WHERE CAN WE GO BUT TO THE LORD
PSALM 119:81-88
INTRODUCTION
A. David's life had its mountaintops of joy and its valleys of doubt and despair.
B. In this stanza, David takes us to the valley floor and then to the mountainside—not quite to the top, but high enough to live confidently.
I. DAVID’S DILEMMA
A. “I have become like a wineskin in the smoke” (v.83).
1. Animal skins were used to carry water or wine. They were often hung inside the tent, where the smoke from the fires would darken them and coat them with soot. The skins would dry out, becoming wrinkled and worn.
2. David depicts his life as a wineskin that has turned dark and dingy with distress and is overwhelmed with the burdens of life. He felt empty and useless.
3. Although David is suffering persecution, the allusion may be to something less dramatic, such as the normal wear and tear of daily living.
B. How long, Lord? (vv. 84-85).
1. Persecution may be overt (Acts 8:1-3).
2. It can also be insidious: A pitfall is a deep hole that is flimsily covered or camouflaged. It is set up on a trail where the quarry travels. The unsuspecting prey, walking the much-traveled path, steps on the flimsy cover and crashes into the pit below. One example should suffice. A young, athletically gifted Christian sought accommodation from practice to attend a special service for Christian youth. The coach told him, “You need to get your priorities straight.” In other words, practice your Christianity on Sunday morning in the church building—unless I decide to have a practice at that time.
3. Another form of persecution is falsehood (vv. 86-87).
II. DAVID’S LONGING
A. “My soul longs for your salvation—I hope in your word” (v.81).
1. David may have had in mind God’s saving him from his present distress.
2. However, David, as a prophet, may be looking down the tunnel of time to a greater salvation (Num 4:17; Psa 16:8-11; Acts 2:29-31).
B. My eyes long for your promise—when will you comfort me?” (v.82).
1. Are God’s salvation and God’s promise two different things? The two cannot be separated, but various aspects may be considered.
2. God’s salvation would surely be that spoken of on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-39).
3. Suffice it to say that all of God’s promises find their “yes” in Christ (2 Cor 1:19-20).
C. “My heart seeks vindication—when will you judge those who persecute me” (v.84).
1. The words vindicative and vindicated look much alike and may be confused. Vindicated means to have been freed from any guilt, error, or negligence. Vindictive means disposed to seek revenge.
2. David sought vindication from God but never displayed a vindictive bone in his body, as seen in his dealings with Saul, who was trying to kill him (1 Sam 24:1-15).
3. Paul reminds us to leave vengeance to God (Rom 12:19-20).
4. David was vindicated in his day (Acts 13:22; Psa 89:1-3, 24-37).
5. When Peter used the keys and opened the gates to the kingdom of heaven, he referenced this psalm (Acts 2:34-36).
CONCLUSION
A. God vindicated David, and through the Son of David, He will vindicate us—if not in life, in death (Rev 22:12-14).
B. In all of David’s trials, he knew that his protection was in God, not his armies. Our safety is found there also:
Living below, in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone, to face temptation's sword
Where could I go but to the Lord?
