The Undecided

Psalm 119:113-128

113I hate those who are undecided about you,

but my choice is clear—I love your law.

114You are my refuge and my shield;

your word is my only source of hope.

115Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,

for I intend to obey the commands of my God.

116LORD, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!

Do not let my hope be crushed.

117Sustain me, and I will be saved;

then I will meditate on your principles continually.

118But you have rejected all who stray from your principles.

They are only fooling themselves.

119All the wicked of the earth are the scum you skim off;

no wonder I love to obey your decrees!

120I tremble in fear of you;

I fear your judgments.

121Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,

for I have done what is just and right.

122Please guarantee a blessing for me.

Don’t let those who are arrogant oppress me!

123My eyes strain to see your deliverance,

to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

124I am your servant;

deal with me in unfailing love,

and teach me your principles.

125Give discernment to me, your servant;

then I will understand your decrees.

126LORD, it is time for you to act,

for these evil people have broken your law.

127Truly, I love your commands

more than gold, even the finest gold.

128Each of your commandments is right.

That is why I hate every false way.

Living about 150 years after the apostles, Tertullian had been trained for a career in politics and oratory. He had a razor-sharp mind that was quick and keen. At the age of thirty-five, he embraced Christianity, and he chose to leave a lucrative career in politics to become an ardent preacher, writer, and defender of the faith.

Like the psalmist (see verse 113), Tertullian couldn’t understand halfhearted Christians. One day he was talking with another Christian, who was involved in some questionable business practices. Defending his actions, the man said, “But I must live.”

Tersely, Tertullian retorted, “Why?”

Why, indeed? When you think about it, how important is living compared with pleasing the Lord? Like Tertullian’s friend, we make many compromises because we consider them necessary to maintain a certain way of life. But how necessary is that way of life? What kind of life does God call us to lead?

Jesus Christ called people to forsake everything and follow him (Mark 10:21; Luke 9:23), but how easily we dilute those words. As a result, our choices are seldom clear, and we become undecided not only about the smaller things but also about the greater things of life.

O let me feel thee near me; the world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear:

My foes are ever near me, around me and within;

But, Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

JOHN BODE

A Word on Words

The “scum” of verse 119 probably refers to dross in metalworking. When a precious metal is being refined, a layer of impurities forms on the top and is skimmed off and discarded by the metalsmith. See also Isaiah 1:22.