Psalm 119:49-56

Bobby Howell

Psalm 119 • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Psalm 119:49–56

Word of God

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Comfort during trials and testings only comes from God's Word

Notes

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Comfort Through God’s Word

Our next section of focuses primarily on comfort. In verse 49, the psalmist mentions hope. In verse 50, he mentions comfort during affliction. In verse 51 we see derision. 119:52 mentions comfort again. There is a burning anger over the violation of God’s Word in verse 53. And then in verse 54 we see comfort through songs in times of wandering. In verse 55 God’s Word brings comfort through obedience. And in verse 56 the psalmist recounts God’s blessing through that obedience.

We all need comfort. One of the negative results of the Fall of Man is fear, anxiety, and depression. Just think of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Shortly after they eat the fruit, disobeying God’s command, and they are afraid, so afraid they hide themselves from the presence of God ().

Fear comes from actual or perceived danger. In our fallen world, we can be afraid of snakes, of polar bears, or of Carolina fans. Some of these are legitimate, and others are simply funny. However, fear often takes our obedience and trust in God away. Think of Adam and Eve again. Rather than turn to their Creator in trust, they fled from Him. Fear often drives us away from God rather than to Him.

Anxiety is a subset of fear. It dwells on the What ifs… of life. What if my car breaks down? What if the cancer returns? What is God takes my sight away? We could list an innumerable amount of what ifs. And anxious people are excellent meditators, they simply meditate on what could happen rather than on God and His Word.

And depression is an enormous issue afflicting many people all over the world. Coming as the result of our fallen bodies, sin, and other issues, depression is the feeling of utter hopelessness.

There are many other problems that desperately need comfort. But I think these three possibilities serve as some of the most common issues in which we need that comfort.

Dr. Berg, one of my professors, says this, “We have interpreted what we know about God from our experience instead of interpreting our experiences in light of what is true about God from the Scriptures.” He calls this the Great Disorder.

In order to address this Great Disorder, God has given us salvation, His Holy Spirit, and His Word. And, as our psalmist notes in every verse: the source of comfort is God’s Word. So, let us dive into comfort through God’s Word.

I. HOPE COMES THROUGH GOD’S WORD- 119:49

The psalmist asks God to remember His Word. I have mentioned this several times, but often the psalmist commands God to do something, like here he commands God to remember His Word. The idea is not one of an authority commanding a subordinate. Rather, it is like a child telling their dad to help them. It comes from a good desire. And the psalmist is asking God to remember His Word, to keep His promises, because that is the foundation of his hope.

Our foundation for hope comes from God. And I find it interesting that the word hope means to wait, to simply sit still for a moment. Now, the concept of biblical hope provides the believer with surety. However, often times God chooses to allow us to experience certain situations. These situations may help cast our focus from ourselves to Him, to empty us from idolatrous love of someone or something. Unfortunately, this is not something I can offer you a specific explanation for each of your trials. But I can tell you this, follow the psalmist’s example and turn to the Scriptures for hope.

Look to the many men and women who faced dire circumstances, and watch as God provided for their needs and gave them hope as they waited on Him.

II. COMFORT COMES THROUGH GOD’S WORD- 119:50, 52

The word comfort conveys an idea of easing. Picture this: you are in the kitchen boiling a pot of water and you burn your finger. The pain pierces through your body, and you quickly move over to the sink and place the burned finger under the cold water. The pain is eased. You may even breathe a sigh of relief.

Now, think of that on a spiritual level. Here the psalmist mentions affliction. As this word is used in , it can mean problems coming from the outside (poverty, affliction). Now, I could offer some examples, but I believe our time would be better spent by showing how the psalmist receives easing during this times of affliction.

He realizes that God’s Word (here denoted as promises) gives life. It is God’s Word that issues life. Passages like are among the cream of the crop when providing comfort. We read of men and women who also experienced those dark times of life and observed how God intervened. We read of Paul’s explanation of suffering in and we receive life. God’s promises ease, though they do not take away, the pain from affliction.

In verse 52 the psalmist describes the same truth, however he offers an additional (and important) addition. He says, “of old.” The idea is eternal. Like the Noahic covenant that God would never again destroy the entire earth with the flood, God’s eternal Word brings comfort as we meditate on it.

I offer on example from my own personal time with the LORD. Joseph has always been a beloved character of mine. He seems to be such a quiet, trusting man. He has a righteous character, a forgiving attitude, and a wisdom that helped save many people. He was a leader, not afraid of taking charge. But he was also a servant, not afraid to do dirty work. I think Joseph is the epitome of what it means to be a man. But the more I read about him, one aspect of Joseph’s life sticks out: His trust in God’s sovereign rule. This is demonstrated in .

Hope and Comfort come through God’s Word. But we notice, third, that...

III. PERSEVERANCE COMES THROUGH GOD’S WORD- 119:51, 53

Perseverance is a mark of a Christian. The fortitude to endure the trials and difficulties of life is illustrative of God’s divine working. And this is no different when we face scoffers, arrogant blasphemers.

These are individuals who are boastful about their rebellion and disdain for God. Our country, and really western society, parades rebellion in the face of our God. And this can be discouraging, can it not? When the good, moral values of our society have been turned upside down, and now evil is good and good is evil, we face discouragement. We face anxiety, because we do not know how our children, or grandchildren, will face the future. We face depression because it seems like a losing battle. Hot intense anger comes as a result of their blasphemous lives and actions.

We get perseverance because we know God’s Word, we know the end, and that gives a real perseverance. It’s like running a marathon. As you near the end, it gets easier because you see the end and so you can endure. That’s the thought of the psalmist here. Even in the midst of loud boasters he remains faithful because he is anchored to God’s Word.

Hot intense anger comes as a result of their blasphemous lives and actions.

IV. PRESENCE COMES THROUGH GOD’S WORD- 119:54, 55

In times of anxiety, depression, we often go through times of loneliness. We feel like were alone. That comes from your overwhelming situations. Elijah felt this way in . He felt alone because he took his eyes off God and put them on his circumstances.

Sojourning and night are both terms that denote some form of separation. And through God’s Word we receive His presence. Not that it left us, but it anchors us in the truth. It reorders that great disorder I mentioned earlier.

V. GRACE COMES THROUGH GOD’S WORD- 119:56

You may notice that your translation does not include the term blessing. It is not in the Hebrew, but I think translators put this word in to summarize the thoughts of this entire section. And I chose to use grace because I think it encapsulates the teachings that come from God’s Word.

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