Wow! It's been over a year since I posted here. Not sure anyone follows, so no harm, but I felt compelled to say the following today.
I'm really looking forward to 2017. It will be a great year because I have a great God!
Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
GREAT PEACE have they which love thy law:
and nothing shall offend them. Lord , I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
Psalms 119:161-168 KJV (emphasis added)
The word "offend" used verse 165 is not talking about the common use of the word, as in being offended by someone's words or deeds. It speaks of someone "coming against you." It comes from the Latin word "offendere" - to strike against, equivalent to -fendere to strike.
What verse 165 says is that if we love God's law, nothing can come against us. It's akin to God saying the gates of Hell shall not prevail against His Church.
The passage begins with a negative. Wicked compasses us, and daily comes against us. The Psalmist then goes on to say that those offenses cannot succeed because of his love for God's Law, God's Word.
So, yes, regardless of what has already happened, or will happen, I know 2017 will be a great year because I love His Law! If that's not how you feel, maybe you should work on your relationship with God and his Word.
Selah
