Where My Hope Lies - Psalm 119:43
Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
It is clear for all those who have contemplated for even a moment the contents of what they say, what the origin of it is. And even for those classified as fools, surely, none are so dull-witted to have never been challenged to be careful for what they utter, and thereby to delve into at least slight reflection as to from where their thoughts derive. Of course, we know, that which we speak comes from our hearts (Matthew 15:18). We know full well, that whatever is foremost within out hearts is that which protrudes from our mouths. And in this we see and understand the plea of David, the king.
In his request for the word of truth to persist in his mouth, David was in fact asking that his heart would be continually filled with faith. David was not concerned with outward motions, works, utterance, or performance, but rather by his request for his mouth to ever speak the precious beauty of God’s law, he was asking for the Lord to gift him with the perpetual consequences of a heart full of genuine faith.
And notice, also, the brief glimpse we are given into the regenerate heart. We are shown here just what those who call upon the Lord are to hope in: the ordinances, the judgements, the rules of God. By this he means the outcome of God’s word, his promises and providences as well as the judicial administrations and government of God in the world, which to the wicked is a matter of terror, but to those who are the offspring of Abraham, it is a comfort and a hope. And we should not be surprised by this, for the law and Gospel come from the same God (John 14:15, Acts 17:30), and those who love God delight to in his judgements!
So, friend of Christ, we are reminded of what the Genevan saint, John Calvin, once told us, that “God in the gospel brings forward nothing but what the Law contains,” and we, along with king David, pray that we may not be deprived of the word of God in our mouths so that we may show our faith in God and bear witness to the truth before the dogs of this world, through our persistent and contagious proclamation of that great Gospel.
S.D.G.