Psalm 119:155

We continue making our way through the octave of Psalm 119 entitled Resh.

Psalms 119:155  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

In this verse the psalmist makes a declarative statement:  Salvation is far from the wicked.  Then he advances a reason for making this statement:  for they seek not thy statutes.  Since the fall of Adam plunged the human race into sin, all men are by nature wicked. 

Romans 3:9  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15  Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16  Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17  And the way of peace have they not known:

18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This passage in which Paul proves that all are “under sin” consists of various quotes from the Old Testament.  In some of these quotations from the Old Testament the writer is unquestionably describing the wicked calling them just that.  Hence, we say that all men under sin are wicked.

In their wicked state men do not seek after God.  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Therefore, it follows that inasmuch as they do not seek after God and do not fear Him, they also seek not His statutes.  It is little wonder that the wicked do not seek God’s statutes when they have this attitude:

Job 21:14  Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

15  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

The wicked do not want anything to do with a Bible, a true Bible that is.  They want no part of a Book that exposes them for what they are.

John 3:20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

The fact that wicked men do not seek God’s statutes is an evidence of their lost and ruined state.  Their aversion to God’s statutes demonstrates that God’s salvation is far from them.  That they will not hear the words of God shows that they are not of God. 

John 8:47  He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

1 John 4:6  We (the apostles) are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Salvation is far from those who are not of God.  Since God’s salvation is far from the wicked, the Lord does not consider their affliction, plead their cause, deliver them, and quicken them as the psalmist trusted God to do for him.  On the other hand, if a man does seek God’s statutes, that is evidence that he possesses eternal life and, therefore, God’s salvation is very nigh unto him.   

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Such a man not only possesses eternal life right now, but God is nigh unto him to hear his prayers, and to help and deliver him from evil in this present world.

Psalms 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 138:6  Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Psalms 145:18  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

19  He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20  The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

Lastly, let us all take warning from this verse that it is a wicked thing indeed to not seek God’s statutes.  Let this fact spur all of us to be more diligent to take our Bible in hand, and seek out its teaching and direction for our lives.