Psa. 119:63 says,   ”I am a companion of all who fear you, and of those who keep your precepts.”  But what is a “companion”.  It is a person who frequently associates with  another, the dictionary tells me.

 

So with whom does the he want to associate himself ?  Not everybody, not even with all  Christians.  Here are  they however,“… all who fear you and those who keep your precepts”i.e. godly people, obedient  to His word.  “On this one I will look, on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit who trembles at my word.”  Isa. 66:2.

 

That kind of fellowship is rare.  In a Norwegian family party yesterday I felt alone.  With whom could I fellowship?  Suddenly a beautiful little girl, 11 years of age, related to me.  “I´m Christian” she confided in me, and we got close.”  I later watched her quietly whispering a prayer.  That simple faith offered me good companionship.

 

A sister  (48) in our fellowship at home, didn´t have peace about a Christian project she´d been talked into and for which she was supposed to be a secretary.  She´s very sensitive to the word of God and felt it was His will to break away from a work not honoring God.  Her obedience gave her deep peace. That´s godly fear put into practice.

 

The psalmist is not advocating isolation.  He testifies, “I will talk at liberty, for I seek your precepts.”  (v. 45).

 

That´s the kind of people who´ll find together in true fellowship.  Rituals, parrot talking, conforming to legalistic rules, safe routines, good terminology, natural eloquence, etc. will not do.  God´s Spirit is not impressed with that nor with smart know-how Christians.  He brings us down before Himself, teaches us godly fear in the true gospel sense and binds our consciences to God´s word, not as dead rules, but as living water for our thirsty souls.

 

To religious people this is boredom as it was to me in my unsaved boyhood.  Once Christ, the Savior of the lost, and the Lord, way, way above all precepts, conquers our souls, His word – the word of Christ – leads to “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16).