Tag Archives: Heth

Heth

⁵⁷ Lord, you are mine!
    I promise to obey your words!
⁵⁸ With all my heart I want your blessings.
    Be merciful as you promised.
⁵⁹ I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.
⁶⁰ I will hurry, without delay,
    to obey your commands.
⁶¹ Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
⁶² I rise at midnight to thank you
    for your just regulations.
⁶³ I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments.
⁶⁴ O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth;
    teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:57-64

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning, my first thought was of Samuel and Saul and Samuel telling Saul that obeying you is better than sacrificing to you. Now, in that case, I think Samuel was really making a point because he knew that a sacrifice was in order, but it wasn’t the time for the sacrifice. No, obedience would have been better for Saul.

So when I read this passage this morning, I thought of obeying and how important it is. Your mercy is, unfortunately, necessary because there are too many times I do not obey, but that doesn’t mean I should strive for obedience. And it’s even for my good.

My wife and I were talking over breakfast about how neither of us when through a “party phase” in high school or college. Part of mine was because my dad was a recovering alcoholic and I thought it was best not to drink, but I also didn’t want to break the rules. That was part of my survival mechanism in high school. And, frankly, it didn’t really appeal to me. But I can say that obeying those rules and not getting drunk with my friends was advantageous. I don’t think any of us look back on the great time we had in high school hanging out together without alcohol with any regrets. I’m grateful for it.

With all of that said, let’s make our way through “Heth” and see what’s what.

• ⁵⁷ Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! – What a wonderful expression of love. “You are mine!” Oh, thank you that you are mine. My wife and I have this joke from the movie Groundhog Day when one character won a date with another character at a charity auction and when they are still together the next day, the person who was auctioned off asks the bidder why they are still there. She replies, “I bought you. I own you.” This is said lovingly as a joke. It’s very sweet. My wife and I use that line on each other often. Well, you really did buy me, and I have sold myself gladly over to you. And now I am yours and you are mine.
• ⁵⁸ With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. – The definition of blessings is interesting. I think it’s important to realize that the blessings I want are not material. The blessing I want is your love, your grace and mercy, and your use of me and my little life in any way you see fit.
• ⁵⁹ I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. – I really like this verse. This might be my favorite line of this whole psalm so far. It will preach. I like the idea of deeply considering and evaluating my life and then embracing you and your laws. Yes! I’m in. I made that decision a long time ago, but the zeal and fervor of it ebbs and flows here and there. I pray for more flow than ebb.
• ⁶⁰ I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. – Yes. Without delay. Not, “I’ll start tomorrow.” Now!
• ⁶¹ Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – I’m trying to think of the sin that tempts me the most. Probably self-pity. Thinking I have rights to things that I don’t really have and then deciding I need to fight for those rights. I think of Saul feeling sorry for himself instead of embracing whatever your plan is. Help me to stay anchored to you and everything you continue to teach me.
• ⁶² I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. – My first thought here was, “Well, let’s not go crazy here.” I like being asleep at midnight. But I do need to just thank you more often. I was reminded of that in a sermon I listened to yesterday. I need to be more intentional about thanking you.
• ⁶³ I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments. – I’ve found myself being more skeptical of self-professed Christians lately. But when I find someone I believe genuinely worships you and submits themselves to your instruction and correction then I am all in with them.
• ⁶⁴ O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. – With that said, I still have a lot to learn about submitting myself to you and your correction and instruction. Teach me today.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen