Help! I Need An Attorney

Ps. 119:153-160 (Doctrinally, Jews in the tribulation)
Four things about the Psalmist:
1. His Affliction (v. 153). He prays for God to consider his problem
2. His Advocate (v. 154). He wants God to be his Attorney.
3. His Assailants (vs. 157-158). He has many enemies.
4. His Affirmation (vs. 159-160).

Situations arise that are beyond our control. We may need a lawyer.

You have been accused in the court of heaven (Rev. 12:10 cf. Job 1-2).
Christians have an Advocate! “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Jesus is my “Counsellor” (Isa. 9:6)!
James says, “Is there any afflicted? Let him pray…” (cf. v. 153).

I. A Case to Ponder—“Consider…” — Weigh the evidence. Do I have a case? "If you will consider my case, I believe you will come to my aid."

A. Consider my AFFLICTION (v. 153).
1. Appeal to God’s pity. God was sympathetic to Israel when He considered their affliction in Egypt—“I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and I know their sorrows” (Ex. 3:7). “In all his people’s afflictions he is afflicted” (Isa. 63:9).
2. Appeal to God’s power—“Deliver me…”
3. Appeal to God’s promise— “according to thy word”
B. Consider my AFFECTION for Your Word (vs. 153b, 159a). He affirms of the truth and tenure of God’s Word (v. 159)!
v. 153,“I do not forget thy law” — I consider God’s Word
v. 157, “…yet do I not decline from thy testimonies” — I continue in God’s Word
v. 159, “I love thy precepts” — I cherish God’s Word.
1. Cooperation with an attorney is essential to winning a case.
2. “If I did not love Your Word, my plea for deliverance would be meaningless.”
3. Our prayer is in¬separably linked to our attitude towards the Bible— “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Prov. 28:9).
4. Can I honestly, with confidence, ask God to consider how much I love the Bible? He loved God’s Word so much it grieved him when others did not keep it (v. 158). Grief is an outgrowth of love.

II. A Cry of Petition—

A. Cry for Rescue— “deliver me” (vs. 153, 154).
1. Persecutors (v. 157). 80 times he mentions persecution in this Psalm.
2. Enemies (v. 157).
3. Transgressors (v. 158). Difference between a friend and foe:
a. Friends do not decline from God’s Word (v. 157).
b. Foes reject God’s Word (v. 158).
c. The measure of one's distance from God is determined by one's relationship to God's Word. To be near one is to be near the other.
B. Cry for Revival— “quicken me” (vs. 154, 156, 159)—He is numb from being hurt. Needs a new infusion of abundant life. Occurs 11 times in Psalm 119. Cannot be asked too many times.
1. According to God’s Word (v. 154). God’s Word is alive.
2. According to God’s judgments (v. 156). A matter of God’s conditions. What does it mean to be infused with life? It means to be able to live life to it’s fullest extent. This requires the removal of things that God judges to hinder this kind of living.
3. According to God’s lovingkindness (v. 159). A matter of grace. We don’t deserve revival.

III. A Cause to Plead— “Plead my cause…” (v. 154 cf. Ps. 35:1; 43:1). Isaiah prayed, “O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me” (Isa. 38:14).“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted…” (Ps. 140:12).

A. Do we have a cause worth pleading?
B. Lord, I’m trying to win souls…
C. Lord, I’m trying to raise a Godly family…
D. Lord, I’m trying to practice good stewardship…
E. Lord, I’m trying to get a building built for Your work…
F. Lord, I’m trying to train Christian workers…
G. Lord, I’m trying to maintain a good Christian testimony where I work (go to school)…