Let those that fear thee turn unto me,
And those that have known thy testimonies (Psa 119.79).
In the desolate wilderness of this unbelieving world where most call evil good and good evil and are wise in their own eyes, where hypocrisy and heresy prevail even within the visible church, and outside only utter godlessness and gross immorality, true Christians yearn for the comforts of spiritual fellowship. The psalmist describes those who would qualify as his like-minded companions, and from love to them and his own soul, not to mention the glory of God, prays that they may draw near to him.
QUALIFICATION FOR SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP
Truly spiritual people, that is, the saved (Rom 8.9), are described in this verse by two phrases which are meant to reinforce each other. Not two groups are in view, but one group which possesses
and exhibits these two traits.
The first characteristic trait is the “fear” of the LORD (cf. v. 75). The fear of God is a good thing, nay, an absolutely indispensable thing, and universally possessed by all true Christians (Prov 1.7). The absence of this is one of the telltale signs of all the unconverted. This is the last of a long list of vices mentioned by the apostle in his indictment of humanity without grace: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3.18 citing Psa 36.1).
This godly fear is born of faith that the true God really is, that he is altogether holy and righteous, and that he has absolute rights over all we are and have and do. From this godly fear the righteous dedicate themselves unreservedly to worship him, freely offering him praise, willingly carrying out his revealed will, and studiously avoiding anything that displeases him. When they fall short, they “sin against their will,” as it were (cf. Rom 7.15-23).
That blind, mindless, easy lifestyle which flagrantly and daily engages in thoughts and conduct displeasing to God, so that the person is not only a law-breaker but actually practices
lawlessness, this completely contradicts and disproves any profession of faith one may make. Those with no fear of God are either ordinary sinners or mere hypocrites, depending on their spiritual pretense or lack of it.
Further, without this reverential awe of God, one is completely unfit and disabled from any possibility of spiritual fellowship. In fact, such a person is godless and fundamentally at odds with
those whose hearts are renewed by sovereign grace.
The second characteristic of this noble band is that they all “have known thy testimonies,” and this, in the Hebrew conception, is more than mere intellectual awareness, but includes an affinity and love for the written Word. All those who fear the Lord, and only they, also receive and practice his “testimonies” (what God solemnly reveals to be his will 1). And how could it be otherwise? God complains of hypocrites that “they profess that they know God, but in works [i.e., obedience to his commandments, for there is no good work but that] they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit 1.16). He exposes the inconsistency of those who are supposedly his special people, who call him “Father” and “Master” but withhold the honor and fear that is due him (Mal 1.6). When the hypocrites protest that they are not guilty of despising God’s name, the Lord brings forth ample evidence against them from their deeds: “Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar,” and defective animals for sacrifice (Mal 1.7-8). In other words, there is no way that their grossly disobedient practice could coexist with an upright heart.
Dear friends, this explains why some professing Christians remain stubbornly unchanged even after patient teaching and faithful reproof for their sins. Instead of reforming through God’s chastening rod, they continue comfortable in their sins and presumptuously keep affirming they are true believers. It is all a soul-damning lie. They won’t maintain private and family devotions. They won’t rear their children in the fear of the Lord. They won’t commit to a sound local church and make conscience of attending all its stated meetings unless providentially-hindered. The Christian Sabbath means next to nothing to them. They need no Scriptural proof to continue in their sins, but they demand an elaborate case from those who exhort them to these basic Christian duties. Even when they hear the solemn prescriptions of the Ten Commandments, that sobering summary of God’s moral law, it is dismissed as legalism that a Christian should actually obey, and they remain unchanged.
It is clearly quite impossible for those with a tender conscience to have spiritual fellowship with these hypocrites, for what do they have in common with obedient believers in the spiritual realm?
Absolutely nothing! Their “religion” is a sham.
We would also note that such a truly spiritual fellowship was the psalmist’s intense desire.
DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP
“Let those [God-fearing, divine-commandment-loving people] turn unto me.” “The prophet asks that such may turn, or return unto him, i.e., that they may be his friends, his companions, his supporters.”2 This want, born in his heart by the Holy Spirit, takes wings on a prayer to God, that it may be satisfied. He pleads for the delight and comfort of spiritual fellowship.
It is not easy to stand against the “immoral majority,” which has surely always been the reality God’s true people face, especially when we must stand alone. There is something profoundly reassuring in being a living, connected member of the remnant of true believers, and as long as the biblical standards remain in place, the larger our group of godly companions grow, the more joy we feel by the grace of God. Wolves roam alone or in small packs; sheep feel most secure gathered in a flock by one shepherd. Charles Bridges sagely wrote,
As the believer finds trouble from the world, he prays that he may find help from the Lord’s people. The very sight of our Father’s family is cheering. It brings not only fellowship but help. . . . In the primitive [i.e., apostolic] church, . . . the members of the church generally “did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart; praising God, and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2.46-47). “Then,” as Chrysostom exultingly exclaims, “the Church was a little heaven.” Then they could say to each other, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” and even their heathen neighbors were awed and constrained into the confession, “See how these Christians love one another!” . . . “The communion of saints” was the peculiar feature of primitive Christianity, and ever since has formed an article of her faith; in proportion as we return to the primitive standard, we shall hold closer fellowship with each other
as “members of one body” (1 Cor 12.27), “considering one another, to provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb 10.24) [and, I might add, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb 10.25)].3
Who is this author that stands behind Psa 119.79 praying for saints to gather about him? Humanly speaking, it was most likely David, the king of Israel, but does not his holy desire reflect the
heart of his great Successor? This text gets to the very soul of the reason that Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Son of God, came into the world on a mission from his heavenly Father. Jesus came and preached and suffered and died and rose again to transform that great band of elect sinners into great saints and gather them all around his glorious throne for eternity, to the praise of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From eternity Christ desired spiritual fellowship with creatures made in God’s image. That is why Christ made them, called them, redeemed them, and gathers them to himself.
Thus, another one of the traits of real saints, besides the fear of God and the love of his commandments, is a love for Jesus Christ and his beloved followers (John 13.35). And if we really
desire this spiritual fellowship, we will pray for it and seize the opportunities to enjoy it as an active and committed member of a local church of Christ.
If anyone steadfastly refuses to be a real part of a church, or if he repudiates biblical fellowship with any local church, we must conclude that he is not saved, not really one of us after all (1 John 2.19).
These temporary congregations of Jesus’ baptized and gathered disciples in this age, called churches, when Christ returns in power and glory, all the true believers in them, whether dead or alive,
will be caught up together to be with our glorious Savior forever. Then Christ’s eternal prayer to his heavenly Father will be fully answered: “Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.” Come quickly, then, Lord Jesus, and enjoy the reward of your sacrifice. Amen.
Notes:
1. ESV Study Bible on Psa 119.
2. Plumer, in loc.
3. In loc.