"Establish this word:" let it be fulfilled in me; for I am "Your servant, devoted to Your fear."

Posted : 20 Mar, 2013 02:26 AM

Psalm 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to Your fear.





Often-instead of being quickened in the way-I am fainting

under the pressure of unbelief. What then is my resource?

Only the word of promise.

Lord! seal-establish Your word to Your servant-devoted as I

am-as I would be-to Your fear. If "the fear of the Lord is the

beginning of wisdom"-a "treasure"-a "strong confidence"-"a

fountain of life"-how wise-how rich-how safe-how happy-is he

who "is devoted to" it! "Blessed" indeed is he-with the favor of

his God, the secret of His love, the teaching of His grace, and

the mercy of His covenant. The promises of the Old

Testament are generally connected with the fear of God, as in

the New Testament they are linked with faith. But in truth, so

identified are these two principles in their operation, that the

faith, by which we apprehend the forgiveness of God, and the

privileges of His kingdom, issues in a godly, reverential, filial

fear. To be devoted to this fear, completes the character of a

servant of God-the highest honor in the universe-the

substantial joy of heaven itself. It is an obedience of choice, of

reverence, and of love. "Joining himself to the Lord, to serve

Him, and to love the name of the Lord-to be His servant."

'Yes, gracious Lord, I had rather be bound than loosed.' I only

wish to be loosed from the bonds of sin, that I might be bound

to You forever. My heart is treacherous; lay Your own bonds

upon me. "O Lord, truly I am Your servant: You have loosed

my bonds;" I am "devoted to Your fear." Is this my desire, my

mind, my determination, my character? Then let me plead my

title to an interest in the promises of the word-rich and free,

"exceeding great and precious,"-all mine-"yes and amen in

Christ Jesus;" let me plead, that every word may be "established" in my victory over sin, advancing knowledge of

Christ, experience of His love, conformity to His image, and,

finally, in my preservation in Him unto eternal life.

But how far has the fear of God operated with me as a

safeguard from sin, and an habitual rule of conduct? David's

confidence in the promises of God, far from lessening his

jealousy over himself, only made him more "devoted to the

fear" of God. And if my assurance be well grounded, it will

ever be accompanied with holy fear; the influence will be

known by "standing more in awe of God's word;" having a

more steady abhorrence of sin, and a dread of "grieving the

Holy Spirit of God." Thus this filial fear produces a holy

confidence; while confidence serves to strengthen fear: and

their mutual influence quickens devotedness to the work of

the Lord.

It is interesting to remark, that the Christian privilege of

assurance is not confined to the New Testament dispensation.

David's pleading to have the "word of his God established

unto him," was grounded upon the tried foundations of faith.

And this direct act of faith, as it regards God in Christ, His

engagements and His promises, cannot be too confident. The

promises are made to the whole Church, that we might each

look for our part and interest in them. God loves to have His

own seal and hand-writing brought before Him. "Put Me in

remembrance"-He says: "let us plead together." "He cannot

deny Himself."

Very cheering is it to mark, how the Lord establishes His word

in our own experience. Every day He is fulfilling some

promise, and a word made good at one time encourages our

confidence for another. The word performed in part is an

earnest of the whole, assuring us of the time, when we shall

acknowledge His faithfulness, "who performs all things for us."

Thus, as the word is eternally established on the foundation of the Divine engagements, its certainty is sealed to our own

conviction. Our confidence is established, that if He has

spoken a word, He may be trusted for that word.

This, then, is the exercise and the power of faith. I bring

wants. I bring Your word of promise. Establish Your word to

Your servant. You have bought me with a precious price; You

have made me Yours: You have subdued my heart to

Yourself, so that it is now "devoted to Your fear." Whatever,

therefore, Your covenant has provided for my sanctification,

my humiliation, my chastisement, my present and everlasting

consolation-"Establish this word:" let it be fulfilled in me; for I

am "Your servant, devoted to Your fear."



by

Charles Bridges

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