Psalm 119


Psalm 119 is majestic.

There are a lot of opinions about the nature of this psalm, and many questions have been raised, wondering who wrote it. I don't know who it was, but in my opinion,  it was written by an ancient charismatic.

Thy testimonies [are] wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. Psa 119:129

...my soul doth keep (conform to) them...
thy testimonies are wonderful (as "omens", they portend the miraculous)..

God's testimonies are those various ways he manifests himself to us, demonstrating to us the reality of his existence. Particular among his testimonies are the many various ways he communicates with us.

And there are various ways that God communicates with mankind. "My sheep know my voice...", the Lord said. every believer has some way of "knowing" the Lord's voice by his "witnesses" (or, "testimonies"). Some have heard God speak in an audible voice, as the disciples hearing a voice speaking, "This is my beloved Son. Hear ye him." Though it may be unusual to experience his voice in such dramatic fashion, or in dramatic "signs", or unusual miracles, there is always some way for every believer to hear the personalized testimonies of God. And whenever you do, know this: His testimonies portend the
miraculous

Many believers (charismatics, for example) know the voice of God as an inward "leading", or "conviction", given by the Holy Spirit. Those who are the Sons of God are led this way, by the Holy Spirit. This type of "leading" is a thematic topic that infuses the entire psalm.

Great [are] thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
Many [are] my persecutors and mine enemies; [yet] do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.  Psa 119:156-8

Many are my persecutors, and (or even) my enemies...
...I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved...
but, ...quicken me according to thy judgments..
...I do not decline from thy testimonies.

Verse 129 talks about conforming to the "testimony" of the Holy Spirit's "inward witnesses". Verse 157 talks about not "declining" from them, but could also be interpreted as "not going above and beyond" them, and it's particularly important not to go above and beyond them, when dealing with one's persecutors, or enemies - which is the point of verse 158, saying, in essence "I despise vindictiveness... it grieves me, whenever I see it."

So here you have the simplest advice, as to how to handle conflict: Take it to the Lord, and respond just as he tells you to - just that much, and no more. If he tells you to write a letter, write a letter. If he tells you to send a bill, send a bill. If he tells you to go to court, go to court.

And if he tells you to apologize, then apologize. Maybe it's you who is in the wrong.

But, always be extremely cautious about overcompensating in returning a reaction for the action of your enemy. Whatever you do, don't nurse a grudge, and become vindictive.

For more on this topic, consider the message of
psalm 58.


psalms

back home