PSALM 119: 113-120 SAMECH
Believers hate vain thoughtsverse 113
I hate vain thoughts – but YOUR law do I love
Believers have hopeverse 114
YOU are my hiding place and shield – I hope in YOUR word
Believers keep commandments of the LORDverse 115
Depart from me – you evildoers
for I will keep the commandments of my God
Believers have support from the LORDverses 116-117
Uphold me according unto YOUR word – that I may live
and let me not be ashamed of my hope
Hold YOU me up – and I shall be safe
and I will have respect unto YOUR statutes continually
Believers avoid falsehoodverse 118
YOU have trodden down all them that err from YOUR statutes
for their deceit is falsehood
Believers understand that judgment is comingverses 119-120
YOU put away all the wicked of the earth like dross
THEREFORE I love YOUR testimonies
my flesh trembles for fear of YOU
and I am afraid of YOUR judgments
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.(5643 “hiding” [cithrah] means covering, covert, privily, protection, or secret.)
DEVOTION: The fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used in this section. Hope all are learning the Hebrew alphabet from this psalm. The psalmist uses two words to describe the protective aspect of God for HIS people. The psalmist is looking to the Word to protect him from erring from his stand for the LORD. He is counting on the LORD to take care of those who are wicked in his life. He is asking the LORD to keep him from evildoers. The individuals he wants to stay away from are those who use deceit or lies to try to trick him.
One of the reasons he doesn’t want to fall is that he fears the judgment of God. What are these judgments for those who are followers of God: weakness, sickness, or premature death.
At the Judgment seat of Christ, it could mean a loss of rewards. Is this a concern of ours? There have been many occasions in each of our lives when we have seen the protection of God around us. The Bible sometimes refers to this protection as a “hedge” placed around HIS people. The enemy is real.
We need someone around us and in us to protect us from this enemy. In the New Testament we are told to put on Christ as our armor. HE is our defense against our enemy. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us protection. We still have a protection as we face each day. Our study of the Word shows us this hope. Praise HIS name!!! We have HOPE!!!
CHALLENGE: When trials hit remember where to go for protection. HE is able to deliver!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
:116 “Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Hope: 7664 שֵׂבֶר [seber /say·ber/] n m. From 7663; TWOT 2232a; GK 8433; Two occurrences; AV translates as “hope” twice. 1 hope. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: We have hope in many things while we are alive. We hope for a good job and marriage. We desire for that special gift to be given to us and for that dream trip around the world. There are many ways that we use the word hope. Here it is used in the normal way, a looking forward with expectation to a good and beneficial state (Ps 119:116; 146:5+)
Looking forward is common but the question revolves around the source of our hope. The psalmist is basing his hope on the word of God. He hoped in God’s Word because God was his Refuge (sēṯer, “hiding place”) and his Shield. If God’s word could not be trusted then hope was futile. As we learn and memorize God’s word it becomes many things for us, food, light, security and hope. May we continually allow it to uphold us each day!
CHALLENGE: Look expectantly for the promises of God to be fulfilled and to bring fulfillment in your life. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 117 Hold YOU me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect to YOUR statutes continually. (3467 “safe” [yasha] means to help, accept help, to be victorious, deliver, be helped, rescued, to be liberated, or to save from moral troubles.)
DEVOTION: Like the Psalmist we need to be rescued from so many enemies we have in this world. Remember the world, the flesh and the devil that are always trying to draw us away from the LORD and the study of HIS Word the Bible.
The temptations of this world are real each day and we need the assistance of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life to be able to sort out what is right from the choices we have before us each day.
If the LORD is holding us up than we can fight the good fight daily and win our battles. Without HIS help we give in to the temptations of those three enemies of spiritual growth.
Once we have the help of the LORD we can face whatever the world or the flesh or the devil send our way. That is why we need to be studying the Bible daily to receive strength from the teaching and from the Holy Spirit’s guidance through all the decisions that come our way.
We are only in good hands if we are in the hands of the Holy Spirit each moment of each day. HE will guide us in the right path and give us the right answers to any questions that we face from those who are against us.
CHALLENGE: Are you in good hands? Is it the LORD that is helping you face your enemies each day? Do you have respect for what the LORD is trying to teach you today?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 118 YOU have trodden down all them that err from YOUR statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. (8267 “falsehood” [sheqer] means liar, breach of faith, lie, deception, what is wrong, vanity, lying, vain, fraud, or wrong.)
DEVOTION: To many times we can believe false statements or false teaching. There are so many teachers out in our world that want to get our attention. If we watch television or listen to the radio or scan the internet, we will find individuals who want to teach you the truth regarding the teaching of the Word of God.
There is a problem with this if we do not do our own research to see if what they are saying is true. We have to prove them to be good teachers of the Word of God.
This takes work on our part because of the fact that there are so many voices. Doing our own research is hard because we first need to find someone, we can trust to tell us while teacher might be right.
Our only defense is to understand that we need the Holy Spirit to give us discernment in who we can listen to and believe. HE will help us to understand the genuine teachings of the Bible.
There are ways to check out a teaching by comparing Scripture with Scripture. If a truth is taught one place in the Bible it is usually taught again in another place. Once we establish a true teaching regarding our responsibility to the LORD, we can practice that teaching and them move on to another teaching that is true.
God repeats HIMSELF in the Bible to show us that a truth is a truth throughout the Bible. If we want to know how we should act we should find that action repeated as something that pleases the LORD in more than one place in the Bible. If it is repeated in the New Testament than we can see it is a genuine teaching of the LORD. This is true in the Old Testament as well but there are times where it applies to the children of Israel and not to New Testament believers.
CHALLENGE: The LORD gives genuine believers discernment regarding what is truth for New Testament believers. Not all the laws of the Old Testament come over to our time period.
: 120 My flesh trembles for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. (6343 “fear” [pachad] means dread, terror, trembling, stand in awe, make to shake.)
DEVOTION: There are three different Hebrew words used for words meaning an form of fear.
One word is “yare” which is translate “afraid” means to be in a state of feeling great distress. The Psalmist is in this state because he doesn’t want to face the same judgment as those who are outside of Christ.
Another word that is translated “trembles.” The word “camor” means to shiver, have goose bumps or have hair stand on end.
Now we have the Psalmist having a type of reaction that makes him shake. Another way of translating the verse would be to stand in awe of God. Once he looked at the two ways to live his life, he chose to follow the LORD. When he made this choice he realized that God is not someone to treat lightly. He wanted to bring HIM glory. He wanted the LORD to know that he was willing to listen to HIS instructions for his life. He was going to be a faithful follower of the LORD.
We are to have a healthy respect for the LORD. Too often we can make the LORD someone just like us only with more power. Some individuals who claim to be followers of the LORD don’t have a problem living the way they want and expect the LORD to accept it. That is not what the Bible teaches. HE expects complete obedience.
CHALLENGE: Evaluate your comments and actions in relationship to the LORD. Our vocabulary need to change. Our actions need to change. The Christian life is one that shows consent improvement of our life with the help of the Holy Spirit. No change can mean NO LORD!!)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer of confidence in the Word of Godverses 113-120
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Lawverse 113
Wordverses 114, 116
Commandmentsverse 115
Statutes verses 117, 118
Testimoniesverse 119
Judgmentsverse 120
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verse 115
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Vain thoughtsverse 113
Evildoersverse 115
Errverse 118
Deceitverse 118
Falsehoodverse 118
Wickedverse 119
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Love the Word of Godverses 113, 119
Hiding placeverse 114
Shieldverse 114
Hopeverses 114, 116
Keep the commandments verse 115
Support in lifeverses 116, 117
Fear of the LORDverse 120
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
119:113–120. The psalmist stated that he hated double-mindedness, and that he loved and hoped in God’s Word because God was his Refuge (sēṯer, “hiding place”; cf. comments on 27:5) and his Shield (cf. comments on 3:3). The writer then addressed the wicked, demanding that they leave him (119:115), and asked God to sustain and deliver him (vv. 116–117) because of His judgment against the wicked (vv. 118–119). The psalmist then said he trembled in awe at the judgments of God (v. 120; cf. v. 161). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 881). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
God protects His people (vv. 113–115). The “double-minded” were the people who were undecided and therefore uncommitted to the Lord (1 Kings 18:21; James 1:8; 4:8). Today, we would call them “half-hearted.” There is nothing strange about believers experiencing both love toward God and His Word and hatred toward those who reject the Lord (vv. 104, 128, 163; 101:3; Amos 5:15; Mic. 3:2). “Hate evil, you who love the Lord” (97:10, nasb). If we love the Word, we will hate lies and oppose liars. The psalmist knew that his shelter and shield was the Lord alone, and he trusted in Him. He is not hiding in the Lord from fear of facing the enemy, because he addresses the enemy in verse 115. Only in the Lord could he find the help he needed. The Lord protects us that He might equip us to face the enemy and fight the battle (3:3; 27:5; 28:7; 31:20; 32:7; 33:20; 46:1–2; 61:4; 84:11; 91:1). The psalmist had his heart set on the Lord (v. 112), so there was no need to reconsider the matter. It was settled! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 129). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
Ver. 115. Depart from me, ye evil-doers, &c.] The same with the evil-thinkers, ver. 113. According to Aben Ezra, they that think evil commonly do it; as they devise it, they commit it. This describes such persons whose course of life is, and who make it their constant business to do, iniquity; such the psalmist desires to depart his presence, to keep at a distance from him, as being very disagreeable to him; and who would be a great hinderance to him in keeping the commandments of God, as follows: these same words will be spoken by David’s son and antitype, at the great day of account, Matt. 7:23. For I will keep the commandments of my God; of God who has a right to command, and not of men, especially when opposed to the commands of God; of God, who is the covenant God and Father of his people; and whose covenant, grace, and favour, in choosing, redeeming, regenerating, and adopting them, lay them under greater obligations still to keep his commandments; and whose commandments are not grievous: and though they cannot be perfectly kept by good men, yet they are desirous of keeping them as well as they can, and determine in the strength of divine grace so to do; and which they do out of love to God, and with a view to his glory, without any selfish or mercenary ends. The Syriac version renders it, that I may keep, &c. to which end he desires to be rid of the company of wicked men; who are both a nuisance to good men, and an hinderance in religious duties. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 230). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
115. “Depart from me, ye evildoers.” Those who make a conscience of their thoughts are not likely to tolerate evil company. If we fly to God from vain thoughts, much more shall we avoid vain men. Kings are all too apt to be surrounded by a class of men who flatter them, and at the same time take liberty to break the laws of God: David purged his palace of such parasites; he would not harbour them beneath his roof. No doubt they would have brought upon him an ill name, for their doings would have been imputed to him, since the acts of courtiers are generally set down as acts of the court itself; therefore the king sent them packing bag and baggage, saying,—“Depart from me.” Herein be anticipated the sentence of the last great day, when the Son of David shall say, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.” We cannot thus send all malefactors out of our houses, but it will often become a duty to do so where there is right and reason for it. A house is all the better for being rid of liars, pilferers, lewd talkers, and slanderers. We are bound at all hazards to keep ourselves clear of such companions as come to us by our own choice if we have any reason to believe that their character is vicious. Evildoers make evil counsellors. Those who say unto God, “Depart from us,” ought to hear the immediate echo of their words from the mouths of God’s children, “Depart from us. We cannot eat bread with traitors.”
“For I will keep the commandments of my God.” Since he found it hard to keep the commandments in the company of the ungodly, he gave them their marching orders. He must keep the commandments, but he did not need to keep their company. What a beautiful title for the Lord this verse contains! The word God only occurs in this one place in all this lengthened Psalm, and then it is attended by the personal word “my”—“my God.”
“My God I how charming is the sound!
How pleasant to repeat!
Well may that heart with pleasure bound,
Where God hath fix’d his seat,”
Because Jehovah is our God therefore we resolve to obey him, and to chase out of our sight those who would hinder us in his service. It is a grand thing for the mind to have come to a point, and to be steadfastly fixed in the holy determination,—“I will keep the commandments.” God’s law is our pleasure when the God of the law is our God. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 356). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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