A Hunted Man!

Psalm 119:153-160, "Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."

It is important to understand that living the Christian life as laid out for us in Scripture means "going against the grain" of this world and society. It mean going against the Devil and even my own sinful nature. Please keep in mind that not all trials are God's "chastisement" for sin. Many trials are simply necessary ingredients of normal spiritual growth.

However, many trials in the Christian life are often the result of living for God and standing for Biblical truths and standards (Matthew 13:21).

• Personal separation will bring persecution.

• Ecclesiastical separation will bring opposition.

• Dress and music standards will bring opposition.

• Soul winning will often bring opposition.

• Doctrinal integrity will bring opposition.

David knew was it was to be like to be "hunted" and persecuted for His faith and obedience to God.

1. His Conversion Made Him a Hunted Man. (v.153-155) The moment we are born into the family of God, we are placed into the crosshairs of the Devil and his imps. a. The Devil will use affliction to "take us out!" (v.153) God has never promised us a life from from affliction. God uses affliction to develop and mature us. However, the Devil will try to convince us otherwise. b. The Devil will use apathy to "take us out!" (v.152-155) Apathy will neutralize the saved. (v.154b) Apathy will take the life and vigor out of our Christian life and witness. Apathy will numb the sinner. (v.155) There is no salvation apart from the Word of God. The farther one gets from the Word of God, the farther they get from salvation. To reject the Bible is to reject salvation. One of our adversary's greatest weapons is apathy!
   

2. His Compassion Made Him a Hunted Man. (v.156-158) The primary characteristic of a mature, spiritual Christian is compassion. 2 Corinthians 12:15, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." A sad truth is that the human heart is depraved and will often turn upon the one who genuinely loves it. We see this when a child turns against a loving parent, or a spouse turns against a loving spouse. We see it in church ministries and man's rebellion against his loving God and creator. 1. David's compassion produced a desire for spiritual growth. (v.156) When I love the Lord, I desire to become more like Him and to trust Him more fully. This will inevitably lead to opposition from the world, my sinful nature, and the Devil. 2. David's compassion produced a devotion to Scriptural truth. (v.157) It is impossible to simultaneously love God and and disobey or neglect His Word. (John 14:15,21,23-24) Occasionally we'll see bumper stickers that declare, "Honk if you love Jesus." A better statement would be "Obey the Bible if you love Jesus." 3. David's compassion produced a distress over sinner's attitudes. (v.158) People who claimed to love God, but were not faithful to the Word of God "grieved" David. Notice; he was not angry (self-righteousness) neither did he gossip (unkindness), but he "grieved" over them. That is to be inwardly sad or unsettled. Their sin brought tears to David's heart and eyes.
   

3. David's Commitment to the Lord Made Him a Hunted Man. (v.159-160) The Devil gives little attention to an uncommitted Christian. The Devil gives little attention to an uncommitted Church. Those committed to the Lord Jesus are going to face criticism and have battles with the world, the flesh, and the Devil. When we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus, we are going against the grain of society and nominal Christianity. 1. David's devotion to God's Word inspirited his commitment to the Lord. (v.159) The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and uses it to provoke me to commit myself to the Son of God. No one can boast of their commitment to the Lord Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit that produces this commitment. 2. The dependability of God's Word inspired his commitment to the Lord. (v.160a) There is only one thing in this world that is completely reliable 100% of the time, and that is the Word of God. We can devote ourselves fully and confidently to the Word of God. 3. The endurance of God's Word inspirited his commitment to the Lord. (v.160b) God has nothing to regret, remove, or restate about His Word! There are not "factory" recalls on God's Word. There is not expiration date on God's Word. We will never regret responding to the Holy Spirit's prompts to fully dedicate ourselves to the Lord Jesus.
   

I was saved on Monday evening, May 7, 1979. On Sunday evening, August 25, 1985, I knelt at the altar of the Highland Park Baptist Church and completely dedicated my heart and life to the Lord Jesus and the ministry of the Gospel. I have never regretted that decision. In fact, I greatly rejoice in that decision.