The Christian's Golden ABC of the Praise, Power, and Value of God's Word
Resh. THE INCREASING CONFIDENCE OF THE BELIEVER. — V. 153. Consider mine affliction, taking careful note of its severity, and deliver me; for I do not forget Thy Law, and he sets up his childlike obedience as a reason why God should regard his prayer favorably.
V. 154. Plead my cause, God Himself acting as the great Advocate of His servant, and deliver me; quicken me, with new life and strength, according to Thy Word.
V. 155. Salvation is far from the wicked, on account of their own obstinate disobedience; for they seek not Thy statutes, refusing to heed the Word of the Lord.
V. 156. Great are Thy tender mercies, O Lord, to which the inspired singer appeals throughout the psalm, to the unmerited favor of the Lord; quicken me according to Thy judgments, reviving his soul with the wonderful and merciful decisions of approval found in His Word.
V. 157. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies, their number increasing in proportion to his faithfulness to the Word; yet do I not decline from Thy testimonies, refusing to be turned aside from the Word, with its revelation of the great God and His love.
V. 158. I beheld the transgressors, those who willfully reject the Word, and was grieved, filled with loathing; because they kept not Thy Word, for this fact, with its accompanying unbelief, shuts them out from the mercies of God.
V. 159. Consider how I love Thy precepts, marking well this love for the Word which is characteristic of all true children of God. Quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy loving-kindness, the appeal being again to God's mercy and grace alone.
V. 160. Thy Word is true from the beginning, its sum, the whole body of revelation, the Bible, being the truth; and everyone of Thy righteous judgments endureth forever, His decisions of approval encouraging His children in the midst of all the present tribulations and opening up vistas of eternal glory before them.