I remember a time when I was stuck spiritually. I was stale and starting to faint. I confessed to my pastor that I was only reading the New Testament and had no desire to read the Old Testament. I just couldn’t bring myself to read what I thought was boring history that had nothing to do with my life.
We prayed that day that I would have a desire to read the Old Testament, and then I started dutifully reading through it. A whole new world opened to me. There were so many stories of how God works that presented principles I could live by. The Old Testament was exactly what I needed, and still need. It’s there I find so many testimonies. I see mistakes I should avoid (and why I should avoid them!). I see faith I should emulate. I see God’s love and forbearance with his people I should remember and appreciate. I see the faithfulness of God and some of his choice servants. That’s why testimonies is my favorite word for the word in Ps. 119.
We’re on our last three of the verses today. I’m sad to see it end, because this study has refreshed my soul with some of the great Old Testament stories and principles. David wrote Ps. 119, and he clearly loved the Old Testament stories he had available to him. Little did he know that his life would provide me with additional testimonies to know, love and apply.
Psalms 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
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David surely had persecutors and enemies. Among the testimonies he had available to him was Joseph’s life: Gen 50:18-20 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. (19) And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? (20) But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. David could see from this that God has his unseen-at-the-time purposes. He refused to push those testimonies aside. To me, Joseph and David are testimonies of Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. |
Psalms 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. |
I also love God’s testimonies. Does my soul keep them? As long as I can remember them, I try to keep them. One of them is how to be a good wife. 1Pe 3:4-6 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (5) For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. That’s a hard testimony to keep, except in combination with another testimony. Pro 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. |
Psalms 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. |
Why did David (and so why should I) keep his precepts and his testimonies? Because my ways are before him. Heb 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? I want a testimony like the Apostle Paul’s, Php 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. |
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