Princes also did sit and speak against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes (Psa 119.23).

Most of us are easily hurt if anyone criticizes us, but how much greater a trial would it be if those with authority over us were to exercise their official power in condemning us! While rare for Americans today, many of our brethren have had to suffer this terrible ordeal throughout church history. The psalmist testifies of enduring this kind of personal trouble, and he tells us of the remedy he had discovered.

We use the term “remedy” not in the sense of a cure, so that he was taken out of the painful circumstances, but in the sense of a therapy, so that he could be comforted in them, helped to know what he ought to do, and strengthened to do it.

A true Christian resorts to meditation on the Word of God when facing great opposition.

Even though we do not face exactly the same problem, we stand to benefit from a careful examination of this precious text.

GREAT OPPOSITION

“Princes also did sit and speak against me.” The Hebrew for “princes” does not necessarily mean royalty but it does signify people with official governmental authority of some kind or other, for it means “rulers, [those] holding dominion over [others]” (TWOT). These were “sitting” in their official capacity, as if in conference or tribunal, and speaking in some way, for example, in plotting against or judicially condemning. Not only did the common people hold the psalmist in reproach and contempt (Psa 119.22), but so also did governors, who had power to do him great harm.

David personally experienced this after he had been divinely chosen and anointed to serve as Israel’s next king, but before he had ascended to power, and while unfaithful Saul was still on the throne, assisted by his conspirators. Saul, jealous of David’s accomplishment in slaying Goliath and feeling threatened by David’s meteoric rise to fame and popularity, despised David and determined to kill him. David’s circumstances were so precarious for quite a long time that he had to flee for his life, hiding as a fugitive in the wilderness, and even taking refuge among the idol-worshiping Philistines. During that period of his life, he said, “Truly as the LORD liveth, . . . there is but a step between me and death” (1 Sam 20.3). We know from the historical record that God preserved David against incredible odds, and he went on to become one of Israel’s greatest kings.

Centuries later the Son of David also faced great opposition from governmental authorities, both Jewish and Gentile. Jesus was condemned by the ruling Jews (the Sanhedrin), Herod, and Pontius Pilate, and Christ received a sentence to die by ghastly crucifixion.

What did these men of God do in the crucible of such great, threatening, oppressive opposition?

A REMEDY UNDER GREAT OPPOSITION

In both cases, and along with saints in all ages, they resorted to communion with God in and through His Word, the Holy Scriptures: “but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.” Very close in thought to this verse is Psa 119.161, “Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.” This awe inspires meditation on the sacred text, and meditation increases awe.

Whether the government’s persecution is just temporary or ultimately makes one a martyr, this discipline of spiritual meditation on the Word of God is always the safest and most comfortable course for true believers. Biblical meditation strengthens our resolve to remain loyal to God despite such intimidating pressures to compromise. It distracts us from meditating only upon our troubles. It consoles us that our trials are only temporary, and that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8.18). It inspires us with the courageous faithfulness of our brethren in other ages, and under the worst imaginable circumstances, so that we may be much more bold to speak the Word without fear (Phil 1.12-14).

Christopher Love was an eminently godly and faithful Puritan minister whom God called to face execution by beheading on August 22, 1651. He had been unjustly condemned to death by the government of England, but Love “possessed his soul” with stunning and manly grace. While standing upon the scaffold with the executioner, Love was allowed to speak. He made statements about the case for the record and then he preached truths he judged to be of the most potential benefit to his hearers. We would share significant excerpts from his final speech so you can appreciate his spirit, though this is just a portion and the whole account is well worth reading.¹

I am made this day a spectacle unto God, angels, and men; and among men I am made a grief to the godly, a laughing stock to the wicked, and a gazing stock to all, yet, blessed be my God, not a terror to myself. Although there is but little between me and death, yet this bears up my heart: there is but little between me and heaven. . . .

Many judge that I suffer not for the Word of God or for conscience but for meddling with state matters. To this I shall briefly say it is an old guise of the devil to impute the cause of God’s people’s sufferings to be contrivements against the state, when in truth it is their religion and conscience they are persecuted for. . . .

This scaffold is the best pulpit that I ever preached in. In my church pulpit, God, through His grace, made me an instrument to bring others to heaven, but in this pulpit He will bring me to heaven. These are the last words I shall speak in this world, and it may be I shall bring more glory to God by this one speech on a scaffold than I have done by many sermons in a pulpit. . . .

I bless my God, a high court, a long sword, a bloody scaffold have not made me in the least to alter my principles or to wrong my conscience. . . .

I bless my God I have not the least trouble upon my spirit, but I do with as much quietness of mind lie down (I hope I shall) upon the block as if I were going to lie down upon my bed or take my rest. . . . And now I am to commend my soul to God and to receive my fatal blow. I am comforted in this: Though men kill me, they cannot damn me; and though they thrust me out of the world, yet they cannot shut me out of heaven. I am going to my long home and you are going to your short homes; but, I will tell you, I shall be at home before you. I shall be at my Father’s house before you will be at your own houses. . . .

Now how could anyone be strengthened to withstand a government with power over his life and to speak like that, moments before they lopped off his head? Only by the faith that increases through long hours of meditating upon God’s statutes. As Love’s biographer Don Kistler explains,

Christopher Love was a Covenanter. One of the things that makes them unique is their commitment to exclusive psalmody, and their strict keeping of the Sabbath. . . . Mary Love (Christopher’s beloved wife) remembered this about her husband’s days in the towers of London: “He was observed many times to sing the 56th Psalm and the 35th Psalm, with several others which he made as his songs in the hours of his pilgrimage.” The words to these psalms are worthy of note, and give us further insight into how Love saw his plight (ibid.).

Knowing that these psalms in particular strengthened our martyred brother to stand courageously against the government of his day and to look death squarely in the face, we may read them with increased interest. In sum, Psalm 35 is a plea for God to deal with one’s enemies and to vindicate the oppressed saint. Psalm 56 is similar, except that it emphasizes the comfort a persecuted believer experiences in remembering that God sympathizes with him and will grant ultimate deliverance.

If God’s Word is a remedy in such catastrophic circumstances, then it must be blessedly helpful in lesser troubles, but we have a responsibility to apply it to our soul’s maladies. I cannot overemphasize the urgent necessity for each of you to make purposeful, prayerful meditation upon short passages of Scripture your daily discipline, except on days when you are truly and providentially hindered. Without this you will lose your spiritual resolve, at least to a large degree. Without meditation on Scripture you will obsess over much less significant problems and suffer needlessly. You will start to lose perspective and think the trials you face are much greater and longer than they really are. You will begin succumbing to cowardice and doing things you know are wrong because others pressure you into them. You will remain silent when you should speak up, and hate yourself afterwards for your own timidity.

A true Christian resorts to meditation on the Word of God when facing great opposition, and even before great opposition comes. Will you live as a true Christian and enjoy the blessings of it? The Lord give us all grace to do so. Amen.

Notes:

1. A Spectacle Unto God: The Life and Death of Christopher Love, by Don Kistler, Soli Deo Gloria publications. Available from Ligonier Ministries.