People! God Bless 'em!

Psalm 119:81–88 NKJV
81 My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

David is under attack!  This happened so many times in David´s life that I do not know any way to determine which time it is.  No doubt the attack comes from people, however.  See his complaint:

When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
86 …They persecute me wrongfully; Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,

I started to write, “I have been there!”  But the fact of the matter is that we have all been there at times. 

• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
• Consequently, sometimes people wrong us. 
• Sometimes they attack us and persecute us.
• It has happened before.
• If we live long enough, it will happen again.

And when people come after us, it takes a toll!  Again, see how David describes it:

81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,

When David indicates he is looking for God´s salvation, he is not talking about his eternal salvation.  He has it, and he knows it.  He is talking about the Lord´s salvation from the dreadful situation he is in.  He wants it yesterday, but it has not yet come!

David knows that his source of comfort will come from God´s Word, and he searches it.  But he has not found the passage yet that really calms his soul.  How honest David is!

He says that the conflict is drying him out like a wineskin brought near the campfire.

This whole thing is draining.

What will he do?

I hope in Your word.
I do not forget Your statutes.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
I did not forsake Your precepts.
I … keep the testimony of Your mouth.

David is not here giving us instruction on handling conflict.  We find that elsewhere in Scripture, but not in this stanza of Psalm 119.  However, just so we do not ignore that issue, I will offer a quick summary:

• Overlook and forgive the offence if possible.
• If you cannot overlook it, go alone to the one who wronged you and try to resolve it, one on one.
• If that is not successful, take one or two Christians with you to try to help work it out.
• If that is not successful, seek the help of the church in resolving the conflict.

These principles are based on the following: Pr. 19:11, Mt. 18:15-17, Lk. 6:37

David´s words pertain to finding consolation in his soul.  Although he admits that he has not found it yet, he knows the Word of God is where he will find it.

• He hopes in the Word!
• He remembers the Word!
• He knows the Word is true.
• Although he is in anguish, he will not abandon what the Word instructs him to do.
• He commits himself to obey what God says in His Word.

If we would do the same when attacked, we would weather our storms better!

EMAIL BRO. MIKE