Many are my persecutors and mine enemies;
Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies (Psa 119.157).
David testifies of his courageous faith to the praise of God’s glory, the encouragement of his fellow believers, and the consternation of his opponents. What a tribute to God’s grace and power that he takes sinners in bondage to the fear of man and makes them his undaunted worshippers! What an inspiration to us that such men have stood firm in biblical fidelity against all the opposition of this world, sometimes even to martyrdom! And what frustration their opponents have felt that these stalwarts would not bow to the prevalent idols with the rest of mankind!
At least the germ of courage is present in all saving faith. Scripture classes the cowardly with the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars, and foretells that all such shall be hurled into the lake of fire, suffering divine rejection and wrath (Rev 21.8). As Jesus warns his disciples of malicious persecutors, he exhorts us to have no fear of them, as all will come to light on Judgment Day (Matt 10.26), and it is much more reasonable to fear God who is able to destroy both soul and body into hell (Matt 10.28).
ITS OPPORTUNITY
Providence has planned and brought about exactly the kind of world in which we live. God has ordained that there should be prevalent enemies of the faithful in all generations until our Lord comes and consummates the new age. No doubt he has many wise reasons for including persecutions in his program for us, but one of them is to illustrate his worth in his saints who forsake the pursuit of all earthly good to possess him alone, the pearl of great price. This fearless worship also reveals the nobility of those who persistently offer it.
Courageous faith would be impossible apart from opposition, and every age is full of it. David wrote, “Many are my persecutors and mine enemies.” “Persecutors” pursue another unjustly in order to do him harm. They will not leave him alone. They seek opportunities to get him. The persecuted one is hunted as if by a pack of yelping dogs leading the killer to his prey. “Enemies” are adversaries, foes, oppressors—those who aim to torment and ruin the ones they hate.
A spiritually-minded person looks upon such circumstances as a great opportunity. Without this, we could not demonstrate the sincerity and extent of our faith in the Lord. As profound love of country is on public display in the loyal soldier on the battlefield with all of its dangers and sufferings, even so the precious faith of God’s elect never shines brighter than when, willing to pay any price, it stands against the hostility of this truculent1 world.
ITS EVIDENCE
Providence had provided many enemies to David and thus many opportunities to prove the reality of his faith. What began as a youthful charge to guard literal sheep against lions and bears was followed by facing down a literal giant, backed by the mighty Philistine army, defying God’s chosen people. Who can forget that glorious day when this young man, by common estimation a very unlikely champion, yet full of confidence in God, ran toward Goliath with a prayer and a sling and a stone, and by removing his head with his own great sword rallied all Israel’s troops to their immortal victory? His heroism was immediately evident to all, and they praised him. David’s whole life had him fighting enemies for God’s glory. By the time he wrote Psalm 119, he could testify with abundant evidence that he had kept the despised faith.
But what is the evidence he adduces here? His profession of faith? No. Even hypocrites say they believe. His list of defeated foes starting with Goliath and including the 200 Philistines he slew to marry his first wife? No. His large kingdom? His wealth? His respect from others? No, no, no.
The evidence of David’s courageous faith is this: “Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.” Despite all the danger it involves, “I keep true to your Word, O Lord; I carry out its precepts earnestly, comprehensively, faithfully.”
Note the present tense. David is not resting upon his laurels but speaking of a reality in his life at the time of writing.
“Decline” (now obsolete in this sense) means “to turn aside, turn away, swerve, deviate, or depart from the right.”2 This is true to the original which has connotations of apostasy.3
As with most of the verses of Psalm 119, a word referring to all of Scripture is here found, and in this case it is “testimonies,” what God solemnly testifies to be his will. No one is loyal to God who departs from the course of life required by his Word and adopts the lifestyle of a worldly person.
Thus we see that the proof of a courageous faith is a consistent commitment to obey God’s revealed will in the face of many opponents.
ITS TRADITION
God’s people have always been characterized by a principled nonconformity. We have been the live fish that swim upstream. We march to the beat of a different drum. As wicked Haman accused the Jews to the king in Persia,
There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people (Esth 3.8).
Similar accusations came against the Hebrews in Daniel’s day.
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Dan 3.12).
A New Testament example appears in the lives of Paul and Silas, when they were missionaries brought before the magistrates, and their enemies said of them,
These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans (Acts 16.20-21).
This spirit of nonconformity has echoes through all church history and still lives today.
ITS EXPLANATION
The cosmic reality is that while God’s people believe him with a living faith which obeys his Word, the whole world otherwise is under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5.19). Paul wrote of real Christians that we have been quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph 2.1-3).
And how did we come to a whole new course of life? Only by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ himself (Eph 2.4 ff.). When he came to us spiritually and took up residence in our souls, then we began to be renewed in his courageous image, who was faithful to his heavenly Father unto death, even the death of the cross.
Such a courageous faith is quite impossible apart from a living faith in this Christ. But for those who are in Christ, and in whom he dwells, courageous faith has begun and is inevitable, because it is the fruit of God’s redeeming work in us. Real Christians are former cowards. Now with Paul, we yearn to “know [Christ], and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death; if by any means we might attain unto the [glorious] resurrection of the dead” (Phil 3.10-11).
ITS CHALLENGE
Each of us should examine himself, whether he is alive with this spirit of Christ, and whether it prevails in his attitudes and conduct. Are we willing to suffer shame for our obedience to Scripture? As believers, are we excelling in a courageous faith? Let us all act like men (1 Cor 16.13) and boldly obey God’s Word. Amen.
Notes:
1 Fierce, cruel, combative, bullying, browbeating, intimidating, etc.
2 King James Bible Wordbook.
3 TWOT 1352.