Psalm 119: Focus Upon God's Word Pt. 138 Speak God's Truth & Pray To Retain It.

Psalm 119:41,42  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42)  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 

This section of Psalm 119 begins with a prayer for the mercies of God to come into the Psalmist's heart. He was wearied and downcast, and in need of fresh mercy from God. 

In other words, he was just like us and he relied on what he knew to be true of God. He will send new mercies every morning to those who put their trust in Him.

Some mocked the Psalmist and said "There is no hope in God" while others scorned his love for God and urged him to live for self. The Psalmist's reply was that he trusted in Jehovah's eternal word. 

A prayer to retain God's word in our minds and to speak it.

Psalm 119:43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 

We learned that we need an active faith, that pursues knowing God through study of His word and communing with Him in prayer. 

We learned that when our heart truly believes, then our mouths will confess our faith in Jesus Christ and our life will be very different from the way we used to live. 

In this post, we learn that our confession of faith is for the glory of God and the good of others. 

Speak scripture truth no matter the cost. 

Philippians 1:19-21  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20)  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Here is the Apostle Paul's confession of faith. He was encouraged knowing that other believers in Christ were praying for his needs. He knew that God would supply all his needs through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. 

He was confident that his hope was anchored on the Rock, Jesus Christ and that he would never be ashamed of the Lord who saved him from himself on the Damascus Road. 

His confession of faith and his service to God indicate a dramatically different life after his conversion to Christ. Paul could say with all boldness that Jesus Christ would be magnified in his body, whether he lived or died. 

His main concern was to give glory to God in all aspects of his life. Paul was willing to be both a minister of Christ and a martyr for Christ. 

Speak the truth with boldness and don't be ashamed. 

Luke 9:26  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 

Others might flinch from sharing their faith with others because they are ashamed to speak of Jesus and talk about His words. Jesus had a strong rebuke for those who might be ashamed of Christ or His words. 

In judgment day, those who are ashamed of Jesus and His words, will find that Jesus will be ashamed of them. This connects with the works of believers being tried by fire and some being ashamed when their works are consumed (1 Corinthians 3:11-17).   

Speak all the truth of God's word, not just part of it. 

Matthew 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Some believers might decide to share part of the truth, that God is love, while omitting the vitally important matters of sin, judgment, righteousness and holiness.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for doing just that. 

Acts 20:26,27  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27)  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

Paul summoned the Ephesian elders to meet with him on his way to Jerusalem. He reminded them that he was pure of any man who died in their sins, because he declared the entire counsel of God. 

He taught them everything that they needed to know, so that the elders were equipped to teach others and to guard against false doctrine.  

Speak God's truth and trust Him for the results. 

Philippians 1:12-14  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13)  So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14)  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 

Like the Psalmist, Paul wanted the word of God to be in his heart and mind at all times. 

He was in prison for preaching the gospel of Christ because many people hated to hear that truth. Many people did not want to respond to that truth. Therefore, Paul was put into prison. 

Yet, Paul was encouraged because the word was still being preached by others. He also shared this truth with the Roman guards and even some in the palace of the Roman ruler, were sharing Christ. 

This is what the Psalmist wants us to see, that we need God's word because it can change people's lives. 

Speak God's truth when there is opposition to it. 

Acts 19:8-10  And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9)  But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10)  And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 

Paul preached in the Jewish synagogues until they blasphemed Jesus Christ. Their hearts were hardened to the truth of the gospel, but Paul resolutely shared it. 

He was forced out of the synagogue, but publicly preached Christ in a place where people gathered to learn new things. He preached the word for two years and the text says that all those living in Asia heard the gospel. 

Psalm 119:43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments

The Psalmist is saying, “Lord, let the word of truth be always in my mouth. Grant me  wisdom and courage which are necessary to use my knowledge for the instruction of others." 

"Let me be like the good householder, bringing out of my treasury things new and old, and to make profession of my faith whenever I am called to it.”

We need to pray to God that we may never be afraid or ashamed to own his truths and ways, nor to deny him before men.

Thoughts to Ponder...

Why must we ask the Lord not to utterly take the word of His truth out of our mouths? 

2 Timothy 3:16,17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

God gave us His inspired truth so that we may be equipped for the work of the ministry, fully prepared for whatever works God gives us to do. 

We need His truth in our mouths when we teach sound doctrine, or when we rebuke error or sin, or when we offer correction and instruction on how to get back on the right path. 

2 Timothy 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 

We need God's truth in our mouths so that we can pass it on to the next generation of believers. 

Those who are taught in the word and are skillful in wisdom and knowledge, are obligated to pass this treasure of truth on. This is God's plan so that the pure faith, the gospel of Christ and the sound doctrine continues in Christ's church. 

Isaiah 59:21  As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. 

This is God's promise and He is faithful to do what He says He will do. He has put His Spirit in each believer in Christ. 

He promises that the words He put on our mouths, will not depart from us. This is His promise, and this we must pray for, just as the Psalmist did. 

Bob