Psalms 119:157-160

Many are my persecutors and mine enemies.

The trials and traits of piety

I. The trials of piety. They are twofold--objective and subjective.

1. Objective. “Many are my persecutors and enemies.” “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” etc. The seed of the serpent is always darting its venomous sting into the sensibilities of the seed of the woman.

2. The subjective. “I beheld,” etc. Transgressors here points especially to apostates from Divine truth. In sooth all sin is moral apostasy, and all sin strikes sorrow into the heart of the pious.

II. The traits of piety.

1. Steadfast adherence to truth. “Yet I declined not from Thy testimonies.” Whatever happens, hold fast to truth.

2. Loving devotion to rectitude. “Consider how I love Thy precepts.” It is characteristic of a godly man that he delights in the law of God.

3. Devout craving for a higher life. “Quicken me,” etc. “I count not myself to have attained,” etc. Excelsior! is the watchword of the Christly soul.

4. A settled consciousness of the truth of God. “Thy Word is true,” or, “Thy Word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” That is the sum total, and each unit of the sum of God’s commandments is truth and perfection (John 3:33). (Homilist)