Psalm 119:165-166
Picture before your mind a very, very narrow mountain path which on one side has a steep rocky wall of the mountain, and on the other side has a sharp drop-off that plunges down hundreds of feet into a pool of steaming water. How dangerous it would be to stumble while walking on that path!
The Lord assures us in Psalm 119:165, 166 that he who loves God's law has no reason to fear falling into that deadly peril. Literally He wrote through the psalmist: "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Lord, I have hoped in Thy salvation, and done Thy commandments."
The word "offend" here does not mean to hurt one's feelings. The Hebrew word means basically to stumble. Our versification explains it thus (PRC Psalter):
Great peace has he who loves Thy law:
Unmoved he safely stands;
For Thy salvation I have hoped
And followed Thy commands.
Standing "safely" pictures the situation as the psalmist had it in mind. He was being persecuted because he loved God's law and His word. Satan was using men to try to destroy him because he loved God. They placed stones on his pathway to make him stumble to death.
But through the psalmist God assures us that He will take care of us, and we will have great peace. For we will have peace with God. Men will hate us and seek to destroy us; but God will uphold us in the battle.
It is hard to walk that narrow pathway which is also steep. God's law makes life very narrow for us as far as our flesh is concerned. But we can be absolutely sure that we will reach everlasting peace in the new Jerusalem, if we walk on that path in love to God.
God's Son was slain by the enemy because God decreed it that way to pay for our sins. When in love to God we walk our pathway, we will not stumble and fall into the lake of fire of God's holy wrath. We will be safe, because God will protect and uphold us.
Read: Daniel 2
Psalter versification: #341:3
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #150
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezekiel 24 , Ezekiel 25 , Ezekiel 26:1-21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 27:14
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Quote for Reflection:
"The Christian is the only enviable person in the world. The seeming blessings of evil men are God’s heavy curses; and the smart of the stripes is a favor too good for them to enjoy. To judge wisely of our condition, it is to be considered, not so much how we fare, as upon what terms. If we stand right with heaven, every cross is a blessing; and every blessing a pledge of future happiness. If we be in God’s disfavor, every one of his benefits is a judgment; and every judgment makes way for perdition. Instead of envying sinners in their successful wickedness, dread their character more than their end, and rejoice that your Father never counted the poor vanities of this world a worthy portion for you." -Charles Bridges
Additional Info
- Date: 12-November
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.