My soul languishes for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, “When will You comfort me?”Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.How many are the days of Your servant?
When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?The arrogant have dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Your law.All Your commandments are faithful;
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.(Psalm 119:81-88)
This lesson is about the persecution that comes from following God’s word. This is important for us to remember as we will face persecution as well (2 Timothy 3:12). These verses not only speak of the reality of persecution, but the hope we have despite of it.
Sometimes the Word Will Bring Persecution
“The arrogant have dug pits for me, men who are not in accord with Your law” (Psalm 119:85).
As this psalm focuses on the word of God, we have noticed what the word provides for us. Most of these are positive – blessings, strength, liberty, life, and so on. But the focus of this lesson – persecution – is negative (at least that is what it appears to be on the surface).
However, those things that appear to be negative on the surface may not be. In a previous lesson we studied affliction – the discipline that comes from God’s word (Psalm 119:67, 71). Though it is not pleasant to be disciplined by God’s word, it is ultimately for our good (Hebrews 12:11). The same is true for persecution that comes as a result of us following God’s word. Obviously, suffering persecution is not pleasant. Yet the apostle Peter wrote, “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). Peter was not a hypocrite, telling Christians to act one way (rejoice in sufferings) while he refused to do the same. After being beaten by the Council for preaching about Jesus, Peter and John “went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). Persecution should not be a cause for us to despair, but to rejoice.
Why does the word bring persecution? First, it is assumed in our text that the one being persecuted is keeping the word. David’s stated purpose was to “keep the testimony of [God’s] mouth” (Psalm 119:88). If we suffer persecution today, we should suffer “as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:16). But how is it that striving to live according to the instructions contained in God’s word can bring about persecution? The psalmist gave two reasons.
First, others do not keep the word. If we are persecuted, it will come from “men who are not in accord with [God’s] law” (Psalm 119:85). That difference is the reason for their hatred. Jesus warned His apostles about this: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). The world would hate them because they followed Christ rather than living like the world. This will cause the world to hate us because our faithfulness condemns them. When Noah obeyed God and built the ark, his actions “condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7). When Lot tried to protect the angels in his home from the Sodomites, the crowd became angry and threatened him because he was “acting like a judge” (Genesis 19:9). Teaching and practicing what is right is seen as a threat by the wicked because it exposes them for who they are. Therefore, they hate those who strive to follow God’s word.
Second, persecution will come from those who are “arrogant” (Psalm 119:85). Arrogance will put one against the truth (James 3:14). There is a difference between one being ignorant of the truth and being arrogant against the truth – one will listen and the other will not. Everyone begins in a state of ignorance toward God’s word and needs to be taught. But those who are arrogant refuse to listen, believing they are not in need of what it teaches. This is why James wrote, “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19). We cannot close our ears to the truth, but we must have humility to listen: “In humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). God’s word demands humility; therefore, the arrogant will oppose it and those who follow it.
We Must Behave So That We Are Persecuted Wrongly
“All Your commandments are faithful; they have persecuted me with a lie; help me!” (Psalm 119:86).
As we consider this verse, first notice the attitude of David – the one being oppressed.
- “All Your commandments are faithful.” He respected God’s word and recognized it is the source of truth (cf. Psalm 119:160; John 17:17).
- “Help me!” He trusted in God and relied upon Him even while others were persecuting him (cf. Hebrews 13:5-6).
We need to have the same attitude of David – trust in God and His word – if we are to successfully deal with persecution. If we are going to be persecuted, it must be “with a lie” (Psalm 119:86). If we suffer today, it must be as a Christian and not as an evildoer. Peter wrote: “Make sure none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:15-16). Earlier in the same letter, the apostle said, “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God” (1 Peter 2:20). If we do what is wrong, we deserve to suffer for it. But if we do what is right and suffer unjustly, we find favor with God (1 Peter 2:19).
A time may come in which we must refuse to obey those who are in positions of civil authority if their laws prohibit our service to God. In this case, Peter said, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). In such a circumstance, though we might act illegally, that does not mean we are suffering justly. God gave civil authorities a role (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-2) and persecuting Christians is contrary to this God-given purpose. While “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) and endure whatever persecution might come from godless rulers, we must not be persecuted for violating any moral or legitimate law.
While Persecuted, We Must Remain Faithful
“My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, ‘When will You comfort me?’ Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes” (Psalm 119:81-83).
“They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts” (Psalm 119:87).
In the previous point, we noted that if we are persecuted, it must be based upon a lie (Psalm 119:86). This is the next step. If we are persecuted, we must also remain faithful during and after the persecution. Do not compromise or give up! This is exactly what the persecutors want you to do. Notice what the psalmist said on this point:
- “My soul languishes for Your salvation, I wait for Your word” (Psalm 119:81). The word “languishes” means to be spent or at the end. When we reach this point, we must turn to God’s word. David said earlier, “My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25).
- “My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, ‘When will You comfort me?’” (Psalm 119:82). When we are in trouble, we must seek God above all others. Paul wrote, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me… But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me… The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:16-18).
- “Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes” (Psalm 119:83). The illustration of “a wineskin in the smoke” describes a weakened state as a result of enduring harsh conditions. In this state, we must remember the promises contained in God’s word. The Hebrew writer said, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:36).
- “They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts” (Psalm 119:87). When we are persecuted, the worst that our oppressors can do to us is kill us. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Instead of fearing those who might persecute us, we must fear God.
Too many have abandoned their faith when persecution came. We must not fall away, no matter what the future holds.
God Will Judge the Wicked
“How many are the days of Your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?” (Psalm 119:84).
It is natural for the persecuted to desire for God to execute judgment against their persecutors. David asked, “When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?” (Psalm 119:84). The early martyrs asked the same question: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10).
Though the timing of judgment is not what the martyrs would have wanted, judgment will come. Paul wrote of the certainty of this judgment: “It is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8). God is “patient…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come” (2 Peter 3:9-10). God will judge the wicked at the proper time (Acts 17:31).
God Will Give Life to the Faithful
“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (Psalm 119:88).
Our desire must not simply be for revenge against those who might persecute us (Psalm 119:84). We also desire life from God – ultimately, eternal life (Romans 6:22-23; 1 Timothy 6:12). God can revive us. Paul wrote, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37). Even if we die, we will be victorious in Him.
Conclusion
If we follow God’s word, we will be persecuted (Psalm 119:85; cf. 2 Timothy 3:12). But we have reason to hope if we remain faithful (Psalm 119:88; cf. 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Let us endure persecution so that we can receive the promises!
This entire series is available in paperback. Click on the link for more information – The Psalm of the Word: A Study of Psalm 119.
