Psalm 119:52 Remember the Old Ways

I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
Psalm 119:52

My college-age mind was blown in 1975 by the publication of The Problem of Wineskins: Church Structure in Technological Age, by Howard Snyder. This book provided a theological framework for the tensions I'd been struggling with.

I was leaving behind many of the ways the church of my youth had conducted themselves in the world. At the same time I was too firmly rooted in my devotion to the Word of God to discard the "ancient laws" out of hand.

Many young Christians since that time have faced a similar tug-of-war when they step away from the religious strictures of their home and their home church. Many abandon their faith entirely, in ever increasing numbers. One study, by Summit Ministries, found that between 59% of students who described themselves as "born again" during high school no longer described themselves that way four years later. Other studies put that percentage at 70% or higher.

Other studies have found an overwhelming percentage of young people still describe themselves as Christian or as "born again", but hold to opinions on several culture-sensitive topics that are far from the doctrines espoused by the average evangelical church or denomination.

The most commonly talked about difference is in the arena of sexual relationships. Many millennial believers have shifted toward acceptance of alternative sexual lifestyles, across the range from premarital sex, divorce, remarriage, and LGBTQ. They find the weight of societal pressure and personal experience difficult to resist.

Is there a way we can provide young people with a framework to retain their faith and their devotion to the authority of scripture? I think the same principles many in my generation learned from Howard Snyder's book could provide such a path.

Snyder's book is somewhat dated in it's addressing of "current" issues. I didn't agree with all of his ideas back then, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are still things I could pick at. But his premise is a good one, based on the parable of the New Wine and Old Wineskins, in Matthew 9:14-16.

The key concept is found int his quote from Snyder's book:

Every age knows the temptation to forget that the gospel is ever new. We try to contain the new wine of the gospel in old wineskins — outmoded traditions, obsolete philosophies, creaking institutions, old habits. But with time the old wineskins begin to bind the gospel. Then they must burst, and the power of the gospel pour forth once more. Many times this has happened in the history of the church. Human nature wants to conserve, but the divine nature is to renew. it seems almost a law that things initially created to aid the gospel eventually become obstacles — old wineskins. Then God has to destroy or abandon them so that the gospel wine can renew man’s world once again.

We should be teaching young people the difference between the continually new wine of the gospel and the need to continually change the wineskins of our practice as the church.

There's no need to toss out the wine with the wineskins.

There's no need to toss out the "ancient laws" that reflect God's righteous intent for human relationships. But we do need to find new ways to lead with love rather than condemnation as we deal with the LGBTQ community.

I've watched many of my fellow Christians retreat into what they think is "old time religion," but actually just goes back a few generations to old ways of talking and interacting with the world with an us vs. them approach. I've watched other believers lay their allegiance to the "ancient laws" aside. It's not because they've concluded the Bible somehow wasn't really saying those things. They simply find it too hard to stand firm with the Word in the face of the all-invasive culture of the world.

There's a third way. Remember the ancient laws, and find comfort and community in them.

Psalm 119:51 Remember the Root of Integrity

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.

Psalm 119:51

It's tempting to read this Psalm and come away feeling quite self-satisfied.

Those arrogant people are mocking Christians unmercifully, but me, I'm good, because I don't turn from your law.

The definition of arrogance is projecting an exaggerated sense of your own importance, abilities, and superiority. According to the 2012 book unChristian: What a New Generation REally Thinks About Christianity...and Why it Matters, by Dave Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, that definition of arrogance is exactly how a large majority of non-Christians see us.

"The primary reason outsiders feel outside toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our ‘swagger,’ how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project."

"We are not known for the depth of our transparency, for digging in and solving deep-seated problems, but for trying to project an unChristian picture of having it all together."

In my experience, Christian arrogance comes from a lie we've been taught to believe, many of us since childhood. It's the lie that our knowledge and belief of the "right" doctrines makes us better than everyone else. Throughout the twenty centuries of the Church, her biggest flaw has been her continual return to an Us vs. Them mentality, born of our arrogance.

It's rooted in the many scriptures that contrast the favored position of the people of faith vs. the wickedness of the world. There is no way to get around that clear teaching of scriptures.

But, like the nation of Israel, we've been all too quick to grasp onto the notion that we somehow earned the moniker of God's Chosen People.

The truth is, we're all on the same 1 road, both believers and unbelievers. We're all imperfect travelers, prone to stumbling, in desperate need of the mercy of God.

When arrogant unbelievers mercilessly mock our faith in God, is it because they're blind and don't understand their true situation, in need of the mercy of God? Sometimes.

Too often, though, they mock us because we've acted too much like them. We've been acting as though we don't understand our true situation, our complete and total dependence on His mercy.

We strut our status as children of the King, while not at all displaying the character of the King.

The Kingdom of God is about humility, not arrogance. The Kingdom is about loving, not mocking. The Kingdom is about mercy, not judgment.

When arrogant people mock you unmercifully, do you respond with arrogance? Do you project a purely judgmental attitude toward them?

Or do you respond with the humility of Christ? Do you reach out to them and admit your common ground, the imperfection and foolishness we all share?

When you're mocked by arrogant and unmerciful people, do you respond by mocking their unbelief? Do you mock their lifestyle choices that cause God to weep? Do you traffic in Facebook and Twitter memes that make fun of them?

Or do you respond the way Christ responded when He was mocked by the ones who were crucifying Him? Does your heart go out to them, eager for them to be forgiven? Do you turn the other cheek, allowing them to persist in their mockery, while you persist in your loving-kindness and patience?

When mercy is withheld by those who mock you arrogantly, do you refuse to extend mercy to them? Are you the type to look for every little flaw, every misstep by the people you see as dirty rotten sinners? Do you rejoice when calamity strikes, declaring it to be the judgment of God upon them?

Or do you welcome them with mercy, the same mercy with which Christ welcomes you?

The Law of the Lord is not just about good vs. evil and right vs. wrong. It's also brimming over with humility, loving-kindness, and mercy.

The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I respond by not turning from your law, the law of love.

Psalm 119:50 Remember the Source of Comfort

Compared to Christians in countries like China, Laos, North Korea, or Pakistan, American Christians face little discrimination.

Christians in the Soviet Union during the Iron Curtain era were certainly persecuted to a greater extreme than believers in 21st century America.

And yet, discrimination against Christians in America is real.

Social media and popular entertainment love to insult Christians. Some of those insults are earned. Certainly any Christian who betrays greater allegiance to a political stance than to a godly stance has earned the world's disdain. Many other insults are the equivalent of playground taunts from the skeptical masses.

Christianity was once respected as a pervasive influence on American culture, but no more. Many of the loudest voices now tend to treat Christianity as a bad - even dangerous - influence on society.

Some Christians think the government discriminates against them. From their point of view, religious freedoms in America are being gradually whittled away by lawmakers and judges, in favor of granting freedom to citizens who choose a different lifestyle.

I frequently want to ask "why not both"? Why can't everyone have the freedoms promised int he constitution? But there does seem to be a definite tug from one end of the spectrum toward the other. Religious freedom scholars and litigators warn of the legal creep toward not only confiscation of religious freedoms but toward anti-religious laws.

So how do we respond? Where do we go for comfort?

We could look for comfort in the next election (and the one after that, and then another). The political pendulum, as it always does, swings back the other way and that comfort level disappears. And so we put our hope in Facebook and Twitter to provide a comfortable forum to spin the facts in support of the political people and ideas we think will fix the problems.

Other Christians seek comfort by isolating themselves into their own Christian bubble. They interact as little as possible with people of the world. Of course, there's a big gap between being separate and holy vs. being isolationist and fearful of the world. One encourages selfless evangelism. The other encourages selfish survivalism.

Others seek comfort by belittling the genuine suffering of of people who are walking the same 1 road alongside them.

White evangelicals are more likely to say Christians face a lot of discrimination than they are to say Muslims face a lot of discrimination (57% vs. 44%, respectively). (Public Religion Research Institute, February 2017)

Again I ask, why not both? It doesn't help our situation as believers to ignore the genuine needs of our fellow travelers. It diminishes us.

There is another path toward comfort, the way of confidence and boldness.

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 10:32-39

Can you joyfully accept the loss of an election, in the shifting of political fortunes? Can you show biblical respect for political leaders whose politics are different than yours? Can you do that, knowing you have better and lasting priorities?

Can you find the courage to step out of your isolation and walk side by side with people who are needy, troubled, and searching for comfort? Can you do that, knowing your greatest comfort will be found walking in the footsteps of the Son of Man?

Can you ask God for the strength to bear the burdens of the oppressed and downtrodden, even if they don't worship the one true God? Can you do that, focusing on your mission rather than on yourself?

Don't throw away your confidence in the God who is in control.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:50

Living in full confidence of His promise will preserve and vitalize your life. It can give you a comfort only found living the adventure of faith. It's deeper and more enduring than all the false comforts the world offers.

We do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Psalm 119:49 Remember the Source of Hope

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

Psalm 119:49

David asks the Lord to remember - or remind, as we would say it - him of the Word.

He's not just asking God to help him memorize scriptures, although that's certainly a good thing to ask for.

Some people, by nature, are excellent at memorizing. God helped them blessing them with the genetic markers that produced the sort of brain biology that stores and organizes and maintains information more efficiently and effectively.

Others are good at memorizing by nurture. God blessed them with the the sort of home environment and educational opportunities to train their brains for efficient and effective remembering.

For the rest of us, we need His help to make up for the deficiencies of our neurological make-up or our educational shortcomings. Ask God to not only help you remember, but for Him to help you discover the methods and tools that can help you.

But I don't think David is asking only for the Lord to help him with the neuro-mechanics of storage and recall. What he needs is help sorting through the multitude of memories and thoughts and ideas, so that he can remember what is most important.

Not everything bouncing around in David's mind gave him hope.

The dismissive comments and treatment from his older brothers did not give him hope as he contemplated facing Goliath. But his stored memories of the scriptures offered great hope, especially when those were intertwined with his memories of how God had come through and helped him when he acted on the promises of God to protect his flock from predators.

The memory of his rapidly deteriorating relationship with a jealous King Saul did not offer David much hope when he was fleeing for his life from the king and his army. But his mental storehouse of God's word, combined with his memories of all the times God had proved trustworthy, offered a hope that had to seem unreasonable to some of those around him. They especially must have wondered about David's "super hope" when he chose to pass on the opportunity to end Saul's life, because of his faith in the promises of God.

When there seems to be no hope, remember God's promises. when the world around you seems to be careening toward insanity and depravity, ask God to help you remember His Word.

American culture in the 21st century has become combative and dismissive and downright rude. When your gut reaction is respond by going into "righteous" combat mode, dismissive arrogance toward enemies, and returning rudeness for rudeness, stop.

Remember God's Word. Remember you are His servant. Remember there is hope in approaching tough times His way.

Psalm 119:49-56 Zayin

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.
I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them.
Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.
Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep your law.
This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

Psalm 119:49-56

The Hebrew letter zayin is also the Hebrew word for sword. The letter even resembles a sword. Perhaps David had this in mind when he chose his topic for this stanza.

How does a person after God's own heart respond to wicked people who make a mockery of God's law and cause troubles and suffering for God's people? Is the sword the godly way to respond? To fight back? To jump aggressively into the fray of a culture war?

Or should we instead focus on our other sword, the sword of God that is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

This Psalm 119 stanza reminds me of David's Psalm 37, where he counsels us to not fret, not to get all worked up about the wickedness of other people, but to respond with trust, dwelling in the Shepherd's pasture, doing good, delighting in the Lord, committing to the Lord's way, being still and waiting on the Lord.

No matter how disturbing the world's culture may be, don't let yourself be sucked into responding to it the way the world would.

Three of these verses (49, 52, 55) begin with the Hebrew word for remember. Remember God's way, no matter how dire the circumstances seem.

Remember.

Psalm 119:47-48 Roots for Boldness

... and I delight in your commands because I love them. So I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119:47-48

...and David goes right back to the commands, the decrees, not just because that's what this whole 119th Psalm is supposed to be about, but because that's what we always need to go back to.

It's not that we need to be obsessed with the rules and commands. It's more that the rules and commands point us to the character of God, to His righteousness, justice, and love.

Many Christians don't really love His commands. They treat them like stop signs on the freeway of the abundant life. But with our roots planted firmly in the whole righteousness of God, both His justice and His mercy, it's much easier to actually delight in the commands, to love them.

In the commands we have the full revelation of the perfect way to live, given to us by the One who created life itself. That's better than a cook finding the best cookbook ever. It's a delight to read the Word over and over again, discovering new ways to be like God.

This approach to His commands comes from also delighting in the scriptures' big reveal about God's live, His mercy and grace.

Boldness and freedom come from embracing the whole righteousness of God and His Word.

Psalm 119:43-46 Free to be Bold

...So Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws and I will always obey your law, for ever and ever and so I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. And then I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame...

Psalm 119:43-46

Having resolved to boldly go into 2018, why not continue to follow David's example and ask God to never take His word of truth from your mouth?

But what does that even mean?

I understand it as a request that God not make us all out to be liars - you, me, and David - when we answer the taunts of others and the taunts of our own minds with a confident statement that God's love covers everything we've ever done, and that He has taken steps to save us from ourselves.

You and I have based our entire bold and hopeful approach to this new year upon a renewed commitment to spend quality time immersed in the Word of God, and upon our intention to develop new habits of obedience to whatever we find there.

That's all great and good, but what if God doesn't hold up His end of that bargain? Can we trust Him?

When David implores God to never take His Word out from his mouth, he's speaking plainly, as was David's habit. From the Psalms, the textbook of prayer, we learn that this "man after God's own heart" felt free to speak to God from the depths of His own heart. He tells God whatever is on his heart even when he's angry, in despair, ready to give up, in a murderous rage, or, as he does here, even when he has doubts.

Haven't you ever doubted? I know I have. The Adversary loves to pull on the threads of every small question and each little doubt. Instead of letting that crafty conniver play with your hidden doubts, get them out in the open. Talk to God about them.

David always couches his straight talk with God in an overall attitude of faith and submission. He doesn't laugh at the idea that God could fail Him. Instead, he speaks conversationally here.

By the way, God, this only works if you're really serious about this. Love and grace and forgiveness are not the sort of things most people expect from their so-called gods. It's the very reason I worship you as the One True God. So . . . let it be true.

And, Lord, I'm confident it's all true because your Word is so very clear about your love and your offer of salvation.

It's that grounding in scripture, and not just our feelings about God on any given day, that gives us true freedom. It's a liberty unlike any other, to go forth and live life boldly. Without the commitment to becoming a people of the Word, we'll become a people of failure and of slavery to frustration.

God's Word, His love, His salvation, grant us the freedom to live boldly for Him, to speak to everyone we meet about Him, even to people who have power in this world. They need to hear us speak to them about God's love and salvation, so much more than they need to hear us tell them about our political views.

Quite frankly, I've seen way too many Christians bring shame to themselves and to the Church over the past few years, boldly shouting to the world about their politics. They seem to have forgotten that to speak clearly and boldly about the love and salvation of God will never bring shame.

Psalm 119:41-42 ...and Go Boldly Into the New Year

So, May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; and then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

Psalm 119:41-42

Who taunts you?

I'll tell you who taunts me.

My own memories taunt me: the people who have been a part of my sixty years of life; the ones I've disappointed or failed, taken for granted, or taken advantage of; the people who needed more than I could give; the ones for whom I was just not up to the challenge of being the person they needed.

My foibles and sins and habits and compulsions taunt me. The ones that anyone who knows me well at all could list easily, but also the ones known only to me - and to God.

What taunts me are the things I've not done that I ought to have, the person I thought I would be but never quite had the courage to become.

I've learned to stop letting those taunts control me and to stop spending so much effort trying to ignore them. It's much better to go face to face with the taunts and answer them through the resources the Lord has given me.

I have His unfailing love to count on. And his salvation, brought about by his loving act of sacrifice. I can answer those taunts that haunt me because his Word constantly reminds me about his love, his salvation, and his promises.

Still trying to come up with a New Year's Resolution? Try this one: To go forth boldly each day, relying on God's love, his salvation, his promises, and his Word

Resolve to not live a life worried you're going to mess up. You most definitely are going to mess up. But hiding in your own little religious bubble isn't what God intends for you. He wants you to live life boldly, trusting that anything anyone accuses you of is less important than his love.