Psalms 119:19, “I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.”

To be a stranger, alone, unknown, unfamiliar to others and in a strange place, is not a comforting situation. The Psalmist, however, indicates no desire to alter this predicament; only to never lose sight of God’s commandments while in it. Without reserve, he testifies his soul is estranged while he yet remains within the boundaries of this world. His citizenship is not of earth but in heaven. He has no continuing city here. His desire and his destiny is the abode of his Father’s house, wherein are many mansions of Holy splendor!

Furthermore, the true kindred of the Child of God are those who look for the same. And the longer they remain in their original estate of a body of sin and death upon this earth, the more precious to them becomes the full attainment of their possession and treasures of a sinless life with their Saviour in a new heaven and a new earth! (2Peter 3:13)

As the saints are themselves strangers to this earth, so is the pathway they walk. While they remain on earth, they abide in a wilderness of troubles. From the moment of their spiritual awakening, a conflict begins. Constant wars and struggles within their own carnality, and outward oppressive wickedness, grapples with them to win the advantage of their soul. They live the Paulician contest of mastery between the flesh and the Spirit (Romans 7:14-25). They moan and become confused and discouraged at their own frailty and lack of understanding, conviction, and commitment. They witness what seems to be a plethora of inconsistencies and hypocrisies of their life. As they encounter failed plans of life, personal conflicts with others, sickness, death, injuries to their body, to their emotions, or to their souls, they discover just how impoverished they are from this world’s dowry.

How can they who are strangers to the earth ever be comforted and find hope in such a pitiful plight?

First, the great Godhead has not left their purchased possessions bereft and aloof of their wonderous love and heavenly inheritance. He that searcheth the hearts of those within whom He has placed His Spirit, likewise knoweth what is the mind, or purpose, of the Spirit. For that Spirit is Christ’s and He ever lives to make intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8: 27; 2 Corithians 3:8,17,18), and these intervening prayers of the Saviour are not lost upon those for whom He paid the price of eternal punishment for their sins and possession of their souls! Their salvation is complete in every regard! To the fullest! Secured in Heaven and effectual upon the earth declaring, “Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” Yea, nothing can separate the child of Grace from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. This was a personal realization from the chief of sinners (Romans 8:39). And just as they are kin to Paul as a redeemed sinner, like Paul, saints of God struggle mightily. But they do struggle. That which has life, has motion. The enlivened spirit and the flesh are never dormant towards one another. This being by design as well as nature. The Redeemer of God’s chosen people sits "as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:3). At the hand of the Almighty, through each infernal trial of purging, they effectually suffer and grieve. But the end is a golden refining. Like Paul, they too are made to rejoice in the final analogy of their conflict, crying, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…”; and as Job being heavily tested writhing with conflict and pain, “I am escaped with the skin of my teeth; have pity upon me, have pity upon me…”, yet, in that broken hour he confesses, “…I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Romans7:24,26; Job 19:20,21,25). God has not left his sons and daughters, Jew and Gentile alike, without a witness. “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God…"; The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father (Isaiah 55:4; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6). Which brings us to the second means of the faithful love and kindness the Lord provides for His estranged children to this earth:

Ah yes. The saints know their Redeemer lives; they run unto the LORD; and cry unto the Father. The wonderful testimony and witness of the Lord to the heart and soul of his people is not left indistinct, mystical, aloof without a definable object (John 10:1-16; 15:15; 1Corinthians 1:9; John 1:1-18; 6:37-45; Isaiah 55:4; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6; 2Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:8). Being ultimately not of this world, they become separated to it. And they reach out for help and guidance. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not Thy commandments from me. While in the earth, the Lord has given and preserved an indelible standard of unerring verity to His people. The commandments of God are that lasting friend for life, reliable guide through life, and the only competent teacher of life. God’s word. It alone magnifies Him even above His own name (Psalms 138:2). It is the highest means and Divinely appointed medium by which the born again Child of God through the in-working of the Holy Spirit is brought to Christ, strengthened in doctrine, shaped in character, and made to confirm the gospel while being confirmed by the gospel (Acts 17:11,12). Through it they are assured in their own souls of that grand announcement made upon the Saviour’s birth, peace upon earth and good will toward men. Being convinced of their depravity, learning the truth of the filth of their sins which they can neither push out of their consciousness nor forgive themselves of their crimes, the commandments of God, the word of salvation through a risen Saviour, refreshes their parched and withered souls: As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country (Proverbs 25:25). Oh, how marvelously does the Lord dispatch within His holy scriptures the depths of His love for His saints and the certainty of His saving grace. There is nothing more profound for the assurance of the sinner’s hope to be forgiven and saved from sin, than what is contained in word of God.

Well does the Psalmist pray: “Hide not thy commandments from me.” The words of Jehovah are light, direction, hope, help, truth, correction, delight, joy, understanding, yea, they perfectly furnish the child of God with every good work. And they preeminently testify of Christ’s work of eternal salvation and rescuing sinners from eternal punishment! This word God has commanded to a thousand generations. It is pure, enlightening the eyes and illuminating the path and is so useful to strangers in their pilgrimage (Psalms 19:8;105:8).

The earth is the Lord’s creation (John 1:1-3). It is given as an inheritance to God’s people who being meek ought to possess in like manner (Matthew 5:5). Nevertheless, to that which they possess, it is a strange land (Hebrews 11:9). The saints today are given the same help as Israel, “arise, go over this Jordan…unto the land which I do give…I will not fail thee nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land…Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest do according to all the law…that though mayest prosper withersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:2,5-7).

May we pray with David that the commandments of God are not hid, but rather shown unto us; that we might know His way and not wander out of it; sojourning as a stranger in the land, yet, walking circumspectly as children of light. “For Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. And a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day – Proverbs 4:18