Psalm 119:113-120

Psa. 119:113 I hate the double-minded,

But I love Your law.

Psa. 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield;

I hope in Your Word.

 

A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways and is like a wave of the sea, tossed to and fro – James 1:8. James repeats this command when he asks sinners to wash their hands and purify their hearts, you double-minded people – James 4:8. The reason for double-mindedness is because people don’t stand for what is right or wrong. Someone said: If you don’t stand for anything, you will be persuaded by everything. 

 

To fully understand what David is saying here, we must look at some of Israel’s history with the law and what God commanded them. When God delivered them from Egypt, he commanded them not to marry the daughters or give their daughters in marriage to the foreign nations. God wanted them to stay separate as a nation. They were also commanded not to plant two kinds of seed in their fields, wear wool and cotton together, or plow with an ox and a donkey simultaneously. The point is that God hates a mixture. 

 

When we mix things up, we blur the lines, and discerning becomes harder. The commandments of God are clear on what is right and what is wrong, what is righteous, and what is sin. There is no commonality between light and darkness. Sin does not exist in holiness. 

 

In the book of Revelation, God says: because you were not hot or cold, I have spit you out of my mouth – Rev 3:15. Paul reminds us not to be unequally joked – 2 Cor 6:14-18, but instead come out from them and be ye separate. God hates a mixture. Jesus says that we cannot serve two masters, God or mammon – Matt 6:24. God hates a mixture!

 

When you were Born Again, you are redeemed, justified, and set apart. We have the mind of Christ – 1 Cor 2:16. My old nature was crucified with Christ, and I am a new creation – 2 Cor 5:17. We can no longer serve God and the flesh. I must daily crucify my flesh because I cannot live by the Spirit and the flesh. God hates a mixture.

 

Psa. 119:115 Depart from me, you evildoers,

For I will keep the commandments of my God!

Psa. 119:116 Uphold me according to Your Word that I may live;

And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

 

David commands the evildoers to depart from him because they cause him to stumble. He would rather keep the commandments of God. You cannot meditate on God’s Word and be double-minded. Again David asks God to help him stay faithful to God’s Word. The Word he uses “uphold” means to prop up but also to lay hold off. David is not just asking God to hold him up, but he is also grabbing onto the Word of God. We must do more than ask God. We must also act on his Word. Faith is not always passive. Every great person of faith in the Bible did something, and God honored that. Only when we are totally unable to do anything can we have faith without works. We can still pray.

 

 

Psa. 119:117 Hold me up, and I shall be safe,

And I shall observe Your statutes continually.

Psa. 119:118 You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,

For their deceit is falsehood.

 

David introduces a new thought here. God rejects those that stray from His statutes. We struggle to reconcile a God of love with Him rejecting someone. Is that biblical? Jesus clarifies when He says: Depart from me, I never knew you – Matt 7:23. The five virgins that run out of oil were not allowed into the wedding feast – Matt 25. God rejects the goat nations. The Gospel is not God loves you just the way you are. No, God loves what He can redeem if you receive His sacrifice. The Gospel is not universal in the sense that God redeems everyone. God can save anyone that comes to Him with a repentant heart. 

 

Man was created perfectly in Eden. Unfortunately, Satan introduced man to a mixture of good and evil instead of the Tree of Life. God rejects any effort by any man to be self-righteous. Living a life apart from God is the pinnacle of falsehood because it contradicts God’s original plan for us. 

 

 

Psa. 119:119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;

Therefore I love Your testimonies.

Psa. 119:120 My flesh trembles for fear of You,

And I am afraid of Your judgments.

 

How does God deal with wickedness? More than that: the question should be how do we respond when we see God dealing with the wicked?

 

Job said: Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones shake – Job 4:14. 

 

The Prophet Habakkuk describes in detail what happens when God shows up to punish the wicked:

 

When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice;

Rottenness entered my bones, And I trembled in myself,

That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people,

He will invade them with his troops Hab 3:16.

 

Do we still tremble in fear of God? Have we lost our understanding of how Holy He is? Do we even understand how powerful God is? The fear of the Lord keeps us from sinning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God will judge every one of us one day. Does that make us stop and think how many times we think we got away with something? What a sobering thing to be reminded that no flesh will glory in His presence 1 Cor 1:29.

 

If God puts away the wicked from the earth, where will we stand?