He the shelter, shield, and safety so we have nothing to fear?

The answer is, frankly, that depends.

If we decide to be the double-minded, evildoers who reject the Lord’s statutes and pursue wickedness, we should be afraid of God. We should be very afraid. Though we think of ourselves as valuable silver, if we spurn God, He will spurn us like dross. Our cunning plans to escape His judgments will be vain. In that state, there is nothing left for us but to be terrified of God’s judgments.

The psalmist, however, because he is terrified of God’s judgments has chosen a different path. He has chosen to submit to God’s judgments, follow God’s Word, love the Lord’s Law, and seek God’s strengthening hand to keep His statutes. Because he is afraid of the Lord, he has no reason to be afraid of the Lord.

I know that sounds odd. Consider an illustration. If I fear getting a speeding ticket, what will I do? I’ll obey the speed laws. Because I obey the speed laws, I have no fear of getting a speeding ticket. Because I’m afraid of getting a speeding ticket, I have no reason to be afraid of getting a speeding ticket.

SAMEKH demonstrates the same point in our relationship with God. When we realize God’s judgments are terrible on those who linger in and pursue evil, holding God at arm’s length, continuing in evil and as enemies, we fear them. We are terrified of them. We can either be like the demons who believe and merely tremble (see James 2:19), or because of our fear we can seek the only safety there is. We can seek forgiveness and strength in the Lord, learning from, loving, and living by His Word. Then our terror has led us to have nothing to fear.

Be afraid of God. Be very afraid. That is the only way to be completely unafraid of God.

Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 113-128).

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119:113-128 admonish you?

Greater than Moses and Joshua

Today’s reading is Matthew 14.

Jesus is greater than Jonah. He is greater than Solomon. He is greater than the temple itself. Yesterday, we discovered He is greater than Elijah and Elisha. He is the greatest of all prophets. However, Matthew isn’t done with his case.

We move right from one wonder to another. He goes from feeding 5000 people with five loaves and two fish, to walking on the water like it was dry land. We all know about this miracle. In fact, it has made its way into popular parlance. When people want to point out someone isn’t perfect they will say, “He can’t walk on water.” Or if someone idolizes someone else, she will say, “She thinks that woman walks on water.” They may not even know where that phrase comes from.

Regrettably, we are so used to this story, it probably doesn’t even call to mind the Old Testament stories it builds upon. Do you remember when Moses lifted his rod, the waters of the Red Sea parted, and Israel walked through on dry land in Exodus 14? Do you remember when Joshua asked the priests carrying the ark of the covenant to step into the Jordan, and it dried up so Israel could walk through on dry ground in Joshua 3-4? Do you remember when Elijah struck the Jordan with his cloak and the waters dried up so he and Elisha could walk across and how Elisha immediately did the same thing to re-cross in 2 Kings 2?

What is Matthew’s point? Look at these law-givers, leaders, and prophets. They did amazing things. They could part the water and walk through on dry ground. But look at Jesus. He doesn’t even need to part the water. He doesn’t need to reveal the ground. He can walk on water as if it is dry ground. Do you see the point? Jesus, our King and Savior is greater not only than Elijah and Elisha; He is greater than even Moses and Joshua. He is the prophet. He is the priest. He is the king. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

What an amazing King we serve! Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 14.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. What stories do you know about Moses? How is Jesus greater than Moses?
3. What stories do you know about Joshua? How is Jesus greater than Joshua?
4. If Jesus is greater than Moses and Joshua, how should we deal with Him?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?