“The double-minded I despise,

but Your law I love.” vs113

We are weak, poor, and helpless sinners, but we love the law of God. Paul says,

“In me, that is my flesh, dwells no good thing.” [Rom 7:18]

He also says,

“I delight in the law of God in the inner man.” [Rom 7:22]

We have two natures warring inside us, so we cannot do what we want [Gal 5:17]. We have an enemy who will not die, though he is dead. This is why we fail at serving God: we must be born again AND helped by the Spirit!

The new man is not strong enough, but he can be strengthened [Eph 6:10]. God’s might and power is sufficient.

Do not look to yourself: Look to what you are by faith. You are washed, you are new, and you do love God. You love His people [1 John 5:1].

Secondly, don’t put your hope in the world but in the word of God.

“You are my hiding place and my shield;

I put my hope in Your word.” vs114

One small “l” will give you a loss. The world is a sinking ship, a hotbed for temptation and strife, but the word of God is peace, conviction, and healing; it is power over sin and right thoughts; it is goodness to us.

How often do we come to the word confused and leave believing? How often are our thoughts restored and our hearts renewed?

Don’t read the word for cleverness, but for soul comfort. Don’t use it to attack, but use it for you!

Thirdly, the Lord God is responsible for keeping us, and we will be kept!

“Sustain me as You promised, that I may live;

let me not be ashamed of my hope.” vs116

He has promised, and He will not break it, so let us trust in Him. The difference between anxiety and peace… despair and hope… proud self confidence and humble faith… is the PROMISE OF GOD! Whoever leans on Him shall be safe. If He won’t uphold us, then what can we do?

Don’t be so foolish to trust in yourself! He that trusts his own heart or the strength of his own legs is a fool.

Fourthly, we love His testimonies because of the wrath of God.

“All the wicked on earth You discard like dross;

therefore I love Your testimonies.” vs119

It is wrath that makes us say, “Thank God for Christ.” Take away the consequences for sin - the loss of peace, joylessness, and confusion… take away the horrors of hell - and you do not have a reason for obedience.

God is an Independent Being who finds holiness essential to His character. Holiness is His happiness; it is justice and truth, purity and infinite goodness.

We are wise to find God the source of our pleasures also. There is a reward in His presence and precepts. Keep on believing the gospel and living it towards others. Walk in love and reap the benefits.

During this time of ethnic strife in the Western church, I have found LOVE to be a tonic. We know so much, and yet love so little. Therefore, our faith is small. In this time of adversity, we have wavered. Yet, love covers the multitude of sins, love forgives my neighbor, and love speaks the truth better than I do often.

So we go back to the drawing board and ask, “How can I love better?” God gladly grants this, because this is why the adversity came - to grow His church in service to the gospel… to expose secret sins for healing.

Finally, we fear God, just like we ought.

“My flesh trembles in awe of You;

I stand in fear of Your judgments.” vs120

We fear Him with reverence and respect. We fear His chastisements, and He has bound our heart with fear [Jer 32:39-40]! We fear departing, because we never want to go back. We fear temptation overcoming us, sin overtaking us, and we fear bringing reproach upon our ministry and disqualifying ourselves. We fear being a failure and a laughingstock (because of sin,) and we fear getting off our mission!

These good fears bring us to God, because we cast them upon Him, spread our cause before Him, and humble ourselves in prayer [Isa 37:14]. We repent because repentance is good, and we listen for warnings in the word, following the direction that He gives us.