Held and Kept Safe By God

[KenH]

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." - Psalm 119:117

We are surrounded with snares; temptations lie spread every moment in our path. These snares and temptations are so suitable to the lusts of our flesh, that we shall infallibly fall into them, and be overcome by them but for the restraining providence or the preserving grace of God.

The Christian sees this; the Christian feels this. He has had, it may be, a bitter experience of the past. He has seen how, from lack of walking in godly fear, for lack of circumspection and standing upon his watch-tower, he has been entangled in times past in the snares of death. He has regretted the consequences, felt the misery of having slipped and fallen; the iron has entered into his soul; he has been in the prison house, in bondage, in darkness, and death. In consequence of his transgressions he has been "the fool" described in Psalm 107, as "afflicted because of his iniquity."

As, then, a burnt child dreads the fire, so he dreads the consequence of being left for a moment to himself; and the higher his assurance rises and the clearer his views become of the grace of God which brings salvation, and of his own interest in it, the more is he afraid that he shall fall. If his eyes are more widely opened to see the purity of God, the blessedness of Christ, and the efficacy of atoning blood, the more also does he see of the evil of sin, and his own weakness and inability to stand against temptation in his own strength. And all these feelings combine to raise up the earnest cry, "Hold me up, and I shall be safe."

J.C. Philpot, Daily Portions, January 24

 

[Van]

Psalm 119:117 NASB
Sustain me so that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

Or - Interpretive Translation -
Sustain my continuous regard for you statutes, that I will surely be safe.

This is a plea for Divine help under the Old Covenant, and does not support the New Covenant feature of Divine protection, keeping those saved for our inheritance in heaven.

We use the New Covenant to interpret the Old Covenant, not the other way around.

 

[KenH]

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe,.... As all are, and none but such, who are in the hands of Christ; enclosed in the arms of everlasting love, upheld with the right hand of Jehovah, supported by his promises and grace, surrounded by his power, sustained by his love, and preserved in Christ Jesus.

- excerpt from John Gill's Bible commentary on Psalm 119:117

 

[Van]

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe,.... As all are, and none but such, who are in the hands of Christ; enclosed in the arms of everlasting love, upheld with the right hand of Jehovah, supported by his promises and grace, surrounded by his power, sustained by his love, and preserved in Christ Jesus.

- excerpt from John Gill's Bible commentary on Psalm 119:117

What an uninformed claim, those under the Old Covenant being in the hands of Christ, at that time! No one was in Christ before Christ died to provide the means of reconciliation. Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity was in heaven, when this Psalm was written, and no one had ascended to heaven!!!

Folks, unless commentary has some fidelity to scripture, as revealed by study, it should be tossed on the dust bin of history.

 

[KenH]

No one was in Christ before Christ died to provide the means of reconciliation.

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." - John 8:56

 

[Van]

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." - John 8:56

Non-germane verbiage. No one was "in Christ" before Christ died. Time travel theology is a destructive heresy.

What might the verse actually be saying?

"it is likely that Gen 22:13-15 lies behind Jesus’ words. This passage, known to rabbis as the Akedah (“Binding”), tells of Abraham finding the ram which will replace his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice – an occasion of certain rejoicing." [NET Footnote]

 

[KenH]

Time travel theology is a destructive heresy.

Claiming that, in essence, the Old Testament saints, such as Abraham, David, Isaiah, et al, were placed in a "holding cell" until after Christ physically finished His work on this earth is flat out wrong.

God is omniscient, God is omnipotent, God is omnipresent.

When God chose His elect and gave them to His Son to be their Surety before the world began, to pay their sin debt which was imputed to Him, and to impute His perfect righteousness to them, it was a "done deal".

The Old Testament saints were credited with Christ's perfect righteousness just as New Testament saints are. There was nothing to put them in a "holding cell" to wait for, as God is eternal and not bound by time like we human beings are.

 

[Ascetic X]

Psalm 119:117 NASB
Sustain me so that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

Or - Interpretive Translation -
Sustain my continuous regard for you statutes, that I will surely be safe.

This is a plea for Divine help under the Old Covenant, and does not support the New Covenant feature of Divine protection, keeping those saved for our inheritance in heaven.

We use the New Covenant to interpret the Old Covenant, not the other way around.

I Corinthians 10:12

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

II Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

I Timothy 1:19

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.

I Corinthians 9:27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

——————

The term "disqualified" is derived from the Greek word "adokimos," often used in the context of failing to meet a standard or being rejected after testing. Paul expresses concern that despite his efforts in ministry, he could fall short if he does not maintain personal holiness and integrity.

This echoes the warning in Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus speaks of those who perform works in His name but are ultimately unknown to Him.

The concept of disqualification serves as a sobering reminder of the need for perseverance in faith, as highlighted in Hebrews 12:1-2, where believers are encouraged to run the race with endurance, fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Thus…this seems to be as relevant in the NT days as in the OT days:

Psalm 119:117 NASB
Sustain me so that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

 

[Van]

I Corinthians 10:12

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

II Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

I Timothy 1:19

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.

I Corinthians 9:27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

——————

The term "disqualified" is derived from the Greek word "adokimos," often used in the context of failing to meet a standard or being rejected after testing. Paul expresses concern that despite his efforts in ministry, he could fall short if he does not maintain personal holiness and integrity.

This echoes the warning in Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus speaks of those who perform works in His name but are ultimately unknown to Him.

The concept of disqualification serves as a sobering reminder of the need for perseverance in faith, as highlighted in Hebrews 12:1-2, where believers are encouraged to run the race with endurance, fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Thus…this seems to be as relevant in the NT days as in the OT days:

Psalm 119:117 NASB
Sustain me so that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

The verse can be useful in instruction. Even though our safety under the New Covenant is never at risk, we still need to grow more like Christ and more effective as witnesses for the gospel. Thus we all need to seek and depend upon God's guidance.