Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

The Holy Spirit is called a the Counselor, the Comforter.  He is an advocate.

Jesus, too, is called counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How appropriate!  He is the Word of God!

Psalm 119:23

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119 also has these additional verses that mention those in positions of rulership:

• I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 
• Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

  Authority was ordained by God to punish evil and to reward good.  But even in those times when authority itself is dominated by evil, a heart anchored in God;s word will find light.

Psalm 119:22

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

Whose opinion matters?  In the grand scheme of things, contempt and scorn from others does not change the facts.  Truth is still truth.

“One and God make a majority.” - Frederick Douglass

Psalm 119:21

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

Insolent
Now there is a word I don't use very often (or ever).  In listening to Psalm 119 today, I did notice that the insolent are mentioned a number of times.  In addition to verse 21, above, here are the other mentions:

 Psalm 119:51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

Psalm 119:69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

Psalm 119:78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

Psalm 119:85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.

Psalm 119:122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.

So a total of six mentions in this Psalm....I wonder how many times all together in the Bible?

...16...

So, not all that common.  I feel better about not having a totally firm grasp on the word's meaning.  I could tell from the verses that insolence is not a virtue!

Dictionary.com to the rescue!


 in·so·lent
[in-suh-luhnt]

adjective
1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

noun
2. an insolent person.

Next: how to picture insolence...

I have worked in computer support, and I have seen both ends of the spectrum...from humble servant leadership...to arrogant, insolent, rudeness. God rebukes the insolent.

 1 Timothy 1:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV) Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace trumps insolence.

Psalm 119:20

My heart aches with longing; I want to know your judgments at all times.




Desparate...thirsty....hungry...longing. 

Psalm 119:19

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

I recall a hymn that we would sing occasionally at church when I was a kid:

I'm but a stranger here.

Heaven is my home.

Earth is a desert drear.

Heaven is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.

Where do I go to find a picture that depicts being a stranger or sojourner?  "Sojourner" yielded mostly the Mars Pathfinder's mini robotic rover.  "Foreigner" yielded mostly pictures of the band.  "Stranger" gave me stranger danger. 

Then I came upon the right search term:  refugee.  I am a refugee while I am on this earth.  I am away from my home.  

I am not the first refugee, however, the first sojourner.  In John 1 I read "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  The Greek word translated here as "dwelt" is εσκηνωσεν.  He made his tabernacle among us.  He camped out here. 

Jesus coming from his home in heaven to our world and camping here as a man means that this is no longer my home, once Jesus has taken up residence in my heart.  I have a new, a heavenly home. 

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. - C. S. Lewis