Psalm 119 - Week 21

 It is a new year and so many people want to get into a new reading plan of the Bible. That is always a good thing. His word is so rewarding and it would benefit everyone if people would just get in the habit of reading it and knowing it for themselves. Psalm 119 is a great passage to study to help you love His word more. 

We have only two more looks at it until we are finished. I did not get to memorize like I liked. However there are some great prayers through out and I love how they enrich my prayer life. 

ש
Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause,
    but my heart trembles at your word.

Do you trust even in times when it looks like all things around you are falling apart?

¹⁶² I rejoice in your promise
    like one who finds great spoil.

Do you treat His word like a great treasure? Do you rejoice over it? I pray so!

¹⁶³ I hate and detest falsehood
    but I love your law.

Do you hate falsehood like the Psalmist? The very contrast of it is His law. Love it with your whole heart. Live it. Memorize it.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous laws.

Do you continually praise Him for His law? Sometimes after reading certain portions I just have to sit back and say, Wow, Lord, WOW!

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law,
    and nothing can make them stumble.

Do you live in that great peace that is given to you if you just trust Him and His word? Do you stumble around alot? His law is the way to stability. 

¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, Lord,
    and I follow your commands.

Do you wait on Him and His salvation? Do you follow Him as you wait?

¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes,
    for I love them greatly.

Do you obey out of love or obedience? Oh may we love Him so that we desire to obey because of that not in some legalistic attempt.

¹⁶⁸ I obey your precepts and your statutes,
    for all my ways are known to you.

He knows indeed all of our ways and I find great comfort in that! Do you? Do we obey His word? Oh the depths of sacrifice Christ made so we could be washed and made whole. His word should be our very life line a love letter and instruction manual from Him our first love. Read it, love it, live it!

Psalm 119- Week 20

I cannot believe we have almost made it through this long yet beautiful Psalm. I am thankful to you sticking through it with me. I have loved God's word even more as we have studied this together.

ר Resh

¹⁵³ Look on my suffering and deliver me,
    for I have not forgotten your law.
¹⁵⁴ Defend my cause and redeem me;
    preserve my life according to your promise.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek out your decrees.
¹⁵⁶ Your compassion, Lord, is great;
    preserve my life according to your laws.
¹⁵⁷ Many are the foes who persecute me,
    but I have not turned from your statutes.
¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing,
    for they do not obey your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts;
    preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.
¹⁶⁰ All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.

Honestly I look around and see so much suffering all around us. The Psalmist here is seeking out God's attention. Of course God is always near. He never leaves or forsakes us  but there are times it seems He does not see us.  However, we have not forgotten His law. His word, it tells us clearly that we can expect trouble in this world. God is acquainted with all of our sorrows and grief. He understands more deeply than anyone else can. He is our Savior and will bring us home soon.

It would seem right to plead with God to defend our cause and redeem us, for only He can. We must believe that His persevering power is what holds us tight. Our number of days are already written in His book and He will bring them to completion.

Salvation does not belong to the wicked, those who do not see a need for God. What a sad position to hold on to especially in the midst of trial or suffering.

The Psalmist remembers God's unending passion. He will remain holding us tight. Though we have a real enemy here and now and those who do his bidding turning away from the law of God, God will hold us tight. We must hold tight to His promises.

It is hard not to look down on those who disregard the word of God for we know the greatness it holds. The Psalmist reminds God how much he loves his precepts. The Psalmist is confident that God will preserve his life according to His love for him. He then ends this section affirming his declaration that God's words are true and eternal. God is never changing, either is His word. It is enough for us to cling tight too. Are you holding on?

Psalm 119- Week 19

Qoph

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord^! I will keep your statutes.

This is a cry of a man who does not keep the Lord's statutes out of obligation but instead out of love. Do you follow His word because of love or obligation? I have recently been pondering what does "with my whole heart" actually mean? Oh to engage with God in that way continually. What bliss!

¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.

When in trouble of any kind what is your first response? Do you cry out to God in prayer? David was a man who intimately knew he could cry out to the God who would save him and he did often. Then as God saves us we get to share His amazing grace and love with others. 

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

When we rise in the morning who do we go to for help? Who do we put our hope in? Often times I put it in myself. Oh Lord, may my hope and cries be directed to You alone!

¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

I was awakened last night. I found it extremely difficult to return to sleep. I was thankful for the quiet of the night and the meditation it gave me on His word. How often do we get this quiet before Him and His word? Let us pause more to just be with Him.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

I love that we have a Father who adores us so that He delights to hear our voice. He never tires of hearing us speak to Him. I love that! He is the One and Only who gives life and life to the full.
 
¹⁵⁰ They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.

Though the evil one would have us forget who we are or who we belong to he is indeed far from God and His truth. We must not believe those lies. God is near and all His words are true. Let us hide them in our hearts.

¹⁵² Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Hands down God does not change. His ways are eternal. His word is forever. We can be thankful for this!

Psalm 119 - Week 18

צ Tsadhe

¹³⁷ You are righteous,Lord, and your laws are right.
Do you generally think this way? Do you believe God's ways are best or your own?

¹³⁸ The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
God our Father is good. He has the best in mind for us so therefore we can fully trust His word. Do you trust Him? What are your struggling to trust Him with now?

¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.
Are you passionate for His word? How do you respond to those who do not respond well to His word? Or those who mock it? The Psalmists zeal was stronger than opposition. We must have that same zeal. His word is truth and we must be passionate about truth. 

¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
Do you love God's word? Has His word been true to you as you tested it?

¹⁴¹ Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
No matter what anyone thinks of His word and you because you love His word, do not forget His precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.
His law is truly truth, all that is good and right. His righteous ways are never ending!

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
When trouble visits you do you delight in His word? Do you trust it in times of need? 

¹⁴⁴ Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.
We must rightly understand His word because it is the way to abundant life. He is trustworthy and His word is trustworthy. 

Father thank you for your word. May we love it and trust it fully. In Jesus name. Amen.

Psalm 119 week 17

I decided to continue on in our study of Psalm 119. I stopped it for the 30 day Sibling Challenge and never got back to it. So here we go! I do pray you are loving the word more than ever. I pray as we continue on we will love it even more so. May it be a very part of us like the air we breathe.

Pe
¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

Do you truly believe His words are wonderful? Or do you view them as restrictive? That is the difference of legalism and trusting the One who gives loving boundaries. Do you keep them out of obligation or love?

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

His word is so illuminating it does give understand to the simple. Even little children can understand. Can you give an example where you have seen this?

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

Do you pant for His words like a dog does water in the scorching summer heat? or do you read it out of obligation? or do you not desire to read it at all? Let this verse be the prayer of our hearts!

¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

Oh what joy it is to be a friend of God!
 
¹³³ Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

He does keep us steady as we walk in His ways, may sin not rule over us!

¹³⁴ Redeem me from man's oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

 Oh keep us from man's oppressive ways, keep our minds fixed on your ways!
 
¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.

Oh may His glorious face shine brightly upon us! May He open our hearts to learn His ways!
 
¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Do you hurt when you see others breaking His law? Or does it not bother you?

Psalm 119 ~ Week 16

Ayin

¹²¹ Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
    for I have done what is just and right.

King David was a righteous king. He could look around and see clearly all the injustices. This is a plea for God to guard Him especially since he made the effort to be just and right.

Today we can see Jesus came for us and we can plea this because we are clothed in Christ, not because of what we have done but what He has done.
 

¹²² Please guarantee a blessing for me.
    Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!

David is looking for a sure promise. I liked how Spurgeon put it referring to this verse, "We should have been crushed beneath our proud adversary the devil if our Lord Jesus had not stood between us and the accuser, and become a surety for us. It is by his suretyship that we escape like a bird from the snare of the fowler. What a blessing to be able to leave our matters in our Surety's hands, knowing that all will be well, since he has an answer for every accuser, a rebuke for every reviler. "

¹²³ My eyes strain to see your rescue,
    to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

David could only look ahead to the promise to come. What a blessing it is for us to be able to look back and clearly see Jesus and the promise fulfilled. He is our Rescue. This is pointing to Him.

¹²⁴ I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
    and teach me your decrees.

As those devoted to God we can know and rest in the fact that He loves us so much that He died for us. His amazing love wraps around us. In that love we can be sure He will teach us His ways and we can safely rest in them.

¹²⁵ Give discernment to me, your servant;
    then I will understand your laws.

Only by His wisdom can we truly understand His laws and follow them fully. He has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us in all truth. What a blessing that is! We must ask and follow.

¹²⁶ Lord, it is time for you to act,
    for these evil people have violated your instructions.

Oh how this prayer is often on my lips. How often do you see injustice and cry out to God? Yet He sees and acts at the proper time. It breaks His heart, all sin does but at the proper time the Judge will act.

¹²⁷ Truly, I love your commands
    more than gold, even the finest gold.

This is also a prayer of mine. I want to love His commands more than the most precious gold. Do you? Oh that we may!

¹²⁸ Each of your commandments is right.
    That is why I hate every false way. 

I pray too that as we walk this out we will hate every false way. That we will stay far from it knowing that His commands are the only right way. Let us take that way.

Psalm 119 ~ Week 15

There are really only two ways we can go, toward God or away from God. Really if we sit stagnant that is not going toward Him. We need to forever keep our eyes on Him and let His sustain us even in the hardest of times. David knew this very well by experience. What path are we taking? One toward God or away from Him? We have a choice. God or the world but not both. That is why it is so important to have a Christian world view to view all things through Him. 

 

 Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.

I am going to quote Boice here because I liked what was said about double-mindedness.  “Double-minded people are people who know about God but are not fully determined to worship and serve him only. They are those who want both God and the world. They want the benefits of true religion, but they want their sin too . . . The Psalmist hates this double-mindedness; he also hates it in himself. “Otherwise, why does he continue by asking God to sustain him, according to his promise, and uphold him so that he might be kept from sin?” (Boice) 

We must love His law not to follow it by legalism but as the very words our loving Father speaks to us. We so desire to please Him because of His vast love for us we cannot help but to keep His law. No room for double mindedness in that viewpoint. He is the end and all we desire as we live in this world. We learn to appreciate things as His creation and see them through the Christian worldview.

¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

I liked what David Guzik had to say about this, "A good hiding place has strength, height, is not easily seen, and is reliable. Jesus is our safe-room or panic-room"

Have you ever thought of Jesus as your panic room? I often find myself in a state of panic when the kids are all quarreling wondering what I am going to do!? Jesus needs to be where I run for refuge and wisdom. He is also my shield from the drama. I must discipline myself to do this each time. How about you?

.

“There is a time in which I may be called to suffer in secret; then thou hidest me. There may be a time in which thou callest me to fight; then thou art my Shield and Protector.” (Clarke)

 
¹¹⁵ Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!

It is so important to watch the company we keep. Obedience is hard and with friends going the wrong way it can be even harder. We need to stay away from those who will make it harder for us to obey the truth of God.

¹¹⁶ Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

We can trust His promises. They are true. If we can keep our hope in them through HIM we will live. He will never let us down, He is our sustainer and the reason we even have breathe.

¹¹⁷ Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees.

God is the one who keeps us in His hands. Nothing can touch us without His permission. God will deliver us in His wisdom as He upholds us, His children. We must regard and trust His decrees. We must!

¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes.

God takes His truth and word seriously. If we do not we become an enemy to Him. Are we a people who love His statues?

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in fear of you, I stand in awe of your laws.

Again, I liked what Boice says and will end with this, "“It is only as we tremble before the exalted and holy God that we will ever see the world and its distorted values to be the empty things they are. If we do not tremble before God, the world’s system will seem wonderful to us and consume us pleasantly.” (Boice)

Psalm 119 - Week 14

Listen to this song to start and prepare your heart. When I read verse 105 I cannot help but think of this song.

Nun
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
There is great comfort when you can know there is a road map for you when you feel lost. If we stay on the path written out we are less likely to get lost. His word keeps our way illuminated. We can stay the course if we abide by it.

¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.
David had resolved to follow God's laws, period. We would be good to fix our minds in such a way as well. Not out of legalistic compulsion but out of an overflow of love for our Savior. To resolve to follow His righteous ways is a privilege not anything else.

¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word.
Here is Spurgeon's words on this verse, "I am afflicted very much. According to the last verse he had been sworn in as a soldier of the Lord, and in this next verse he is called to suffer hardness in that capacity. Our service of the Lord does not screen us from trial, but rather secures it for us. The Psalmist was a consecrated man, and yet a chastened man; nor were his chastisements light; for it seemed as if the more he was obedient the more he was afflicted. He evidently felt the rod to be cutting deep, and this he pleads before the Lord. He speaks not by way of murmuring, but by way of pleading; from the very much affliction he argues for very much quickening."
Thoughts on this?

¹⁰⁸ Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
When we are enamored by His love even so in the midst of trial, we should be giving God praise out of our free will. We cannot help but praise the One who redeems us. We also cannot help but to want to know more about Him and His laws.

¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.
David chose to not forget God and His law as he lived in hard conditions. Though he was king and was "entitled" to the kings life he did not see it that way. He could have killed the obstacle in his way of King Saul but he refused to do that to the Lord's anointed. He let things all play out in due time. I can learn so much from him in this!! So often I want to demand my so called "rights" in a situation but instead I should be looking too and seeking out God and His laws through my times of trial and running for my very life.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
We will always have enemies as we pursue God. Persecution abounds around us. And we have a war against the spiritual forces of darkness however none of this should cause us to stray from Him but instead draw in closer.

¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Oh to really live as His word being our inheritance. That they would be the ultimate joy of our heart forever! We must remember what a blessing His word is even when we feel like we do not want to read it.

¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
Oh this is my prayer for us this week. May we be a people who set our hearts on keeping His law. May we be a people who finish strong in HIM! 

Psalm 119 ~ Week 13

מI love this next section and how it speaks of the Psalmists dedication to the word. It is so inspiring to me. I feel this at times then at other times I do not. However, one thing I have learned is that feelings will deceive you. His word is truth and never changes and truly is the best thing in my life no matter how I feel emotionally.  Cultivating a love for His word is key to this! When it all boils down to it His word is all that matters. All that will truly sustain you!


If you think about it this way, pretend you had a father you adored. He cherished you and loved you so deeply. You felt secure when he was around. You hung on his every word. But then he dies. It devastates you, only to find a letter written by his hand to you. What would you do with that letter? 


I know what I would do, I would cherish it! I would hold it close and memorize it. It would be what would sustain me and help me keep him close to my heart. We have that with God's word yet our God is alive! He is coming back for us and His word is what sustains us until then. We must hang on every bit of it with anticipation knowing it is enough to get us through. He is coming, He is enough, His word will sustain the weary and encourage the cheerful.


 Mem
 ⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
   I meditate on it all day long.
Oh what our lives would look like if we always expressed this! The outside world would be compelled to look into it. Agree or disagree with this?

⁹⁸ Your commands are always with me
   and make me wiser than my enemies.
Oh how His words do stay with us always and make us the wisest in the land. His ways are always best.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
   for I meditate on your statutes.
Anyone who meditates on His word continually will have the most insight. The Psalmist understood this rightly. How much do you meditate on His word?

¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
   for I obey your precepts.
Again, no matter position or age if we keep His law continually before us and our hearts we will have more understanding than others. spiritual insight will be plentiful with us. Have you seen this to be true?

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
   so that I might obey your word.
It is discipline and work on our part to keep ourselves from evil. We must say no to it in order to obey His word and with so much temptation out there and the world against the Christian way this takes a stronger love for God and His word than the world. When we love Him more we will say no to the world.

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
   for you yourself have taught me.
God is our teacher, we must listen to Him and be not departed from his laws.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Oh think of the sweetest dessert your heart desires. How how much sweeter and delicious are God's words to us! How precious is that!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
   therefore I hate every wrong path.
As we gain understanding and grow in love with His word we will come to despise wrong paths. That is evidence of growing in His word!

Psalm 119 - Week 12

Well we are officially half way through now! What great diligence and effort you have made! Thanks for sticking to it and I hope you are learning as much as I am. No reading of God's word is pointless. It is an amazing living book. God's word is so precious. Praying we will continue to be ignited by it! Today I copied Scripture from the NLT Translation.

Lamedh

⁸⁹ Your eternal word, O Lord,
    stands firm in heaven.

Isn't it nice to know that God's word is firm and stands firm in Heaven. It is not the kind of word that is simply typed and printed but word that originated from the mouth of the creator of the universe. It comes from before time and exists there after. It stands firmer than anything else in God's home in Heaven. It originated from Heaven. What a perfect word. A word that never changes. Do you believe God's word is perfect?
 

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
    as enduring as the earth you created.

How God is amazing and never changes. He is not like a shifting shadow. He is constant. He will extend His faithfulness to every generation until none remain. How amazing is His faithfulness until the earth is no longer. I love that. How does it make you feel that God is solid and not everchanging like human beings?
 

⁹¹ Your regulations remain true to this day,
    for everything serves your plans.
Every word of God's is true. In fact it is the only thing that is solid and can be trusted 100% of the time. I know many honest people but still their words can be mistaken or mixed up. This is not the case with God. All things serve His sovereign plan. Nothing is a surprise to Him. We must trust His word and promises. Have you every found a promise from God's word not true?
 

⁹² If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
    I would have died in my misery.

One thing that God's word does is sustain us in trials if we lean on it and believe it by faith. It can also help prepare us for those trials that are yet to come. How has God's promises sustained you?
 

⁹³ I will never forget your commandments,
    for by them you give me life.

Oh may this be our prayer, that we will never forget His commandments. May they rest firmly in our hearts so we can recall them at all times, but especially in times of need. I have a hard time memorizing Scripture but the Holy Spirit will bring to mind a specific verse or verses when I need it. Have you experienced this? Please share.
 

⁹⁴ I am yours; rescue me!
    For I have worked hard at obeying your commandmentsSpurgeon says this of this verse and I liked it, " when the Lord sets us seeking he will not refuse us the saving. He who seeks holiness is already saved: if we have sought the Lord we may be sure that the Lord has sought us, and will certainly save us." Oh how precious it is that we are chosen by HIM! Take a moment to praise Him for that!
 

.⁹⁵ Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
    I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Oh how it is difficult when we are persecuted for His name's sake. Those wicked ones do find ways to trap us or kill us. Yet being solid and grounded in His word is a way we can be like Jesus and quietly keep God's word. Like Jesus went and did not open His mouth. God will be our defender. His word remains final. Do you have an example of keeping quiet in your life then seeing God move?
 

⁹⁶ Even perfection has its limits,
    but your commands have no limit.No one is perfect that ended with Adam. There were great men and women through the times but none perfect. Christ would come and be perfection on our behalf, however before that and before the Word became flesh to dwell among us, His commands came and were perfection with no limit to them. Now that is really cool. Thoughts?

Psalm 119 - Week 11

This next section involves finding comfort in God's word. We all face affliction of many kinds. We must know where our hope is found. This is how we get through life here in hard times. We hope for what is to come. This time on earth now is so trivial and small compared to eternity! I praise Him that He chose me and is molding me more and more into His image through the tool of trials of many kinds. May we keep this perspective on it as we journey along here. May we also find supreme joy in life as we move through it, thanking Him for all things.

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
 Oh that we would long for the day of His coming! The day when all things will be perfect. Now we must hope in His word to us. The time is coming, probably sooner than we even know. Oh rejoice in this! The Psalmist is in a time of persecution, He is clinging to God through it. I find that in my own life I cling closer to God through times of trial, is this true for you too?
 
⁸² My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
When we are really struggling here it gives us a taste of longing for what is meant to be, for what we were made for. It gives us a true yearning for our real home in Heaven. As trials tarry we do need to ask The God of comfort when He will comfort us knowing He never leaves or forsakes us.
 
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
Though things are really hard, the Psalmist has not forgotten God's promises to him and we would do good to do the same. What are you going through that is difficult and what promises from His word to you are you clinging too? Spurgeon explains this verse like this, " he was half afraid that he would become useless and incapable through so much mental suffering, and that men would look upon him as an old worn out skin bottle, which could hold nothing and answer no purpose." You ever been there? Yet David did not stay in that mindset, he reminded himself of God's statutes! We must do the same by renewing our minds.

⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?Oh in times of persecution we struggle. We want the approval of man but following hard after Christ we cannot get mans approval in everything. Following hard after Christ brings certain persecution, God will handle it. One day every knee shall bow to Him. Yet when we are in the middle of it we long for Him to end it quickly.

⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.No matter the kind of accusations, persecutions, pits that people will dig for you you must seek help from God in His word and promise. He is our present help in trouble. If they persecuted Him they will persecute us as well. No matter how long or how intense it gets we need to hold true to His promises and His word in our life. It is worth it and all that matters. God will judge in the end. Let us make it our goal to desire to hear the words, well done good and faithful servant. Let us respond with a godly attitude.

⁸⁸ In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.We cannot follow God's law perfectly. Yet because we are loved so deeply we can follow after Him by listening and doing what He asks. We are perfectly righteous in His sight because as we are transformed more and more into His image, He had already made us perfect by the cross and resurrection. He traded His place with us. Do you truly believe this and live like this day by day? Oh know His great love for you and live life abiding in HIM.

Psalm 119 - Week 10

The artist usually takes great care in making His creation. He carefully works on every detail. He is proud of his work and takes great care of it. This is how we should think of God as our Creator. He fashioned us perfectly the way we are. We bear His image and I consider this an honor. How well are we bearing this image? In considering this it is good to remember that God uses many things to mold and change us to make us more and more like Him. We start to reflect Him to others more clearly as we walk with Him.

I hope you are still hanging in there with us. We are almost half way through, can you believe it?! I have not been as successful in memorizing as I would like but being in His word and plugging along is good. It will take root in our hearts as we read, hear, and study it.

^Yodh
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

I do love the thought that God is the great Creator yet He is also personal. He takes great care for His creation. Also, that we are image bearers of Him. Do you consider yourself created in the image of the Creator? 

The One who made us also made our minds and can give us understanding so we will learn His commandments. Because He loves us and took great care in fashioning us, we too should take great care in knowing Him and obeying His law.

⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,because I have hoped in your word.

We are a blessing to other believers when we are living for God. Others see it and rejoice. Christ can be the only thing we have in common with someone and it is enough to have much conversation. Give an example where you have seen this to be true?

⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Honestly these verses can be hard to take in just like the two from last week, however, I am continually reminded of these verses from Hebrews 12:5a-8, " “My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all."

I would definitely rather be disciplined then not it is proof we are HIS. God knows how to discipline us for our own good and shape us into His image this way. I am thankful for that!

⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.

Once I really let the amazing fact sink in my heart, that God loves me completely as I am, I was forever changed. His love for us is truly enough. Enough in life, enough for anything to help us through. When we know He loves us we can get through anything. His love is what comforts us. We must believe it and rest in it.

⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

When God's discipline comes we need His mercy, when we feel it we can live. His law and promises have to be our delight. They get us through. 

⁷⁸ Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

“Shame is for the proud, for it is a shameful thing to be proud. Shame is not for the holy, for there is nothing in holiness to be ashamed of.” (Spurgeon)

In contrast to the proud who loved lies, the Psalmist loved and meditated on God’s Word.  (Enduringword.com)

⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.

In regards to those who fear God turning to the Psalmist, “As the believer finds trouble from the world, he prays that he may find help from the Lord’s people . . . It is painful therefore to see Christians often walking aloof from each other, and suffering coldness, distance, differences and distrust to divide them from their brethren.” (Bridges)

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

 The Psalmist realizes that he too needs help in following God's statues. He requests that his heart is blameless. He realizes obedience leads to the unashamed life but God needs to be our help in living this way.

Thoughts on this week? What stood out to you?

Psalm 119 - Week 9

I have often heard people say, "God is good" after they receive a good report. When God answers a prayer the way they want this is also the response I hear. However, it is not often I hear it when something bad happens yet isn't God still the same good God? This next section is all about the goodness of God. David clearly sees God for who He is no matter the circumstance. This Psalm reflects that. This Psalm displays David loving God for who He is.

I want us to evaluate right now where we stand on this issue? Can we praise God for who He is not just for what He does for us?

Teth
You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
God has given us many promises throughout His word. Every promise is true. We can be thankful that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He does not change. He is the solid Rock we can always count on.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
God's word does teach us good judgment and knowledge. We must hang tight to it! We must believe it!

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
I love this verse because David has enough maturity  to see that when God allowed affliction in His life, it brought Him back to God and following His word. It takes wisdom to see this in our trials. Any trial God allows is good for us and if we let it, bring us closer to Him in it.

You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
I praise you God because you are truly the only one who is Good! We praise you for this. Help us learn your ways so we can follow in your steps according to your word. Let Your Spirit guide us.

The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.These two verses are great as well because though people are saying bad things about him that are not true, he will still follow hard after God and His ways. This is how we should be too. We also must remember that those who slander have unfeeling fat hearts, hearts that are not focused on the good of others. Hearts that are not focused on the goodness of God. Even still David will delight in God's law. May we be a people who do that as well.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Again David is seeing the good in his affliction, how much more would we benefit if we could remember this in our trials. It is important to remember too because this is the second mention of affliction being a good thing for us in this Psalm.
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The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.Can we honestly say God's law, His very word to us is better to us than anything else in the world? This is my prayer for us! May we be a people who love His words more than life itself!

Psalm 119 - Week 8

I love this next section because it all seems to reflect on God Himself. Oh that we praise Him just for who He is not for any other reason. Yes the things He does and provides are just added bonuses but who He is is enough. Amen?!

Heth
The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
Spurgeon says in His commentary about this verse it is directly translated this way, "My Portion, Oh Lord!" It is like David after war getting his portion of spoils, in this case he is excited about his very portion being God! He is what we want as our portion when we rightly see Him for who He is. In turn we cannot help but want to keep His words.

I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

We yearn for His favor and His presence to us is His favor. We can remind Him of His promises to us to be with us. He never leaves us yet we can wander from Him. We are desperate for Him though. We must cry out to Him in prayer.
 

When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.

If we are thinking o pondering our way and are in His word, we will move our feet to match His way, we will do this quickly if we can really see Him for who He is and His word. We keep His commands because we love Him so and we cannot imagine anything different. We must follow Him, we are compelled because He loves us. The more we see it the more quickly we will want to obey.

Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,I do not forget your law.

Evil will always be in the world, they will always try to ensnare us, but in these times we must remember His law. It will strengthen and encourage us.

At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.

This interests me that at midnight the Psalmist rises to praise God. And because of His Word. I love it. It reminds me of the Psalms in another place that says I will meditate on your precepts on my bed. It is interesting because in the commentary by Spurgeon it says that midnight is the robbing hour. It was when burglars came out. The Psalmist is not concerned, He instead is thinking of God.

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

It is great we are friends with others who fear God. It is in this company of friends we will be encouraged. It helps us walk forward together on this journey.

The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

We can be assured that God's love is never ending and never gives up. We need to ask Him to teach us. He is the master teacher.

What stood out to you from this section? 

Psalm 119 - Week 7

This section this weeks takes on a very personal meaning to me. I have been crying daily because of the situation we are in with this sweet little boy. Honestly it is so hard to watch his parents sit back and do nothing to try to get him back. I cannot imagine not having a fight in you for your own children. It breaks my heart and lays heavily on me in this season. I know I will move pass it and be able to live in thankfulness that God rescued him from neglect into our loving home. But for now I sit in ashes and dust. My heart grieves for the entire situation.

 Plus this is the season of Lent where we do reflect intentionally a bit more on the heaviness of the cross. The weight of it, how God loved us so much He went to the cross despising the shame yet doing it for the joy set before Him so you and I can be free in Him. How amazing He would bear every sin we would ever commit, every pain, every tear. What a horrific thing, yet He did it in great intense love for us. May that love change us. May we live our lives bearing our own crosses and follow in His example. He is our Everything! 

 Zayin
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.

Honestly in tough seasons this is the only thing that gets me by. As I remember what He has already done and the words of promise He has given us. I wait in hope. It sustains me. Is there something specific you can share here where His promises has given you hope?

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

Again the only comfort I have in affliction is His word, His promises to me. They are what truly give life to the full despite our circumstances.

The insolent utterly deride me  but I do not turn away from your law.

There will always be those who are prideful and think they know best for us. Don't get me wrong, there is wisdom in many counselors like the Proverbs says, however, make sure they line up with HIS word. No matter what do not turn from His law. In faith move in those steps even if you have to do it alone. There are some hard decisions we are having to make at this time in our lives. We must do it in faith despite what others say. They do not always know the entire situation at hand and cannot view it in the proper perspective. The narrow road is not easy but completely worth it.

When I think of your rules from of old,I take comfort, O Lord.

I do indeed find comfort in His rules. From His laws. From His promises. They are to protect and sustain us. He is good. His ways are right. Let us be quick to follow in them.

Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.

I love this verse because this is how I am feeling about the wickedness I am experiencing in my life first hand from the consequences of others. This hot indignation means literally in the Hebrew, raging or burning heat. I feel these emotions intensely now and I find comfort in this because God is not afraid of my emotion, He can handle it, David felt it so it is normal. 

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.

Oh that as we walk the path before us, His words fill us with songs in our heart. May we continually praise Him for His wonderful word to us.

I remember your name in the night, O Lord,and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

When life is hard and I cannot sleep because of it, I will remember His law and dwell on it. I will keep it fully because I am in Christ. Where I mess up, Christ has paid the price for that so I can get up and walk it out again because He exchanged His life for mine. So in the great exchange I have kept His precepts because I am hidden in HIM. Oh how glorious that is!

Psalm 119 - Week 6

I am loving the study of this Psalm. I pray it is fruitful for you too. Of course any study of HIS word is. Just keep it up. I am asking the Holy Spirit to really speak to us this week and move hugely in our hearts. I love how the Spirit loves bringing glory to Jesus. Let us see Him clearer this week as we study. May it please Him to open our hearts.

Waw
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;

First, I just praise our Savior in this. His love did come down to us through Jesus Christ in the flesh. And His salvation came upon a cross, for the joy of our salvation on the other side of it. He was raised up defeating all sin and death. He exchanged His righteousness for our sin stained lives. This amazes me. This is true love. This is the true love that is steadfast. We did nothing, He did everything! May we see this more and more in the depths of our hearts and be grateful!

then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

God's word is true. He is faithful. He does what He promises. We have His reputation. We can trust in Him even when an enemy tries to slander us. We are His. He is our defender. He gave us His reputation. That is enough. By Faith we believe this because of what He has done.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.

Though the Psalmist speaks of hope in these rules, we must remember the Jesus is the word. Our hope really is in HIM. What He has done for us. Period. This is not a legalistic rule keeping phrase. We will keep His law continually as He has written it on our hearts by His Spirit. Yet we cannot do it in our own strength, and not perfectly. We must submit to the Holy Spirit and out of the love we have for Christ, seek to follow Him. He leads and guides us in this. I like how he calls it a wide place. His commands are not burdensome in Christ. It is a wide place of peace, not restrictive like legalists or moralists would like to have you believe.

 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.

When God's word is what really matters then it does not matter who you are up in front of, the love of His word and His testimonies will be enough to share. In doing this we cannot be put to shame in God's eyes. Share it! We must if we love it.

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

Oh that His word would be a joy to meditate on and focus our thoughts on! Oh that we would love them and our idle thoughts would move toward them!

What did God illuminate to you this week? What stood out to you?

Psalm 119 - Week 5

So thankful for those of us persevering through! Study of God's word will be a blessing to you. Hang in there and keep up the diligence!

Spurgeon says about this section, "A sense of dependence and a consciousness of extreme need pervade this section, which is all made up of prayer and plea." I don't know about you but I am in continual extreme need it seems. Which is not a bad thing because it should draw you to God for dependence. That is when we personally experience Him most.


As we experience God more personally our faith is built up. Can you imagine the mighty King David, a man after God's own heart being needy like this? Well he was and if someone like him can be humbled enough to admit that need I think we would be good too as well.


Father, help us understand your word rightly, apply it to our lives, and grow in our relationship with you through it.

 He
 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
We need our Lord to open our eyes and teach us His word. We cannot rightly understand it without HIM. He does this through the Holy Spirit that resides in us who believe.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Oh that we may understand His law rightly so we can keep it! May we observe it not with a divided heart but with our whole hearts. Desiring to please Him in all things.

Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Oh that we may delight in His word!! Can you say this? If not pray this verse. God will move your heart to delight in His word. He will lead us in it. He hears and answers according to His will.

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Oh how our hearts are wicked beyond reason. Oh how the depths of them are beyond what we even know! We must ask God to incline us to Him and His word not for what we get from it but for His glory!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
There are so many things that are worthless that take up our time. Things we wast our time on, may we ask God to give us a desire to stop them. May we truly find true life in HIS ways alone. May we be more concerned about His glory than our own selfish desires and gain. We NEED Him to do this. We cannot do it on our own. We must lean and depend on HIM.

Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 
Oh the fear of God. It is lost today. People just sin freely and think nothing of God like spitting in His face. When we grow in His word and believe it as truth more and more we begin to have a right fear of Him. It is right to see Him in His holiness and desire to be holy as He is. His word and the Spirit move our hearts to this.

Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
Persecution or not, God's rules are good and we must have faith in that. Even under mocking and trial. This is a plea for God to turn this away from us. It is dreadful.

Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Do we long for His precepts like this? Like we would long for other things? Oh Lord may it be so. This is life, living according to HIS word! May He grant us this ability!

Psalm 119 - Week 4

Listen to this song. It is so appropriate for this section of this Psalm. And after all Psalms are songs. We all fall into times where we feel like we may drown or fall apart but this next section is helpful for us in those times. It gives us hope. The Psalmist remembers His God and the promises in His word despite the circumstances. We would be good to do this as well. God is the same, He does not change.

The Treasury of David by Spurgeon says this of this section, " Here, it seems to me, we have the Psalmist in trouble bewailing the bondage to earthly things in which he finds his mind to be held. His soul cleaves to the dust, melts for heaviness, and cries for enlargement from its spiritual prison. In these verses we shall see the influence of the divine word upon a heart which laments its downward tendencies, and is filled with mourning because of its deadening surroundings."

  Daleth
 My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

Honestly we cannot have life to the full unless we are living by His word. It is never about restrictions but true freedom. It is truth that sets us free, His word is truth. We can truly fly when we abide by it. However, this truth cannot be understood unless by a person who is truly redeemed by His blood.

1-Give an example when you felt your soul clinging to the dust and then how God's word revived your spirit.

When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
Confession is so healing. Here the psalmist is finding freedom in it. For God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. I find it much easier to work with those who are humble than those who are proud. Do you find this to be true as well?

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
Truth is we cannot fully understand God's word without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He will reveal these truths to us. Because the Word is a living word the Spirit will reveal more and more to us as we grow to deeper understanding of His word. We must pray and ask God to help us understand and how we can apply His words to our lives. Also we must pray that we love it.

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
In sorrow we can truly find rest and peace in His word. It does strengthen us!

2-Give and example of a particular passage that has strengthened you.

Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
My pastor shared an interesting Scripture the other day and it applies here. This is God speaking, "It is I who kept you from sinning against me" (Genesis 20:6). This struck my heart deeply. We do have a personal responsibility to take the way out when we are tempted to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). Yet God can also keep us from sinning. We must pray for God to, "Lead us not to temptation" yet God never tempts us to sin personally (James 1:13). Interesting. And as I stated above we must ask Him to reveal His truth to us. To teach us. We are blessed on this side of the cross because we have the Holy Spirit to teach us.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
We do indeed have a choice and it would be good to follow in the psalmists footsteps and chose the way of faithfulness. That is one thing that God does give us, the right to chose. We have a freewill. He did not want robots. He wants us and true relationship with people who truly love Him for Him. To truly love Him we must set His word before us. May it be our delight!

I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;  let me not be put to shame!
If we truly cling to Him and His ways we will not be put to shame. Regardless. We must trust this and that His was is right. As stated before we must be diligent about keeping His commands. Even when it is difficult.

I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
I will end with Spurgeon here. About this verse he says, "When thou shalt enlarge my heart. Yes, the heart is the master; the feet soon run when the heart is free and energetic. Let the affections be aroused and eagerly set on divine things, and our actions will be full of force, swiftness, and delight. God must work in us first, and then we shall will and do according to his good pleasure. He must change the heart, unite the heart, encourage the heart, strengthen the heart, and enlarge the heart, and then the course of the life will be gracious, sincere, happy, and earnest; so that from our lowest up to our highest state in grace we must attribute all to the free favour of our God. We must run; for grace is not an overwhelming force which compels unwilling minds to move contrary to their will: our running is the spontaneous leaping forward of a mind which has been set free by the hand of God, and delights to show its freedom by its bounding speed."

Last week we did not get as much comment participation though I know people are viewing this. Please feel free to enter into the discussion! We need one another. Praying for each of you!!  

Psalm 119 - Week Three

I am loving the journey of studying this Psalm with you all! Thanks for sharing thoughts. Feel free to keep coming back and interact with others comments through out the week. I love building relationships this way and growing together this way.


Memorization update for us, we are only on verse 5 as of now! We have fallen behind but I was encouraged by the comments of this being something that we don't rush through but memorize it for the long haul. We are taking it slowly.

However in this next section I am very encouraged because it is all prayer! It is written as a fellow sojourner like us who is traveling along on this earth like us trying to follow God. I love that because we all can relate well. We are in the same exact place.

Gimel¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

Literally this means to deal out generously to your servant (or slave) so I may be sustained or quickened to keep God's word.We chose to follow but God opens our hearts to do so.

¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
It is God's grace and mercy to open our eyes to see His word and fall in love with it. He moves and directs our hearts. May we pour this prayer out to Him. May we consider His word wondrous because it is His very words spoken to us. May it be our treasure.

¹⁹ I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

Let us always remember this is not our home, our true home is in Heaven with God yet while we are here on this earth for this short time may God's commandments not be hidden. These are the words that give us hope! They encourage us on the journey.

²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if we all were like this all the time. I pray desperately this in my life and yours and my family. Not legalistic rules and regulations but a love for following God's law as a delight.

²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. God will rebuke the proud. That is a consequence of wandering away from His commandments.

²² Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. 
Any scorn or shame is asked to be taken away because he strives to keep God's law. When we do right in His eyes, He honors it. It is not a prosperity gospel but sowing and reaping principle. It will not always look the way we think it should but the way God does.

²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
We do have a real enemy of our souls roaring around like a lion ready to devour us. The Bible is clear that the word of God is our sword against him. In James we are told to resist him and he will flee. We are given Jesus example of testing in the wilderness and He defeated satans temptations by God's word. No matter who may plot against us we must keep our eyes fixed on Him and His word. They are our guide.

²⁴ Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. 
 I love this verse because it shows us that God's words are our counselors. There is good in godly counselors but where is the first source you run to? It should be His word first! Then wherever else He may lead us. Do you practice this? Often for me it is easier to pick up the phone and call someone then to pick up the WORD. I do not want that to be. Can you relate?

1-What stood out to you the most from this section?
2-Does it encourage you that this is all a prayer? Let us use it to pray back God's own words.
3-What were you most challenged with above?