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WALKING IN LIBERTY

By James Draper

Ps. 119:41-48

In these verses holy fear is apparent and prominent. The eight verses are one continued pleading for the abiding of grace in his soul, and it is supported by such holy arguments as would only suggest themselves to a spirit burning with love to God.

Verses 41-48 - This whole section consists of petitions and promises. The petitions are two; verses 41,43. The promises are six.

The emphasis is now directed toward the prayer for grace and courage to be enabled to make a good confession. The matter to be confessed is, however, the superlative truth of God's Word. There are practically no Hebrew words beginning with the letter required as the initial in this section, except the copula "and". The verses are aggregated rather than linked. A predominant reference to the duty of bearing witness to the Truth runs through the section.

I. Divinely Equipped: vs. 41-43

Reception: vs. 41
Salvation is styled "thy salvation," thus ascribing it wholly to the Lord. "According to thy word." The way of salvation is described in the word, salvation itself is promised in the word, and its inward manifestation is wrought by the word: so that in all respects the salvation which is in Christ Jesus is in accordance with the word.
A prayer of deep anxiety - large desire - simple faith! It is a sinner - feeling his need of mercy - yea, mercies - abundant mercy (Ps. 51:l)
Let this prayer live in the heart. But let not the ground of faith be forgotten - According to thy word, - that it shall come fully - freely - eternally - to him that waiteth for it.
In this verse the psalmist prays for that rich variety of blessings that flow from God's steadfast love, blessings which guarantee us help when we need it. Thus equipped, a man shall know how to answer effectually him that derides him, for his wisdom is not his own ingenuity but the Word that God gave him.
Response: vs. 42
This verse is related in thought, for the "word of truth" is nothing other than the wholesome precepts of the Lord. Not to have them taken out of one's mouth means not to be deprived of the opportunity of speaking to others the wholesome truths embodied in these words. The concluding motivation that is added involves the thought: I have myself set or built my hope on God's ordinances and would like to make the most of the opportunities to present this word of hope to others.
"Whereas I was blind, now I see" is an argument that silences sarcasm. This is an unanswerable answer. When God, by granting us salvation, gives to our prayers an answer of peace, we are ready at once to answer the objections of the infidel, the quibbles of the skeptical, and the sneers of the contemptuous.
There are three sorts of blasphemers of the godly, - the devils, heretics, and slanderers. The devil must be answered by the internal word of humility.; heretics by the external word of wisdom; slanderers by the active word of a good life.
The word casts upon us the reproach of the cross. What is there to counterbalance the relinquishment of pleasure, esteem and worldly comfort? The mere professor can give no answer. He has heard of it, but it has never come to him. The believer is ready with his answer, 'I have found in the Lord's salvation pardon and peace - "not as the world giveth" - and such as the world cannot take away.
But there is a far heavier reproach than that of the world - when the grand accuser injects hard thoughts of God - when he throws our guilt and unworthiness - our helplessness and difficulties, in our face. And how severe is this exercise in a season of spiritual desertion!
Responsibility: vs. 43
This valuable prayer may preserve us from denying Christ. Too apt are we to allow worldly intercourse, habits, and conversation without a word of restraint. Let the whole weight of Christian responsibility be deeply felt - faith in the heart, and confession with the mouth (Rom. l0: 9, l0) - the active principle, and the practical exercise.
The condition of free utterance is rich experience. If prayers had gone up in vain from the psalmist's lips, no glad proclamation could come from them.

II. Directly Enabled: vs. 44-45

Consistency: vs. 44
In line with such thinking is the expressed ambition to observe such a law continually because its precepts are so helpful. I shall pursue this ambition throughout my life. To this is attached the idea of the blessing that grows out of faithful observance of the law of the Lord.
There is no true religion without that longing for unbroken conformity with the manifest will of God. Whoever makes that his deepest desire, and seeks after God's precepts, will "walk at liberty," or at large, for restraints that are loved are not bonds, and freedom consists not in doing as I would, but in willing to do as I ought.
Constraint: vs. 45
When the Bible says that a man led by the Spirit is not under the law, it does not mean that he is free because he may sin without being punished for it; but it means that he is free because being taught by God's Spirit to love what his law commands he is no longer conscious of acting from constraint.
Not only perseverance but liberty, is the fruit of the Lord's mercy to our souls - not the liberty of sin - to do what we please - but of holiness - to do what we ought.

III.

Determination: vs. 46
The great hindrance to our speaking upon holy topics in all companies is shame, but the Psalmist will "not be ashamed"; there is nothing to be ashamed of, and there is no excuse for being ashamed, and yet many are as quiet as the dead for fear some creature like themselves should be offended.
In these three last verses David promiseth a threefold duty of thankfulness. First, the service of his tongue. Next, the service of his affections. Thirdly, the service of his actions. "Liberty in walking" in the Lord's ways will naturally produce boldness in speaking of them.
Delight: vs. 47
That which is the burden of the carnal heart is the delight of the renewed soul. If the gospel separates the heart from sinful delights, it is only to make room for delights of a more elevated, satisfying, and enduring nature.
The last two verses of the section dwell on the joy that is experienced when a man busies himself with the Lord's commandments, which he loves. No occupation can be more delightful than this.
Demonstration: vs. 48
We have sought to express the meaning of the gesture of stretching forth the hands by inserting the adverb "longingly." For a man does stretch forth his hands for that which he longs for. Thus he desires what he does not yet know and "meditates" on that which he has acquired.
Lifting the hands towards the commandments seems to be a figure for reverent regard, or longing, as one wistfully stretches them out towards some dear person or thing that one would fain draw closer. To lift up the hand is a gesture importing readiness, and special intention in doing a thing. As a man that is willing to do a thing and addresseth himself to the doing of it, lifts up his hand; so a godly man is described as lifting up his hand to fulfill the commands of God.
Perhaps also in lifting up his hands unto the commandments, he might mean to express his looking upward for assistance to keep them, and to live in them.
Why then is the Bible read only - not meditated on? Because it is not loved. We do not go to it, as the hungry man to hid food, as the miser to his treasure. The loss is incalculable. Our superficial knowledge has no practical influence.
Come then, Christian, let us set our hearts to a vigorous, delighting devotedness to the statutes of our God.