The proud have had me greatly in derision:
Yet have I not declined from thy law (Psa 119.51).
One of the most difficult temptations you will ever face as a Christian is ridicule for your faith, but by God’s grace, you can overcome even this.
THE FIRE
“The proud have had me greatly in derision.” The majestic vocabulary and rhythm of this statement may seem to remove it from any experiences you have ever had. The rendering of one paraphrase is, “Proud people always make fun of me,” and this is not far off the mark, except that the use of the word “fun” introduces a lightness not warranted by the Hebrew text. Still, we can start to see that the psalmist is testifying of a kind of misery that may even be experienced in a modern office environment, or in one’s own family.
“The proud” generally refers to unbelievers, though they rarely think of themselves this way because they lack humility! The original word . . .
is frequently used to refer to three specific aspects of pride. One is presumption. Because a person is proud he presumes too much in his favor, especially in the sense of authority. . . . The second aspect is rebellion or disobedience. Because the person is proud he asserts his own will to the point of rebelling against one in authority over him. . . . The third, closely related to the second, carries the additional element of willful decision.1
When non-Christians hear God’s Word and refuse to believe it, continuing to live as they please despite the clear commands and prohibitions of Scripture, they are showing themselves to be “the proud” in this sense. God hates the proud and condemns them (Psa 119.21; Prov 6.16-17; 8.13; 15.25; Isa 13.11, etc.).
By saying that the proud “have had me in great derision,” the psalmist is bearing witness of having to suffer their intense mocking scorn for his open profession of faith and faithfulness to the Lord. They were not just “making fun” of him, but mercilessly, spitefully, and intensely ridiculing him. The Hebrew for “greatly” means “pertaining to a very high point on a scale of extent.”2
This is the very thing Jesus suffered of His enemies while He hung on the cross, as the psalmist had prophesied.
But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him (Psa 22.6-8; cf. Matt 27.39-44).
One of the blessings of heaven is that it is completely devoid of proud scoffers. Everyone there openly confesses their love for God and His people, and this only promotes more love and mutual regard in that exclusive community of saints. But as long as we live in this world, we must suffer general disrespect and worse from unbelievers because of our identification with Christ. This is a fire through which real Christians must pass, so we should not think it is a strange thing, or that we have done something bad to deserve it. See 1 Pet 4.12-14.
THE FAITH
This ridicule is a threat, temptation, and a trial. It intimidates unbelievers from making a profession in the first place. It powerfully entices believers to forsake our faith, or at least to keep it to ourselves. It tests the sincerity of our faith because only the sincere are ultimately willing to cling to the Lord at all costs. Calvin observed,
Many who, in other respects, would be disposed to fear God, yield to this temptation. The earth has always been filled with the impious contemners [scoffers, scorners] of God, and at this day it is almost overrun with them. Therefore, if we do not disregard their reviling, there will be no stability in our faith.3
To the praise of God’s preserving grace, the psalmist honestly testified in prayer to God, “yet I have not declined from thy law.” The man of faith does not turn aside from God’s law because of the intense ridicule of unbelievers. A true saint keeps hearing it, reading it, meditating upon it, loving it, and putting it into practice, though the more he does so, the more irritated his unbelieving scoffers become. The psalmist appeals to the fruit of obedience to God’s Word as proof of spiritual integrity in the face of opposition.
How can anyone have this kind of robust faith? On what grounds do real Christians effectively go against the disapproval of the majority of people in this world?
First, saving faith is joined to a supreme love for God. Those who prize Him and His approval more than anything else will not be dissuaded though a multitude of sinners disapprove. This is the lover’s ethic which treasures all behavior that draws him nearer the object of his affections.
Second, a true believer fears God more than anyone or anything else. Jesus urged this holy fear upon His disciples as one of the resources they would need in the difficult days ahead (Matt 10.28). Imagine you must escape from a room with two doors. Guarding one door is a large, ferocious lion which could easily rip you into pieces with his sharp claws and then crush your bones in his powerful jaws. Standing in front of the other door is a very angry Chihuahua, snapping and snarling, daring you to pass his way. Which door will you choose? Friends, Jesus is assuring you that all the malice of unbelievers is like the little mad dog compared to the fierce and eternal wrath of God! Only by going against the world and by trusting and obeying the Lord will we find Him a refuge from the pending flood of judgment against sinners.
The godly man, so far from turning aside from the right way, did not even slacken his pace, or in any sense fall off from his holy habits. Many would have declined [from God’s law], many have declined, but David did not do so. It is paying too much honor to fools to yield half a point to them. Their unhallowed mirth will not harm us if dogs pay no attention to it, even as the moon suffers nothing from the dogs that bay at her. God’s law is our highway of peace and safety, and those who would laugh us out of it wish us no good (Spurgeon).4
Listen, my friend. This passage calls you to exercise faith under fire. It must not matter if the person arrogant towards God is your husband or wife, your children or your parents, your supervisor or teacher, your coworkers or your classmates. This is a test of your faith and your loyalty to God! Do you love Him and want to please Him more than these? Do you have a sensible and healthy fear of Him more than you fear offending these?
It is not hard at all to find out what you’re made of spiritually speaking. First, has your testimony ever been obvious enough and your walk holy enough for unbelievers to be convinced that you are different than they are? If not, no wonder your “Christianity” has not cost you anything!
Second, if you have dared to speak up for the gospel and righteousness, and made the principled choices that expose the sins of others (e.g., keeping the Lord’s Day holy when faced with pressure to attend the family function instead), and then their predictable disapproval and mocking scorn sounds in your ears like that yapping dog, how did you respond? Are you unflappable, boldly determined to continue your hearty commitment biblical standards? Or do you “fold up like a cheap suit?”
There’s your answer, right there! If you have real, saving faith, then as a rule, you will be able to confess to the Lord as David did, “The proud had me greatly in derision: yet I have not declined from thy law.” Otherwise, I urge you to turn from this debilitating, idolatrous fear of man, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.
Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him [Jesus]; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12.42-43).
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful [cowardly, ESV], the unbelieving [faithless, ESV] . . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev 21.7-8).
Whatever you do, don’t be among the cowardly and faithless on that great Day! May the Lord give us all the grace we need to exhibit faith under fire and to prove spiritual overcomers at last. Amen.