TAU

 ¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.
¹⁷¹ My lips shall utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
And Your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live, and it shall praise You;
And let Your judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

God reveals the secret of the overcomer in the last verse of this marvelous psalm. He understands that he walks not in perfection; he goes astray like a lost sheep. Still, though, he does not forget God’s commandments. When he sins, because he knows the Law, the Law convicts him as a lawbreaker and then leads him back to Christ for forgiveness. The overcomer repents of his sin, gets up from that sin for the seven times seventieth time, and walks on with God. He has learned to practice righteousness according to the Book of John. This is he whom Jesus speaks about when he says,

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:2-4 KJ2000)

Overcomers understand they are poor in spirit. They walk not in great supernatural power, nor walk in perfection without sin. Men in the world and in the world’s churches do not esteem nor acclaim them. In fact, as this psalmist writes in verse 161, “Princes have persecuted me [the overcomer] without a cause.” Overcomers realize their poverty and seek true riches, the Word of God and the glorification of their flesh so that they can actually peform God’s Word. Therefore they mourn presently at their poverty, discomfort, distress, and affliction. They do not cry at every earthly sorrow. This is not how they mourn. They mourn for the poorness of their spirit for they know they have not yet been saved from the defilement of their flesh. But Jesus makes them two sure and certain promises, they shall be comforted and they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!

Notice that this last stanza begins with the overcomer crying out to God, mourning for his lack of understanding and poorness of spirit. He prays God will hear him and deliver him from his affliction. Though afflicted he still praises his God and prays that God will continue to reveal his statutes to him. Then he himself will also teach others God’s righteous commands. He asks for and expects God’s help for he has chosen God’s ways, his precepts. Thus he longs for God’s salvation! He knows he not yet saved. He craves salvation because God’s Law is his delight and he wants to walk in it. “Let my soul live!” he begs. Christ died to reconcile his spirit to Himself. He knows God is for him, has died for him even, but he knows his soul, his fleshly soul still dwells in darkness and evil. “Let my soul live!” he cries. “Until I truly live, until I have really been born again, born of water (God’s Word, God’s Law) and born of the Most Holy Spirit, I shall always go astray as a lost sheep. I long for your salvation. Let my soul live!”

Paul said, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Romans 7:14 KJ2000) The Law is spiritual, but we have made it something carnal and legalistic, something to be feared or shunned. The overcomer, however, has learned somthing entirely different about God’s Law. The Law has become his delight, and he hopes one day to walk in its reality.

He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white clothing; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5 KJ2000)

He that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12 KJ2000)

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. (Revelation 3:21-22 KJ2000)

Thus has this psalmist by the Holy Spirit described God’s Overcomer.

SHIN

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
¹⁶⁶ LORD, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.  (Psalm 119:161-168, NKJV)

Men claim that they love peace, but most of our actions belie our claims. If we become rich we usually plan and connive to become richer rather than rest in the peace our riches could provide. With our excess money we buy boats, vacations, movies, extra houses, extra-marital affairs, and more, all which rob us of our peace as we try to squeeze time for their use and our supposed pleasure into a 24 hour day. But this psalmist tells us the secret to true peace in this second to last stanza of Psalm 119.

Men seek the natural treasure of gold and silver, especially in these days beginning the Day of the LORD. We live in the time when fiat money has begun to fail and when the prices of gold and silver have skyrocketed. God’s word, however, tells us that in these terrible times to come men will throw their gold and silver to the moles and the bats.

In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats. (Isaiah 2:20 KJ2000)

We say that this verse could not apply to us because we think we do not “worship” idols made of gold and silver, but we have not understood that we do indeed worship mammon, the many things we have created and bought with our money, our silver and gold. Men who have the means, I believe, hoard and even worship the silver and gold their money has acquired for them. We need to turn our minds and our attention, though, to something else, to the treasure of God’s word.

Yes, we need to learn to love God’s word (Law), his judgments, commandments, precepts, and testimonies. We need to repent of the things we have esteemed over these ways. Then, “seven times a day,” that is, at all times, we will praise our LORD and Savior. We praise God because we know he judges righteously, with mercy and justice. This knowledge brings us into great peace. We understand that our God reigns not as some cruel warlord who takes delight in punishing his people. We know him as a loving heavenly Father who took upon himself flesh like ours so that he could restore us to fellowship with him. The Father died for his sons, us.

Nothing therefore can make us stumble. We have learned to judge all things in the light of God’s word. Men may try to deceive us as they mingle truth with conspiracy in these darks days, but we who have peace through knowledge of God’s Law cannot be misled. Men may hide the sun behind chemtrails and say the sun no longer exists, but we know the Son and we know he lives in our hearts. Men may even fake the second coming of Jesus through holograms in the sky, but we will not be fooled. We know our Master’s voice. We hope for true salvation that will in fact come when he reveals himself. Until then we acknowledge that all our ways lie before our LORD and Maker, and that he, he alone, is the keeper of our souls.

I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep your statutes. I cried unto you;save me, and I shall keep your testimonies. I rose before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in your word. My eyes awake before the night watches, that I might meditate in your word. Hear my voice according unto your lovingkindness: O LORD, revive me [ i.e. give me life] according to your judgment. They draw near that follow after evil: they are far from your law. You are near, O LORD; and all your commandments are truth. Concerning your testimonies, I have known of old that you have founded them forever. (Psalms 119:145-152)

With respect to God’s salvation men seem to get it exactly backward. Many Christians teach that you must obey a certain set of or all of God’s Law in order to be saved. Others teach that Christ put away the Law and that Christians do not need to obey nor be concerned about the Law at all. The Bible, which tells a seamless story, says something entirely different. Paul makes it very clear in the book of Romans that no man can keep God’s Law perfectly and condemns Christians who teach people to obey the Law and yet fail to keep the Law themselves. And yet after saying all this he asserts, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law!” (Romans 3:31) Paul “establishes the law” after just seemingly trouncing the Law to smithereens? How can this be?

Paul proceeds in Romans 4 to teach us that men have pleased God always and only by “faith” saying,

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he has something in which to boast; but not before God. For what says the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:1-3)

Paul proceeds with this concept throughout this chapter and finally summarizes,

For if they who are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect … Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the descendants; not to those only who are of the law, but to those also who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all … And therefore it [faith] was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 4:14-5:1)

Yet, remember, Paul teaches that his doctrine of salvation by faith “establishes the Law.” How can this be? Didn’t we always learn that it was Israel’s obedience to the Law which established their standing before God, their salvation? Yes, but we learned wrongly. David was called a man after God’s own heart not because he perfectly obeyed God’s Law, but BECAUSE HE WANTED TO! When he failed and knew he failed then he repented and asked God to forgive and restore him. By faith he believed God heard him and forgave him, and David continued on with God. This is how he and we “practice righteousness” as John teaches us in 1 John.

The person who wrote this wonderful psalm, Psalm 119, understood the same thing. Thus he cries to the LORD. He wants to keep God’s statutes. He cries, “SAVE ME and I shall keep your testimonies.” He knows that God must save him, that God must quicken him, that God must give him new life, eternal life, glorified life before he can perfectly obey him. But, he wants to obey him and he wants to obey him now. He just can’t, just like you and I can’t. But, do we want to? This is the question and this is the condition upon ever entering the Kingdom of Heaven, of ever becoming a perfect jewel set in the foundation of New Jerusalem.

So, which comes first, salvation or obeying the Law perfectly?

Righteous are you, O LORD, and upright are your judgments. Your testimonies that you have commanded are righteous and very faithful. My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten your words. Your word is very pure: therefore your servant loves it. I am small and despised: yet do I not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet your commandments are my delights. The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. (Psalms 119:137-144)

Men attempt to hide from God’s truth and therefore they deny it. Today men call evil “good” and good “evil,” and reveal that they are men of lawlessness, men who do not know the truth. Thus this psalmist cries, “My zeal has consumed me because my enemies have forgotten your words!” Indeed the world has now forgotten God’s words.

But the overcomer, the one who prays these prayers found in Psalm 119, acknowledges that God’s judgments are upright and that his testimonies and commandments are righteous and faithful. He agrees with Paul who declares that “the form of knowledge and of truth [is] in the Law.” (Romans 2:20) Yet men despise and reject God’s law as something evil, and even Christians do the same!

But such should not be. Jesus prays that his Father would “sanctify [his disciples] in the truth” and then states, “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) To “sanctify” means “to set apart for God’s use.” It is the acknowledgement and understanding of God’s truth which separates his people from unbelievers, the overcomer from the one who fails to overcomer. Jesus says God’s word is truth. Paul says that God’s Law is the form, or image, of truth. This psalmist, looking out toward the eternal, declares that the righteousness of God’s testimonies is everlasting, and thus joins the man after God’s own heart who exclaims,

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalms 19:7-11)

Today more than ever we need to understand that God’s Law, God’s Word, is the truth. Only then can we stand against every demonic onslaught that comes against us in this dark hour. The deceptions lurk everywhere. Men hide in shadows claiming they fight the evil powers which rule our world and yet all the time trying to seduce us into another Luciferian cult. We live in a time when almost no words can be trusted, when men have given themselves to evil continually. Thus it was in the days of Noah, just before the flood. And thus it is in the Day of the LORD, just before Jesus reveals himself through his overcomers.

“Oh,” the overcomer cries, “give me understanding! Give me understanding! Give me understanding! For when I understand that your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and when I understand that your law is truth and altogether perfect, and when I know, really know, that your testimonies are everlasting, sure, and wise, then will you quicken me from the dead and then, and only then, will I really live!”

Pe

¹²⁹Your testimonies are^(A) wonderful;
therefore my soul^(B) keeps them.
¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts^(C) understanding to the simple.
¹³¹I^(D) open my mouth and^(E) pant,
because I^(F) long for your commandments.
^132(G) Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
^133(H) Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity^(I) get dominion over me.
^134(J) Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
^135(K) Make your face shine upon your servant,
and^(L) teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶My eyes^(M) shed streams of tears,
because people^(N) do not keep your law. (Psalm 119:129-136)

Often the psalmist prays that God will deliver him and keep him from sin. Here he asks him to “let no iniquity get dominion over me.” This takes us back to one of the first commands God gave after Adam sinned. Remember how upset Cain became after God rejected his food offering? Upon seeing this the LORD said to him,

⁶“Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ^7(A) If you do well, will you not be accepted?^[a] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door.^(B) Its desire is for^[b] you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)

History tells us that Cain failed to rule over sin and he thus became the world’s first murderer. This psalm and this stanza in particular teaches us how we may keep sin from ruling over us and falling into the depths of sin as did Cain. First, we must come into agreement with God and declare also that his “testimonies are wonderful!” The Hebrew word translated “wonderful” here is the word pele’ and literally means “a miracle.” The testimonies, the historical witness, of God are wonderful because they recount his miracles done among his people. Therefore, he says, his soul (his mind, will, and emotions) keeps or guards them. Do we keep and guard God’s testimonies or have we discarded them in the name of evolution and other worldly myths and philosophies? Do we regard God’s historical witness as something wonderful, or as something legalistic, evil, and mean like many others do?

Second, we must come to understand the “unfolding” of God’s word “gives light” and “imparts understanding to the simple.” The fact is that men would not know what sin is if the Law did not tell them. Paul says, “through the law comes knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20). If one does not know the Law, then he usually cannot discern sin. (It is true that God reveals truth through other sources than the Law, but Paul makes it clear that he himself would not have known many particular sins had not the Law instructed him)

Third, the one who would rule over sin must earnestly desire to know God’s commands and like the psalmist open his mouth and “pant” or cry out for them.

Fourth, he must understand, just as Paul clearly taught in Romans, that he cannot perfectly keep God’s Law by his own power of the flesh. Thus he prays that God will turn to him and be “gracious” to him. He knows that it is only “by grace, through faith” that God accepts him. Nevertheless, he loves God’s laws and commandments. He does not reject them simply because he cannot keep them. He agrees with God that they are good. Like Paul he proclaims, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31 KJ2000)

It is now when this writer prays, “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” God wants us to live according to his word. He understands how high he raised the bar, i.e. perfection. He knows we cannot be perfect in this flesh, this carnal nature, and yet he still wants us to aspire to that goal. Accordingly he takes the responsibility of keeping our steps “steady,” of keeping us on his narrow path toward his celestial city. It is God who keeps sin from getting “dominion” over us. He wants us to “rule over sin,” just as he commanded Cain.

And we can do this only one way in our present disability, by practicing righteousness. This means, first, that we learn what righteousness is, which is what this psalmist constantly teaches. Second, we attempt to walk in those ways which God causes us to understand. Third, we repent when we fail to obey and ask God’s forgiveness. Finally, we get up from our failure and try to do better, knowing that God has forgiven us and wants us to succeed.

I have done what is right and just: leave me not to my oppressors. Be surety for your servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. My eyes fail for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness. Deal with your servant according unto your mercy, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law. Therefore I love your commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. (Psalms 119:121-128)

Psalm 89:14 declares that righteousness and justice form the foundation of God’s throne. Obviously the writer of Psalm 119 bases his life upon these same Godly characteristics and even claims that he has “done what is right and just.” Can you and I say the same thing? If not, we need to become able to do so for this is the calling of every son of God, of everyone whom God calls to his celestial city, New Jerusalem.

The terms “righteousness” and “justice” appear by many other names in Scripture. Some common pairings include “mercy” & “truth,” “grace” & “law” and “steadfast love” & “faithfulness. To see this compare the following Scripture as translated in the King James and English Standard Versions of the Bible:

[T]hen a throne will be established in steadfast love,  and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.  (Isaiah 16:5 ESV)

And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking justice, and hastening righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5, KJV)

Two other key verses establishing this relationship are

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalms 85:10) and

Righteousness and justice are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face. (Psalms 89:14)

Today the one who yearns for God’s righteousness and justice begins to faint as did this psalmist, for our eyes too begin to fail as we await God’s salvation. We do not go about proclaiming, “I am saved! You need to believe in Jesus so you can be saved too!” We realize we are not yet saved. We stand oppressed by the proud and arrogant who mock God’s laws. And yet we continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling as we ask God to give us understanding and knowledge of his statutes. We cry out as he did, “It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law.” Yes, it is time for God to act in the world of men once again and to finally establish his throne built upon righteousness and justice, mercy and truth, grace and law.

Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, retribution to his enemies; to the coastlands he will fully repay. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; My spirit that is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth of your descendant’s descendants, says the LORD, from this time forth and forever. (Isaiah 59:15-21)

Amen and amen.  Come LORD Jesus.

¹¹³I hate^(A) the double-minded,
but I love^(B) your law.
¹¹⁴You are my^(C) hiding place and my^(D) shield;
I^(E) hope in your word.
^115(F) Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may^(G) keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶Uphold me^(H) according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be^(I) put to shame in my^(J) hope!
^117(K) Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
¹¹⁸You^(L) spurn all who^(M) go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like^(N) dross,
therefore^(O) I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰My flesh^(P) trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.  (Psalm 119:113-120)

Double-minded Christians claim that they believe in and love Christ and yet, at the same time they despise God’s Law. From the very beginning of this stanza the psalmist makes it clear that the opposite of the double-minded man, that is the single-minded man, loves God’s Law. Instead, the double-minded exhibit the characteristics Elijah confronted long ago when he said, ”How long^(A) will you go limping between two different opinions?^(B) If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.” (1 Kings 18:21)

Those who forsake God’s Law by necessity become the evildoers which this writer abhors. In fact, he considers them in the same light as does Jesus who said,

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)

Yet consider today how many people claim that Jesus came to set the law aside! If he did anything to the law he made it even stricter when he said,

You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.(Matthew 5:21-22)

and

You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Jesus took the Law and transitioned it from external manifestations of supposed righteous acts to actual inward holiness. One may fool another forever by his public actions, but the desires of a man’s heart cannot be hidden from God. God looks to our hearts, not our actions. He intends to write his Law upon our inmost secret place, upon the very fabric of our souls. And notice that his standard for our hearts even exceeds his standard for our external actions. This explains why we must learn to love God’s Law like this psalmist did.

He knew that he did not perfectly obey God’s Law. He knew himself a man of flesh who could still be put to shame by acting upon his evil, lustful thoughts. But, he asked God to hold him up, to protect him from straying from God’s commandments. Here stands a man who fears God, who trembles in his presence, for he knows the weakness, frailty, and sinfulness of his flesh. Yet, here stands the man whom God upholds with his right hand for he maintains a plaited eye toward God and his Law. The plaited eye, the eye which pulls the strands of life into a single cord which always looks to God and his ways, this is that which God requires of us. So today consider, ”How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill,” Jesus said. “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

N Nun.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a ^(A)lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶I have ^(B)sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.
¹⁰⁷I am exceedingly ^(C)afflicted;
^(D)Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.
¹⁰⁸O accept the ^(E)freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
And ^(F)teach me Your ordinances.
¹⁰⁹My ^(G)life is continually ^[a]in my hand,
Yet I do not ^(H)forget Your law.
¹¹⁰The wicked have ^(I)laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not ^(J)gone astray from Your precepts.
¹¹¹I have ^(K)inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the ^(L)joy of my heart.
¹¹²I have ^(M)inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even ^(N)to the end. (Psalm 119:105-112)

Why do we need the light from God’s lamp? Because we live in a land of darkness, the path of our journey is narrow, and without his light we could not find our way to his city.

God calls us who truly seek his light sojourners and pilgrims throughout his word. He makes it clear that this world in its present fallen condition is not our eternal home. In fact it is the place of our “affliction,” the place where God “chisels” us into this image. This world, this earth, is actually God’s quarry, the place where he mines and hews his sons. He intends to transform us through this afflicting pressure from mere dust to gems of the highest quality.  Then, once his jewels have been perfected, he will place them one by one into the foundation of this eternal city.

And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, carnelian; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprase; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (Revelation 21:19-20)

Each jewel listed here represents some aspect of the glory of the LORD. God, of course, does not mean to turn any of us literally into a gemstone. Neither will the foundations of New Jerusalem be adorned with overcomers who have literally become precious jewels. These descriptions, like many stories and representations in Scripture, convey word pictures or parables of a future spiritual reality. Paul expresses it one place like this, “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The description of the foundation of New Jerusalem as gemstones reveals the beautiful glory that God’s overcoming sons add to his city. Overcomers make up part of the foundation of God’s city because they will be instrumental in bringing others also into the city. They will rule the earth with a rod of iron (God’s Law) and administer God’s justice with mercy. Their example and teaching will draw the nations into the Kingdom. The final transformation into God’s image will happen at the time of the first resurrection when all of God’s overcomers become glorified.

¹Therefore, since we have this ^(A)ministry, as we ^(B)received mercy, we ^(C)do not lose heart, ²but we have renounced the ^(D)things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or ^(E)adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth^(F)commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our ^(G)gospel is ^(H)veiled, it is veiled to ^(I)those who are perishing, ⁴in whose case ^(J)the god of ^(K)this world has ^(L)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the ^(M)light of the gospel of the ^(N)glory of Christ, who is the^(O)image of God. ⁵For we ^(P)do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who said, “^(Q)Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has ^(R)shone in our hearts to give the ^(S)Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. ⁷But we have this treasure in ^(T)earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of^(U)the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸we are ^(V)afflicted in every way, but not ^(W)crushed; ^(X)perplexed, but not despairing; ^9(Y)persecuted, but not ^(Z)forsaken; ^(AA)struck down, but not destroyed; ^10(AB)always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that ^(AC)the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

¹¹For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So death works in us, but life in you. ¹³But having the same ^(AD)spirit of faith, according to what is written, “^(AE)I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴knowing that He who ^(AF)raised the Lord Jesus ^(AG)will raise us also with Jesus and will ^(AH)present us with you. ¹⁵For all things are ^(AI)for your sakes, so that the grace which is ^(AJ)spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶Therefore we ^(AK)do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our^(AL)inner man is ^(AM)being renewed day by day.

¹⁷For momentary, ^(AN)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸while we ^(AO)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4)

This explains why each overcomer can proclaim, “¹¹¹I have ^(K)inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the ^(L)joy of my heart.
¹¹²I have ^(M)inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even ^(N)to the end. (Psalm 119:111-112)

^89(A)Forever, O LORD,
Your word ^[a]is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰Your ^(B)faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You ^(C)established the earth, and it ^(D)stands.
⁹¹They stand this day according to Your ^(E)ordinances,
For ^(F)all things are Your servants.
⁹²If Your law had not been my ^(G)delight,
Then I would have perished ^(H)in my affliction.
⁹³I will ^(I)never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have ^(J)revived me.
⁹⁴I am Yours, ^(K)save me;
For I have ^(L)sought Your precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked ^(M)wait for me to destroy me;
I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.
⁹⁶I have seen a limit [end, goal] to all perfection;
Your commandment is exceedingly broad. (Psalm 119:89-96)

Israel’s history proves that men cannot perfectly obey God’s Law in their flesh. I have said that perhaps ten thousand times in my brief teaching career, but I cannot say it every time that I teach about God’s Law. The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the “end” or “goal” of the Law. This means that we who believe in him should come to the place in our understanding where we want to be like him, i.e., where his perfect character becomes the end or goal of our existence.

This explains why Jesus said, “Be perfect, even as my Father in heaven is perfect.” He meant what he said, but today the multitude of those who call themselves by his name think that he must have been kidding. After all, “no one can be perfect!” can they?

Those who claim that no one can become perfect actually say that Jesus is a liar. If he lied he is not God and he is no savior of yours or mine. But, he did not lie. All the types and shadows of Scripture prophecy that man will one day be fully formed and created into God’s image, the image of perfection. Jesus himself exemplified this image as a human on earth. He became our example. I recently completed a series of writings called “A Perfect Jewel” that teaches about some of these prophetic Scriptures.

Now consider the stanza from Psalm 119 above. God’s word is settled forever in heaven. His faithfulness, that is his “truth,” continues throughout all generations. The heavens and the earth were all created by and even today continue to exist according to and because of God’s ordinances.  God’s ordinances, precepts, and law all exist as God’s servants and manifest his truth in all creation. Therefore the psalmist proclaims, “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have made me live (quickened me).”

Yet Paul says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 KJV) Isn’t this “law” the psalmist keeps extolling nothing more than this law of sin and death? No, this law praised continually in Psalm 119 is the royal law which James proclaims, the Law of the King of the universe. He gave Moses bits and pieces of it and man’s history proved he could not keep even its most basic commands. Man’s last generation even calls God’s Law “evil.”

But, Paul does not teach that God’s Law is evil.  He says that it is good and that it is “spiritual.” Psalm 119 repeatedly teaches the same thing and in the last verse of this particular stanza declares, “I have seen the goal to all perfection: your commandment is exceeding broad.” In so saying he makes the startling declaration that God’s Law literally is the goal of perfection. That’s a little different than we have been taught, isn’t it?

K Kaph.

⁸¹My ^(A)soul languishes for Your salvation;
I ^(B)wait for Your word.
⁸²My ^(C)eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, “When will You comfort me?”
⁸³Though I have ^(D)become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do ^(E)not forget Your statutes.
⁸⁴How many are the ^(F)days of Your servant?
When will You ^(G)execute judgment on those who persecute me?
⁸⁵The arrogant have ^(H)dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Your law.
⁸⁶All Your commandments are ^(I)faithful;
They have ^(J)persecuted me with a lie; ^(K)help me!
⁸⁷They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I ^(L)did not forsake Your precepts.
⁸⁸Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

And now the Gospel progresses even further in this next section of Psalm 119. The writer proceeds now to the means by which men become made into the image of their Creator. His focus immediately begins with his soul which, he says, “languishes” as he waits for God’s salvation.

Most Christians do not understand this idea. They have misunderstood almost the entirety of the holy Scriptures. They learned and accepted the mistaken belief that “salvation” by faith in Jesus simply means that their spirits have been saved from eternal torment in hell. Then when they read the word “soul,” which is sometimes translated “life” in the Bible they replace it with the word “spirit.” By doing this they totally miss God’s teaching of the salvation of the soul.

Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. It is the sentient being each of us calls “me.” It does not consist of our brain or other parts of our physical body. Consider the person who has had a stroke. He often knows what he wants to say, but the wrong word comes out of his mouth. His physical body can no longer do what his soul wants to do. Jesus commands us to lose our carnal (fleshly, of the world) souls in order to gain a soul like Christ’s, that is, a mind, a will, and emotions made into the image of God.  This idea, in fact, is the mystery of the Gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ reveals to man throughout all of history.  Jesus warned,

²³But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, ^(A)Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and ^(B)take up his cross and follow Me.

²⁵“For ^(C)whoever wishes to save his life [Greek psuche = soul] will lose it; but whoever loses his life [psuche] for My sake will find it.

²⁶“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

²⁷“For the ^(D)Son of Man ^(E)is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and ^(F)WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. (Matthew 16:23-27)

This is also what the teacher to the Hebrews means when he discusses the Sabbath rest that remains for Christians in Hebrews 3 and 4. He is not talking about an impotent faith which simply says, “I believe in Jesus. Therefore I am saved. I do not need to worry about specific things to obey because Jesus has and always will forgive all my sins. In fact, I have no sins, for Jesus has forgiven them all!” Simply try to tell a Christian that they lead a sinful life and you will see this false doctrine played out time and time again.

Hebrew says, “For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 KJ2000) The psalmist here in verses 81-88 reveals this very same idea. He “waits” for God’s word. His carnal soul languishes because that soul has not yet been saved; he has not yet been resurrected from the dead and glorified with the likeness of his God. In fact his spiritual eyes begin to fail with longing for this event. He is dried up, barren and useless, like a smoked wineskin.

Nevertheless, this one who seeks to die to all worldly things, who is now “almost destroyed on the earth,” continues in God’s commandments, precepts, and testimonies. He is like James who says, “I will show you my faith by my works, for faith without works is dead.” Here is the man who takes part in the first resurrection, the first of God who will realize the salvation of his soul.