David’s Assessment and Assurance

“Assurance encourages us in our combat; it delivers us not from it. We may have peace with God when we have none from the assaults of Satan.” –John Owen
 
In that jewel of a song, Psalm 139, David describes the heart of unrepentant man. His characterization of those who oppose him, not only describes his immediate enemies but also draws a portrait of those who live in rebellion against God. Here are the key verses;
 
They speak against you with malicious intent;
    your enemies take your name in vain
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? (Psalm 139:20-21)
 
Note well his outline: 1) The lost man lives a life of slander against God. Their every action is a speaking against God, a denial of his lordship, a speaking against him with malicious intent. You might object and say, “I know many who don’t follow Christ but they don’t slander God.” Theirs is a practical atheism then. They simply live with hearts that say, “there is no God.” If pushed up against the wall with the claims of Christ, then their intentions would become clear, a vociferous refusal to yield to him. 2) The lost individual’s life is a taking God’s name in vain. They refuse to honor him, to sanctify him as Lord. Regarding a life of integrity that finds God at the very center, and that trusts him and his provision, there is nothing there. If the name of God is mentioned, it is to the advancement of their own ends with no mind to his righteousness. 3) The individual who refuses to trust God is living in rebellion. They are in the camp of the world whose mission is to “rise up against you.” Such was David’s assessment of the enemies of God.
 
David’s assurance is found in Psalm 139 as well. He delights in God and loves to contemplate the characteristics of his king.
 
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you. (Psalm 139:17-18)
 
David’s passion is to know God. When he wakes from the slumber that God provides, he realizes that he is still with God. God surrounds him to help him. He is a lifter up of David’s head and his righteous right hand upholds David. How did David gain such joy and assurance? He meditated on the free gift and blessing of God’s salvation. The apostle Paul writes the following regarding David cites a portion of  David’s Psalm 32:
 
Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. ⁵ And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
 
⁷ “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
    and whose sins are covered;
⁸ blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
(Romans 4:4-8, and Paul quoting David’s Psalm 32:1-2a)
 
David’s joy is linked to the knowledge that his sin has been covered. God has made a way of peace for David through his own provision, a provision which David believed in, though he knew not all the details. This provision has been much more clearly identified by Paul who writes in the fifth chapter of Romans, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) Have you trusted Christ? Are you living in the joy that comes with knowing that you have peace with God through Christ’s provision? Have a blessed week and we will see you on Sunday.
 
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale