Thinking About Backsliding
Psalms 119:169-176
March 27, 2020
Tonight we come to the final stanza of this magnificent 119th Psalm.
The Psalm that pays such a tremendous tribute
To the perfection and power of the Word of God.
But when we read this Psalm, I think if we’re honest,
It doesn’t end like most of us would expect.
We started back with a man who almost appeared lost.
• Back in that first stanza he was lamenting his disobedience as he noticed that it
was the obedient who were truly blessed.
• He almost immediately committed himself to obey God’s word.
• He became a real role model for the church.
• No matter the affliction or oppression he seemed to cling to God’s word.
• He wrote beautiful tributes regarding how much he loved God’s word.
As the Psalm comes to a close it really seems like it should conclude
Almost with A EULOGY of how living his life in obedience
Had gained him that blessed life he sought way back in the first stanza.
Something like:
“You word has proven true and every act of obedience has brought blessing upon blessing.”
I don’t know, something sort of uplifting and bold and inspirational.
That’s really what we expect.
But I can tell you what we didn’t expect.
WE DIDN’T EXPECT THE ENDING WE GOT.
(176) “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.”
None of us saw that one coming.
• After all his strength and endurance through so much oppression
• We never thought we’d see the Psalmist make a statement like “I have gone astray like a lost sheep”
Perhaps we gain some insight there.
In some respect it’s actually EASIER TO BE COMMITTED to God’s word during affliction and oppression.
• Many of you can give testimony about how during the darkest times in your life that you were actually more committed to the Word of God.
• However, as you also know, those times of ease and comfort can actually be a time when our commitment to God’s word can falter.
Oh, we don’t intentionally walk away from God’s word.
We don’t throw up our hands and say, “I’m done.”
It’s just that when life is rolling along and things are clicking
We often times fail to see our need and our commitment can regress.
Satan actually loves to attack us in times like these.
He loves to use our comfort and our pride
And to tempt us to back away from God’s word.
For Satan knows that if he can pull us out of the Bible
He can help our evil heart lead us into all kinds of danger.
And perhaps that is what happened to our Psalmist.
• Perhaps the affliction ended…
• Perhaps the oppression is over…
• Perhaps a period of ease and comfort set in…
And the next thing you know the Psalmist is confessing to God that
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep”
“gone astray” there is a Hebrew word that simply means “to wander”
It’s not necessarily defiant, it may just be CLUELESS.
I had a basset hound that used to put his nose down and follow it and then a few hours later he didn’t have a clue where he was. His nose got him in trouble.
Sheep are the same way.
One of the best pastoral books I’ve read is called: “The Shepherd Leader” by Timothy Witmer.
He looks at pastoring from the perspective of actually shepherding sheep.
One of the things he notes is that when caring for sheep,
Perhaps the most important tool you can have is a fence.
Sheep are curious, and they aren’t all that discerning of danger.
They’ll eat what they shouldn’t eat, drink what they shouldn’t drink,
And go where they shouldn’t go.
In short, they wander.
And by following their own curiosity
They often times end up lost and in trouble.
That is the admission of our Psalmist.
He got caught ignoring God’s word and following his own logic.
Certainly it brings to mind the Admonition of Solomon.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Solomon specifically warned us not to
lean on [our] own understanding”.
It’s the great human temptation.
How often we are caught trying to follow our own logic and wisdom
As opposed to what God says to do.
But that is always a recipe for disaster.
We don’t know what God knows.
Isaiah 55:6-9 “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We are always better off when we obey God
And deny our own wisdom and logic.
And Scripture continually reminds us of this.
Proverbs 9:1-6 “Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city: “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says, “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. “Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.”
• We are again told to forsake our folly that we might live.
• We always should ignore our own ways of thinking that we might obey the voice of the Lord.
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he said:
1 Timothy 4:13-16 “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
It’s a great statement.
• Just read it Timothy!
• Just preach it Timothy!
• Just explain it Timothy!
God’s word has power to “ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
What a great testimony to the effect of God’s word.
And when Timothy was struggling, Paul told him again:
2 Timothy 3:14-15 “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
As Timothy struggled, Paul DIDN’T offer him some sort of psychology or counseling he again told him to get in the word.
Those “sacred writings…are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation”
What a promise!
When Peter wrote to a scattered church, he reminded them:
1 Peter 2:1-3 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”
• Peter told that scattered flock that they needed to crave the word.
• It was the agent by which they would grow.
And when he addressed them again he said:
2 Peter 1:19 “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
• There is only one guide through darkness.
• There is only one guide through difficult times.
• Pay attention to it!
We’re studying 1 John and we’re learning about apostates who fall away from the church, but John reminds that it is God’s word which helps to hold us fast.
1 John 2:24 “As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.”
• Do you want to stay, then stay in the word.
• It will keep you from straying; it will keep you from wandering away.
IT’S ALL THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE.
And IT’S NOT LIKE the Psalmist didn’t know this.
He’s already referenced this several time.
Psalms 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”
Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
The Psalmist knows this and yet here we are.
What is more, I’m sure we all understand where he is coming from.
Isaiah 53:6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
We even sing:
“Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…”
It reminds us that even the strongest among us
Must resist the temptation to follow our own logic.
We cannot grow lax here.
• We must read it and study it and stay glued to it.
• It is our protection, it is our guide, it keeps us from straying.
And yet still we find our Psalmist in the predicament.
And here we look at this final stanza.
• It is filled with regret and humility
• And a heartfelt desire to be delivered
• That he might take hold of the correct path.
He has now realized that he is “a sheep in trouble”.
• He has wandered.
• And now, from some deep thicket, the Psalmist is crying out
• In hope that his Shepherd will hear him and come rescue him.
• As he waits, he reassesses his failure and makes a new commitment.
You can almost hear him saying, “I wish this had been my commitment all along and then I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
SO TONIGHT let’s listen to the final stanza as our Psalmist has backslidden and let’s listen to his prayer as he seeks to be revived.
If you find yourself in that condition, this stanza is a great place to start.
3 things here tonight.
#1 HIS HELPLESS CRY
Psalms 119:169-170
As you read these two verses just see that lamb, caught in the thicket.
• It’s getting dark…
• It’s getting cold…
• The wolves are howling…
This man followed his own logic and wandered away from the Shepherd
And now he’s in quite a dilemma.
And all he can do is cry for help and hope his Shepherd hears him.
(169) “Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.”
• I realize I have ignored Your word of late.
• I realize reading Your word has not been my priority.
• But I sure would like to hear Your voice right now!
What I wouldn’t give to hear my Shepherd
Give me a bonified directive right about now.
I’d sure like to know what to do.
I’d sure like to know which way to go.
(170) “Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word.”
It’s the same cry again.
Please hear me and please tell me what to do!
His pride is gone.
• At this point he’s not interested in arguing with God at all.
• If God says, “Go right” you’d better believe he’s going right.
• He’s learned that following his own logic and neglecting the Divine Word is a massive mistake.
• He never thought it would end up here.
AND TAKE FROM THIS TWO GREAT POINTS.
1) This is where you will inevitably end up if you neglect God’s word. So don’t do it.
2) If you have neglected God’s word and have ended up here, then this is a great prayer.
Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 40:10-11 “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”
The simple fact is that our God is a God who answers the helpless cry.
• SO if you’ve made the mistake of neglecting God’s word to follow your own logic.
• If you have gotten in trouble because you have leaned on your own understanding.
Then follow the cry of the Psalmist here.
His Helpless Cry
#2 HIS HUMBLE CONFESSION
Psalms 119:171-172
You understand this.
If you’ve ever been a bad predicament,
Sometimes there is relief in thinking about how good it’s going to be
When you get out of it.
“How great will it feel when this is over!”
Well that’s what our Psalmist is doing here.
“Let my lips utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes.”
Once you answer and tell me which way to go, I already know the song I’m going to sing!
• I’m going to sing about how You instruct me
• I’m going to sing about how Your words are good.
(172) “Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.”
Not only is he going to lift his voice in praise to God, but he’s going to sing in testimony for the world to hear.
• He’s going to sing to others about how great God’s word is.
• He’s going to sing to others about how straight God’s path is.
• He’s going to sing to others about how “all Your commandments are righteousness.”
I can’t wait to tell the world about what a blunder I made ignoring God’s word and how great His word is to deliver.
And in that we see WHAT HE HAS LEARNED.
“all Your commandments are righteousness.”
Perhaps he had come to place in his life where reading or studying God’s word HAD BECOME BURDENSOME.
• Perhaps he had grown bored studying.
• Perhaps God’s word was too binding or outdated.
• Perhaps he seemed to have a better way.
Whatever it was, he had clearly seen fit to
Devalue his commitment to God’s word and had set it aside.
But after a little affliction, my how his tune has changed.
“all Your commandments are righteousness.”
He wouldn’t dare say that about his own logic or wisdom.
It was his logic that ended him up here.
Now he has a new confession.
Now he has praise only for God’s way of thinking, not his own.
I’ve heard many of you parents talk about the day when your child is grown and they are out on their own and they come back home and say, “I just want to apologize. I didn’t think you had any idea what you were talking about, but now I can see that you were right and I was stupid.”
The Psalmist is giving that speech to God.
It is HIS HUMBLE CONFESSION.
And again I remind you that if you have neglected God’s word
And have landed in peril, this is your prayer.
It’s time to voice your confession to Him.
Hosea 14:1-2 “Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.”
I always like that mandate from Hosea.
When you return to God, “Take words with you and return to the LORD”
Don’t just try to sweep your blunder under the rug.
Go to Him and confess your sin and tell him what a mistake you made.
And again we know the promise.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Well that is where our Psalmist is.
His Helpless Cry, His Humble Confession
#3 HIS HOPEFUL COMMITMENT
Psalms 119:173-176
This is the longest segment of the stanza and rightfully so,
For this stanza outlines his commitment.
It details how he’s going to do things differently.
Repentance isn’t repentance if it doesn’t change your behavior.
And so we see this commitment.
(173b) “I have chosen Your precepts.”
• You know, I’ve been thinking it over and I think from here on out I’m going to go ahead and do things Your way.
• I have put my words behind my back and chosen Yours.
(174b) “Your law is my delight.”
• Gone are the days of disdaining having to read his bible, he wants to read his bible now!
Our family listened to Corie Ten Boom’s “The Hiding Place” on our Spring Break trip.
While in prison all she really wants is one thing and that’s a Bible.
And how delighted she is when a lady is able to smuggle her the 4 gospels.
And then her sister-in-law gets her a full Bible which she smuggles everywhere she goes.
It is the most prized possession.
Now she is hearing from God.
You get the idea that our Psalmist has learned his lesson.
(175b) “let Your ordinances help me.”
• It’s as much a commitment as it is a request.
• No longer let my words be my guide.
• No longer let my thoughts be my help.
• I’m coming to You.
In that same Corrie Ten Boom book she tells the story of how while she was in prison she got word that her father had died.
She is heartbroken and in solitary confinement and desperately wants to share it with another human to receive some comfort so she cries out to the guard and tells her. Of course she receives nothing from the guard.
And she makes the statement that I messed up seeking comfort from men when I had God here through His word to comfort me all along.
There you have the Psalmist.
I’m not going anywhere else for my help any more.
From here on out, no matter the dilemma,
“let Your ordinances help me.”
(176b) “For I do not forget Your commandments.”
• Perhaps for a while I did, but I don’t anymore.
• I play them over and over in my mind.
• I know exactly where I deviated from the path.
God, You have my attention.
I am listening.
It’s HIS COMMITMENT.
And it’s a good commitment to make to the Lord.
And it is based upon this commitment that
Our Psalmist is hopeful that His Shepherd
Will seek him, find him, and help him.
• (173) “Let Your hand be ready to help me”
• (174) “I long for Your salvation”
• (175) “Let my soul live that it may praise You”
• (176) “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,”
Our Psalmist has blown it
• He neglected God’s word to follow his own logic.
• He wandered like a sheep.
And now from his misfortune
• He has humbled himself
• And cried out to God in repentance and commitment.
And once again we rejoice because
We know that our God responds to such commitment.
Our Psalmist prayed that God would “seek Your servant.”
And how much of the Bible is devoted to this topic!
In the prophet Ezekiel we read of Israel’s wicked shepherds who did not care for the sheep and as a result they were scattered.
Ezekiel 34:6 “My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.”’”
And yet God promised to deliver them Himself.
Ezekiel 34:11-16 “For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. “As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. “I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. “I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. “I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord GOD. “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment.”
When Jesus arrived He fulfilled this work.
He is the Good Shepherd of John 10 that lays down His life for the sheep.
And we hear Him throughout His ministry.
Matthew 10:6 “but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15:24 “But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 18:12-13 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?”
Luke 15:4-7 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
That is who He is.
And thus we come to THE CONCLUSION of this Psalm
Which highlights for us the importance of the word of God.
Read it, meditate on it, obey it, persevere in it.
It is life, it is freedom, it is blessing, it is light.
There is nothing but heartache and pain
When a man follows his own logic and neglects the words of God.
All things must be done His way.
And yet, though we know this, like the Psalmist, at times we stray.
The good news is that
• When we humble ourselves
• And confess our sin
• And cry out to Him,
• We have a Shepherd who comes seeking us.
• He hears our cry.
• He responds to our cry.
• He rescues us.
And the expectation is that we will learn our lesson
And move forward with a newfound commitment to God’s word.
This Psalm didn’t exactly end the way we expected,
BUT PERHAPS IT ENDS THE WAY WE NEED IT TO.
It is a reminder that we should never stray from God’s Word.
But it is also a reminder of how to come back when we do.
