Let us keep the Lord’s word to the very end!
[Psalms 119:105-112]
I meditated on Ecclesiastes 7:8 at this morning prayer meeting: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; ….” The beginning of the work is also important, but more important is the end of the work. The reason is because no matter how grand and beautiful the beginning of the work is, it is useless if it cannot be finished. We have to be people who is willing to finish to the end. The beginning is meaningless unless we finish to the end.
If we look at Psalms 119:112, this is what the psalmist said: “My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.” I would like to receive the grace of God given by paying attention to the five things we must do in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end under the heading “Let us keep the Lord’s word to the very end!” based on Psalms 119:105-112.
First, in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end we should take an oath and confirm it.
Look at Psalms 119:106 – “I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” Of course, we must not make an oath in front of God. But we need to make the oath when it comes to keeping the word of the Lord. The reason is because the word of the Lord is the word of eternal life (Jn. 6:68). Another reason is because the word of God is a lamp-like guide to this dark world (Ps. 119:105).
Second, in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end we must hold onto the word of God and pray.
Look at Psalms 119:107 – “I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.” When did the psalmist pray to God? He prayed to God when he had suffered much. What was his much suffering? Look at verse 110a – “The wicked have set a snare for me ….” The psalmist was being persecuted by the wicked. So he was always in danger of life (v. 109). In the midst of this danger of life, the psalmist prayed to God: “… Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word” (v. 107). He prayed to God in faith for salvation from suffering. Meanwhile, the psalmist prayed to God like this: “O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances” (v. 108). He gave praise to God because he had joy in his heart as much as he kept the word of the Lord during his suffering.
Third, in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end we must not forget the word of God.
Look at Psalms 119:109 – “My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.” The psalmist decided not to forget the words of the Lord even when life was in danger. We forget God’s word well at the crossroad between life and death. We don’t hold onto the word of God well in a crisis situation. We often depart from God's precepts. However, this is an act that is dominated by the environment and that we abandon our beliefs. We must not throw away the lamps while walking in the dark.
Fourth, in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end we must inherit the word of God.
Look at Psalms 119:111 – “I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart.” Because the word of God is our joy, we must forever take the word of the Lord as our inheritance. However, without tasting this joy, we cannot take God's word as an inheritance. The joy of our hearts is only the word of God. As we live according to that word, we will have divine joy in our hearts. We should enjoy that joy fully.
Fifth and last, in order to keep the Lord’s word to the very end we must incline our hearts to perform the word of God.
Look at Psalms 119:112 – “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end.” In order for us to follow God's commandments to the end, we must incline our hearts to the word of God. In the midst of great suffering, we must pay more attention to His word. And we must hold on to His word. Therefore, we must be led by the word.
We must keep the word of God to the very end. We should take the oath to keep His word. And we must hold on to the word of God and pray to Him. We must not forget His word. We must inherit the word and incline our hearts to perform it. Therefore, I hope and pray that we will keep the word of God to the very end.
Wanting to walk the ay of the Lord’s commandment to the very end,
James Kim
(Praying that I will be led by His word to the very end)