Where do we go when beset by the troubles of this world? King David experienced the ups and downs of life, and serves as an example of a life on the brink. Yet David appeals to God's Word in Psalm 119 for support and comfort. The theme of Psalm 119 is drawing strength from the Word of God during troubled times. Nearly every verse appeals in some sense to the Word.
God commands us to know the Word:
"You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently" (verse 4, all Scripture quotes from ESV).
Here the verse commands us to keep the Word under all circumstances. In order to do this, we need to know the Word.
We must desire to please God:
"With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" (verse 10).
We should seek God's help in understanding the Word of God:
"Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart" (verse 34).
We should trust in and accept God's wisdom in ordering our trials:
"I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me" (v. 75).
Knowing God's Word gives an advantage over our opponents:
"Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me" (v. 98).
God's Word provides great joy when we are afflicted:
"Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight" (v. 143).
Theology of Psalm 119
In view of the above verses and the truth we may derive from them, we can conclude the following:
- God has provided light and insight from His Word in order to live for His glory in all circumstances.
- God's opponents cannot hurt God's people in that they are safe in His hands, comforted by His Word.
- The Word of God provides us with a joyful antodote to the despair and cynicism of an unbelieving world.
- God has provided His good Spirit to give us holy desires, an understanding of His Word, and the spiritual dynamic required to live it out.
APPLICATION: How Psalm 119 helps us during affliction
- Run to God first, and let Him lead you to helpful solutions.
- Find comfort and satisfaction in God's Word alone; it cannot be taken from us.
- Listen closely to God's Word, and He will help you navigate through treacherous waters.
- Pray for understanding, or illumination, as you study God's Word (Eph. 1:15-18).
- Ask God to help you apply His Word to your life, especially when you are pressed with affliction and outward uncertainty.
Conclusion:
Many run to all sorts of quick remedies but do not immediately seek God. When we earnestly seek God's face in His Word, He shows us His power, gives us wisdom, and lifts our spirits so we can face our greatest struggles with ample confidence.
Psalm 119 points God's people to the very first place of refuge when faced with perplexing times in their lives: the eternal and abiding Word of God. James encourages believers to count it all joy when they fall into various trials, because of the spiritual fruit they (the trials) produce (James 1:2-4). But then he tells them to ask wisdom from God during these trials, v. 5. God provides that wisdom through His Word, just as David wrote before James.
updates
How is man truly saved, and where does the Roman Catholic Church stand? Can it be reconciled with historic/biblical Christianity?
Click on "Repentance" just above for a summary of the biblical doctrine of repentance and a brief word about the dangers of "easy believism."
Click the link just above for our latest entries on angels, Satan and demons. We also have a brief summary on how to conduct spiritual warfare. We feel this is especially timely with all the confusion surrounding these topics.
About Bibletruth
My name is Sam Petitfils (pictured here with my lovely wife, Peggy), and I serve as webmaster of Bibletruth. At Bibletruth we value and explore the great themes of Scripture. We believe Scripture is central to a correct understanding of our world and our role as believers. We have chosen to emphasize theology as a key and valid discipline for our day.
We hope you will browse the site and look over some of the resources and links.
I have graduate degrees from Talbot and Westminster (in California) seminaries and have pastored in California for many years. Please contact me if you have questions or comments.
Recommended Book for Systematic Theology: Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology
Bibletruth recommeds Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology as a basic text on Theology, even for students just taking up a serious study of theology. Grudem holds to biblical inerrancy and sets forth the doctrines of the Bible with both depth and clarity. Even beginners will profit from this well-written volume because Grudem writes quite conversationally, unlike some other authors of theology books.
But even experienced readers of theology will benefit from Grudem's book as he does delve into the deeper subjects of theology, yet always provides readers with helpful introductions to such themes.
You can pick up your copy by clicking here.
Welcome to Bibletruth!
Welcome to Bibletruth! You'll find resources on this site that will help you study God's Word and reflect on His truth. We provide doctrinal summaries, helpful links, and reflect on some key theological issues. To begin your journey, we suggest our theology page. Though our site is for serious students, we do not necessarily mean "experienced" students only. In fact, new believers grow best when they obtain a solid grounding in the truth of God's Word.
what is systematic theology
Here's a simple definition of systematic theology: "What does the Bible teach us about a given topic?" (from Robert Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, xxv). "Biblical theology" examines truth in its historic unfolding (for example, the "Old Testament doctrine of the Holy Spirit," or "Paul's doctrine of the church"). Systematic theology, on the other hand, takes the completed revelation, or the Bible, and applies it to various topics. Professor John Frame puts it this way, "Theology is the application of Scripture to all areas of human life" (Salvation Belongs to the Lord, 72).
In order to effectively study theology, one needs to:
- Submit to God, and be willing to discard old biases and accept truth as God reveals it in his Word.
- Pray for insight and illumination.
- Commit to a disciplined and systematic habit of serious study.
- Walk humbly with God, and allow His truth to shape all of life.
- Compare your work with others in the field (see the previous point).
blessings to students of theology
God promises rich reward to those who seek Him (John 7:17; Ps. 119:130), and those who do will find Him (Jer. 29:13). Furthermore, doctrinal correctness furnishes structure to life, something we can ill-afford to live without. With God-given truth and boundaries, the child of God no longer walks around in darkness, but instead has the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6). Additionally, students of theology can detect false teaching much more quickly than the typical Christian, who is often left to the mercy of unscrupulous "teachers" with mixed motives. Finally, theologically sensitive Christians notice the link between their growth in knowledge and Christ like character. They add knowledge to the other virtues of the sanctified life (2 Pet. 1:5-8).
blessings to the church
When lovers of God search His Word for truth then begin to apply that truth to church practice, everyone benefits. One problem today is church "practitioners" seek to build their ministries apart from biblical principles. I would caution students of theology to approach such ministries humbly and with a servant's heart. After all, they are doing God's will. Equally, however, church pastors and elders should welcome the concerns of theologians and not assume they don't need any help. Unfortunately, these two groups sometimes section off into two "camps," having no other dialogue other than near hostile exchanges. Internet forums will make no progress in influencing others if they adopt defensive and even offensive tones that do anything but encourage healthy exchanges.
Nevertheless, theology must govern all areas of church life and even life itself. Theologians call this the theocentric or "God-centered" life. It's the life we need to follow today. In a day of shifting winds and philosophies to match, we need to anchor our faith in that body of truth, "once for all delivered to the saints"(Jude 3).
