Psalms 119:153-160
ר RESH
153 Consider my affliction and deliver me,
For I do not forget Your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.
156 Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158 I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
On this Christmas Day, this psalm seems out of place at first, yet it speaks of affliction and pleading God’s word for redemption. That is what this day we cel is about. It is to consider the plight of all mankind with the onerous and impossible task which the Law put men under, to be perfect in keeping every hot and tittle of the commandments to find reconciliation and acceptance with God. But this is impossible for us (Romans 5:20-21, 3:20, 23-24) but possible through Christ for us according to His word, which we do our best to follow as we rely on God to deliver (save) us. Jesus the Messiah pleads our cause and it is He alone who redeems us from sin and death and the eternal punishment of Hell which our wages of sin have earned for every son and daughter of Adam and Eve. He gives new life to revive the dead both spiritually and in the final resurrection, just as His own resurrection proved these facts to us all who read them. This is the Christmas hope we now have! This deliverance is offered to all, but the vessels of destruction find salvation far from them (Romans 9:22-23) in their denial and rejection of God’s word of hope. He came into this world, but His own seemed to not even know who He was, and rejected Him (John 1:10-11), the very living word made man (John 1:14). But to the vessels of mercy, we find forgiveness and hope on this day because we received the truth of that Word (John 1:12-13). God’s tender mercies of grace in forgiveness and reconciliation through faith are great indeed, and it is these truths which give life and hope to the world on the celebration of remembrance when God brought His Word to us in forgiveness and mercy. We therefore boldly proclaim Him this day, no matter how our enemies may persecute us (Psalm 119:157). We may find pity instead of disgust for the ungodly who are treacherous in their working to eliminate or corrupt this Christmas Day remembrance, but we hold fast and keep His word as a testimony against them and for Him. Oh, Lord, remember how Your people love the living and written word, and revive us in love and kindness when we suffer or stumble. We have seen that great light and worship You! Yes, all Your word is truth itself and each truth endures forevermore. Let us have this love of Your arrival and its eternal consequences ring out every day, and not just on this this one.
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