Psalms 119:81-88 (Kaf) I am dying to know your salvation; my hope is in your word. (82) My eyes fail from watching for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” (83) For I have shriveled like a wineskin in a smoky room; still, I don’t forget your laws. (84) How long can your servant stay alive? When will you bring judgment on my persecutors? (85) The arrogant have dug pits for me to fall in; this is not in keeping with your Torah! (86) All your mitzvot [show your] faithfulness; they are hounding me with lies; help me! (87) They have nearly ended my life on earth, but I have not abandoned your precepts. (88) In keeping with your grace, revive me; and I will observe your spoken instructions.
The Psalmist is not crying out for salvation of soul, but to be delivered from the devastating situation he has found himself in. And where does he run to for help? Not his therapist. Not the court system. He does not complain to his friends. He doesn’t try to run away and hide from his problems. He turns to the Word of G-d, his hope is in the Word as he waits for G-d to fulfill His promise according to His Word.
The idea is that of digging a pit in order to capture animals. If you dug a pit and your neighbor’s ox fell into it, you’d have to pay for the ox (Ex. 21:33-34).
What are you going to let affect your life the most, troubles, or the Word?
Paul had lived a rough life as an apostle. By the time you get to Acts 20, he’s had all sorts of troubles. He writes of some of them in 2Corinthians, which was written around the time of Acts 20:1. Here’s some of what he’s faced as he contrasts himself with some of the false teachers of the day:
2 Cor 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Yeshua? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. {24} Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. {25} Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; {26} In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; {27} In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
By the time of Acts 20, Paul had started making the rounds of the churches he had planted and was collecting money for the church in Jerusalem because a famine had struck Jerusalem. As he made his way back to Jerusalem, one prophet after another received a word from G-d saying that Paul was going to be arrested in Jerusalem. When he stopped to visit with the elders of the church in Ephesus, where he had spent three years …
Acts 20:17-24 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. {18} And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, {19} Serving Adonai with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: {20} And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, {21} Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our messiah Yeshua. {22} And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: {23} Save that the Ruach HaKodesh witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. {24} But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of Yeshua the Messiah, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul had learned much about affliction, and he wasn’t about to let it stop him from what G-d had called him to do. His focus was on G-d, not on his affliction.
The same attitude is what will defeat Satan in a great battle coming up where Satan will be cast out of heaven once and for all:
Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of Yeshua: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. {11} And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
What moves you?
