#DailyDevotion The LORD Jesus Gives Us New Life Through His Judgment

Psalm 119 ¹⁵³See what I suffer, and rescue me for I never forget Your teaching (torah). ¹⁵⁴Take my side in this conflict and free me; give me a new life as You promised (imrah). ¹⁵⁵The wicked are far from being saved because they don’t study Your laws (mishpat). ¹⁵⁶Your mercies are great, O LORD; according to Your justice (mishpat) give me a new life. ¹⁵⁷Many pursue me and oppress me, but I don’t turn away from the truths (edah) You wrote. ¹⁵⁸I’m disgusted to see those who are unfaithful, because they haven’t followed Your word (imrah). ¹⁵⁹See how I love Your guiding principles (piqqud). In Your kindness, O LORD, give me a new life. ¹⁶⁰Your whole word (dabar) is true, and all Your righteous decrees are everlasting.

So there does seem to be a conflict going on with the psalmist. His enemies are causing him to suffer. He seeks to be rescued because he does not forget the LORD’s teachings. He reminds the LORD to see what he is suffering and to rescue Him. He asks the LORD to plead his case and free him. He asks the LORD to be his redeemer. So Jesus is our Advocate before the father. He shuts the mouths of the wicked who accuse us. He puts forth His blood as our justification before the Father. These people causing him trouble and possibly seeking his life are far from being saved for they don’t study the LORD’s mishpat. If they did study them, believed them and practiced them, they wouldn’t be causing this great grief.

This rescue entails Him giving him a new life as the LORD has promised. This new life is repeated in verses 156, 159 as well as being referred to in the previous section. This new life is based on His promise, His justice, and His kindness. In the Old Testament this is often seen as the LORD given man a circumcised heart. For us, we see this as Jesus giving us His Holy Spirit and new birth from above. This eternal life is given us when we believe Jesus, who He is, what He has done for us, and what He has taught us. Indeed, it is a great kindness the LORD bestows His grace on us that we receive the gift of faith which justifies us and gives us eternal life, now and into eternity.

The LORD’s mercies are great. It is His name, His character revealed to us in Ex. 34:6. This is also demonstrated in His kindness. It’s important that we see these because so often when we meditate or think about God’s laws and His judgment against evil, we can only see ourselves condemned by our own behavior and thoughts. So when our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts. We look to his mercies and kindness in Christ Jesus and are renewed in faith and hope.

Those who the psalmist are disgusted by are not the pagans. They don’t know God’s word. It is those who have heard and know the word of God and are unfaithful towards it. They have been given the precious teachings of our LORD and decide like Adam that they know better. They don’t trust the LORD Jesus or believe Him. We, though, love all the LORD has revealed to us in both the Old and New Testaments. We love not only the red letters of the Gospels but every word of God whether through Jesus, the prophets, or His Apostles. It is the voice of the One who loves us, redeems us, saves us, and who wants to dwell with and in us as His holy temple. His word is from everlasting to everlasting. We can always depend upon it, trust it, and let it guide every aspect of our lives.

Merciful and kind Father, continually reveal You will to us through all forms of Your word, that we might have new life and so we may rejoice in it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.