“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence..” —Psalm 140:12-13
Trouble can be a great blessing if it drives us closer to God. That is what it so often did for David, and we are the beneficiaries of his experience which so often gave rise to these marvelous Psalms. Here is another born out of his conflict with unrighteous men: violent men (v.1); mischievous men (v.2); evil speaking men (v.3); in sum, wicked men (v. 4) who “purposed to overthrow” him.
Under such circumstances there are at least three possible avenues of response. Fear, which sends a man into hiding; anger, which sends a man to war against his adversaries; or faith, which drives a man to prayer and trust in God. The first will derail his ministry; the second will distract him from his purpose; the third will develop his spiritual maturity. David chose the latter. Spurgeon observes "David when most wounded by undeserved persecution and wicked falsehood was glad to leave his matters at the foot of the throne, where they would be safe with the King of kings."
The prayer is imprecatory, and that is because ultimately all enemies of the child of God are enemies of God Himself. But, under grace as opposed to law, we are instructed, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect [5:43-48].”
The natural reaction to that is, “That could get you killed!” And indeed, it could, and has in more than one instance in church history. But, it is the King’s order. Temporal survival is not the issue. Eternity is all that really matters.
As David brings the issue before the Lord, he comes away with assurance and was no doubt enabled to go on his way rejoicing.
“I know…” He knows that his cause is safe in the hands of God, because his heart is right with God, and God is righteous. How did he know? By faith. He could anticipate the words of the living Word, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That is the kind of poverty that obtains assurance from the heart of God and enables one to say,”I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
The result of that assurance is thanksgiving. “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name.” As New Testament saints we have this assurance confirmed and sealed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name [Heb. 13:15].” Gratitude is the proper response to grace.
Then his confidence rises even higher, revealing a resurrection faith. “The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.” How rich is this thread in the word of God. Enoch resisted the tide of evil before the flood and “walked with God,” and went without dying. because “the Lord took him.” Job, afflicted by circumstances and maligned by his “friends,” could say, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me [Job 19:25-27].”
The Savior pledged, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” And the beloved apostle confirms this truth with these words, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is [I John 3:2].” Whatever life in this world may bring us, this is the “blessed hope” of those who have purified their souls by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” I trust you are one of them!
“And I shall see Him face to face, And tell the story, saved by grace.”
For His glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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