Psalm 119:81-88

Kaph.

My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. My eyes fail with longing for Your word, while I say, “When will You comfort me?” Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes. How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? The arrogant have dug pits for me, men who are not in accord with Your law. All Your commandments are faithful; they have persecuted me with a lie; help me! They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts. Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.^[1]

What could be bad enough to cause one to forsake their relationship with the Lord. From our privileged position we would like to think there could be nothing, but we have not had to suffer the kinds of persecution with which many believers around the world have had to contend. Martyrdom is a daily consequence for many believers still today. Refusing to deny Christ, these contemporary martyrs for the faith have been imprisoned, stoned, hanged, beheaded and worse. Unthinkable atrocities have occurred and continue to occur because a sister or brother would not abandon their faith.

The psalmist was probably not being subjected to this level of persecution, but it was persecution nonetheless, and in the face of it he did not shrink back or falter, but instead pleaded for help. While we may not be faced with the kinds of persecution many fellow believers around the world daily face, there are still many opportunities to remain faithful or to deny Christ regularly presented to us. In the face of these opportunities we must decide whether we will betray our faith by compromising and accommodating or whether we will stand firm in our faith refusing to be moved ready to face whatever reprisals come our way. May we, with God’s help, choose to remain faithful as the psalmist did.

Heavenly Father, we cherish our relationship with you. We cherish Your Word that keeps us centered, energized and in love with You. You know the challenges we daily face. You know the opposition with which we must daily contend. You also know our tolerances, the places we are strong and those where we are weak. We cry to You for help as we face these challenges to our faith and relationship with You. Strengthen us so that we will not falter. Undergird us with Your power that we will continue to stand. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 119:81–88.