Posted on 10/13/2015 5:43:18 AM PDT by Gamecock
“Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes” (v. 155). - Psalm 119:153–160
Repeatedly throughout Psalm 119, the author calls attention to the fact that he keeps the law of God while wicked men hate and trample upon our Lord’s statutes (for example, vv. 101–102, 139, 150). This faithfulness is even given by the author as one of the reasons why the Lord should rescue him (v. 153). And in today’s passage, the author even links God’s commandments to salvation, telling us that the wicked do not experience redemption because “they do not seek [God’s] statutes” (v. 155).
This idea might seem strange to our ears, for we are accustomed to emphasizing the biblical truth that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Gal. 2:15–16). How, then, can the psalmist teach us that the reason why salvation is far from the wicked is because they do not seek after the Lord’s statutes, or endeavor to do His law? After all, we know that our redemption is not by doing the law of God.
The answer lies in understanding the right place of the law of the Lord in salvation. True, the salvation of sinners is not accomplished by their keeping the commandments. Yet, that does not mean that the law has no role in the redemption of sinners. For we know that we cannot even begin to understand the depth of our sin and our need for the Savior until we are confronted with the demands of God as He has revealed them in His commandments and statutes (Rom. 7:7–11). Salvation is far from wicked people who have no interest in the Lord’s commands because they are not exposed to the depth of their depravity while they have no contact with His written law. Certainly, this does not mean that those who are never exposed to the Bible can be excused for their law-breaking. All people know enough of God’s demands via their consciences to render them inexcusable for their failure to live up to His moral law (see Rom. 1:18–2:29). The point is that when people do not seek the Lord’s statutes as revealed in Scripture, they are better able to suppress the truth that they do know, and they end up further away from salvation than they would be if they had access to the Word of God.
All of this impresses upon us the importance of knowing God’s law. Moreover, it also reveals the necessity of preaching the law of the Lord. Churches and preachers that avoid proclaiming our Creator’s statutes are doing a disservice to their people, for they are robbing them of the awareness of sin and their need for the gospel that comes via the law of God.
Coram Deo
We will not be saved by our own keeping of the law, for we are sinners and cannot keep the law perfectly. However, exposure to the law of God is necessary for salvation, for it is by the law that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and prepares us for the gospel. As many have said, you cannot know the good news of grace without first knowing the bad news of the condemnation under which we stand as lawbreakers. Let us encourage our churches in the preaching and teaching of God’s law.
Passages for Further Study
2 Kings 22:8And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found ithe Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” 10 Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, jhe tore his clothes. 12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and kAhikam the son of Shaphan, and lAchbor the son of lMicaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is mthe wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, son of nHarhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in othe Second Quarter), and they talked with her. 15 And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, 16 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. 18 But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, 19 because your heart was penitent, and you rhumbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become sa desolation and a curse, and you uhave torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord. 20 Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.’ ” And they brought back word to the king.
Nehemiah 9
Matthew 19:And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Galatians 3:15 To give a human example, brothers:6 even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, tin order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave7 nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Ping!
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