Pe
129 Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!
130 The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
131 I pant with expectation,
longing for your commands.
132 Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
133 Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
135 Look upon me with love;
teach me your decrees.
136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
because people disobey your instructions.
Psalm 119:129-136
Dear God, I am at a point at work where I actually need to toughen up when it comes to “law.” Things have gotten a little loose over the summer in a couple of areas, and it’s time for me to have to tighten things up. And I am not a good tightener. But it has to be done. I’m just thinking about it here because of the laws you have for us. We get loose with them too. We drift. We assume you’re looking the other way. All the while, we are grieving you and we are grieving your Spirit. How do you correct us? What is the most constructive way for me to correct the staff this morning? With that said, let’s see what I might be able to get out of today’s verses.
- 129 Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them! – They really are wonderful. I really do need them. They really are good for me. Thank you for your love as exhibited through them. If you didn’t have them for us how would we know you care?
- 130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. – The line about the “simple” seems a little mean, but the point is taken. The more I know from you the more I know of you. And as a simple man, the more I can understand. Help me to learn your word and help me to know how to teach your word when given the opportunity.
- 131 I pant with expectation, longing for your commands. – There are some days I long for your commands and some days I don’t. This morning, frankly, I’m distracted by what I mentioned earlier. But I do get excited about learning from you sometimes. Help those moments to be longer and longer and more frequent.
- 132 Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name. – Ah, your mercy. I long to receive it and I need to give it. And that goes for all kinds of people. Your mercy, Father, is what allows the world to move forward. The mercy you give us and the mercy we give to each other. Even the mercy we give to you when we are angry with you and then accept that your ways are not our ways. But thank you for showing me your mercy and teaching me to show it to others.
- 133 Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. – I just want to walk in and be in your light. Let your word be a lamp unto my feet and light upon my path.
- 134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments. – I can always obey your commands, whether I’m captive or not. Even if I am oppressed by evil people, give me your freedom of soul through my loyalty, devotion, and obedience to you.
- 135 Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees. – Oh, I know you already look on me with love. And you are ready to teach me whenever I am ready to learn. Help me to be ready to learn, and thank you for looking upon me with love.
- 136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions. – Does my heart break for those who don’t know you? Not enough. Help me to really care for those who don’t know you.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Pe, Psalm 119, Psalms
Ayin
121 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right.
122 Please guarantee a blessing for me.
Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!
123 My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
124 I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.
125 Give discernment to me, your servant;
then I will understand your laws.
126 Lord, it is time for you to act,
for these evil people have violated your instructions.
127 Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold.
128 Each of your commandments is right.
That is why I hate every false way.
Psalm 119:121-128
Dear God, I wonder if sometimes I don’t give myself permission to dismiss some of the things people in the Bible say or do too quickly. For example, I look at Peter deciding to choose a replacement for Judas in Acts 1 as him acting prematurely and impatiently. In this case, I read some of these lines from the psalmist here, and I just don’t jive with them. Am I wrong to be that way? Is it a mistake? Arrogant? Foolish? Holy Spirit, keep me from foolishness. Lead me not into temptation. Deliver me from evil–especially the evil from within me. Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, regardless of what it costs me. Teach me to forgive and help me to know how to experience and grow through your forgiveness. Your name is powerful. You are everything. You are beyond all I can imagine or think. You are God, Yahweh, Jehovah. Even those words we’ve devised are not big enough for what you are. I love you.
- 121 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right. – I just can’t say that I legitimately deserve anything better than my enemies get. My enemies could easily pray this prayer about me. I struggle with this. Maybe it’s just that the older I get the less and less I expect of you. Don’t get me wrong. I am grateful for everything you have done for me and continue to do for me. And I will pray for others. When I pray for success at work it is so that the people we serve can be blessed. When I pray for those whom I love, I am praying for their complete restoration and relationship with you. Praying for their healing. But I am not confident enough to know that I am in the right and my enemy is in the wrong and call on you to not subject me to them. I can, however, pray for them in the process. For their complete restoration and relationship with you. For their healing. And I can pray for my own restoration to and relationship with you, and my healing.
- 122 Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don’t let the arrogant oppress me! – See verse 121.
- 123 My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. – See, I think this is part of how I’ve gotten to where I am now. Years ago, I used to selfishly look to you to work everything out the way that best suited me. I feel like you’ve ground this expectation out of me, for the most part, over the last 15 years. I wonder how the psalmist would have felt about these words at the end of his life. Did he still have this perspective?
- 124 I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees. – Ah, yes. Finally something I can resonate with this morning. I need your unfailing love and mercy. I am your servant. I need to learn your decrees. I want to learn and become everything you have for me to be. Help me, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
- 125 Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. – I guess this is what I’m asking for even now. As I look at the first three verses today and chafe against them, I am asking for your discernment to let me know if I am wrong to do so. Should I expect more of you when it comes to my defense and success?
- 126 Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions. – Yes, WE have. WE have violated your instructions. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, have mercy. Holy Spirit, have mercy.
- 127 Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold. – I am so much better with you. I need you. But I only get you through this relationship and the conviction and instruction that comes with it. Help me to be your disciple and servant.
- 128 Each of your commandments is right. That is why I hate every false way. – I wish I hated the false ways more, but the truth is that I am tempted by the false ways. They look very good to me. Holy Spirit, be with me today. Help me to recognize the false way when presented to me, and help me to avoid it. More than that. Help me to reject it and embrace you.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: Ayin, bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Psalm 119, Psalms
Samekh
113 I hate those with divided loyalties,
but I love your instructions.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.
115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed.
117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
They are only fooling themselves.
119 You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
no wonder I love to obey your laws!
120 I tremble in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your regulations.
Psalm 119:113-120
Dear God, it feels like today he is drawing that line between himself (as righteous) and others he sees as unrighteous. My initial gut response was to look at this and criticize him for not having more mercy towards the others. I’m just most of those he deems as “evil-minded” or as having “divided loyalties” don’t wake up feeling like they are evil-minded or have divided loyalties. If they are lost, they probably don’t realize it. Don’t they need his love and not his condemnation?
But then I have two more thoughts. First, maybe I need to see these things either in myself or the people around me and address it. Would the psalmist consider me to have divided loyalties? Would I live up to his standard? Do any extent, would he be right about me if he thought that? Second, this is before Jesus revealed your nature to us in human form. Before he explicitly came and taught us. And Jesus did two interesting things. He raised the bar on sin so that even this psalmist would realize he doesn’t measure up (he uses the word “hate” in verse 113 to describe his feelings towards some people, which Jesus called out in the Sermon on the Mount). We have to be careful about calling on you to draw a line and smite people on one side of it because we never know where we might be in relation to that line. The other thing Jesus did, however, was offer this unbelievable grace that met us where we are and then told us to sin no more.
That was a long into for this passage. Let me look and see where there might be verse by verse.
- 113 I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. – Is there a part of me that needs to delineate and recognize others I need to at least be wary around? Is there a role you have for me to play in their lives to call them to yourself? Are there areas where my own loyalties are divided and I don’t realize it? Holy Spirit, work with me on this, I pray.
- 114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. – How do I use you as my refuge and my shield? I think it is mainly resting in the knowledge that you are my God but my life is simply to serve you between now and my first death which will be followed by a second life that will know no death. What can man do to me? Help me to be above reproach on everything.
- 115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. – I’m fortunate in that I don’t feel like there is anyone in my life who is trying to get me to not obey your commands. I mean, there are some people in the community who wish I would do some things I consider to be contrary to Jesus, and they want me to do them in your name, but they aren’t a regular part of my life.
- 116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. – I don’t know how the psalmist would define “living,” but I suspect our definitions are different. You are my God. My life is at your disposal. Show me how to live it today. My only hope is in you.
- 117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. – This, I can get behind–mostly. I don’t know what he means by rescued, but just being emotionally and spiritually sustained by you is enough. I don’t need to be physically sustained by you. I love that I am. I am grateful for the amazing things in my life. I am grateful for your love and provision. I am grateful for you. I guess I’m just trying to say that that’s not why I’m here. That’s not what I expect of you. But I am grateful for what I have. I really am.
- 118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. – When I think of putting names to those I consider to have strayed from your decrees, I know that if I were to tell them that they would be shocked and completely reject the idea they have strayed. In fact, they would probably think I have strayed. Maybe we are all fooling ourselves. Show me if I am fooling myself, Holy Spirit.
- 119 You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! – Do you? Is this how you work? I think we all get skimmed off the earth about int he same way. Maybe we are all wicked. And I don’t know who is subject to the second death and who is not. I don’t know where the cut line is on that, but I know I hope my heart is what you’re looking for because I do love you.
- 120 I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations. – Father, you are God. You have laid out a way of living that is so amazing. I am sorry so many of us, including me at times, reject it for our own selfishness. The irony is that allowing our selfishness to abandon your regulations is actually not in our self-interest. We are such fools! I am such a fool!
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Psalm 119, Psalms, Samekh
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
107 I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
108 Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
109 My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
110 The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
111 Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
112 I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.
Psalm 119:97-105
Dear God, as I read this “Nun” section of Psalm 119 this morning, I thought about the Letter in Revelation 2 to the church at Ephesus. How they were doing great things, but they had lost their first love of loving you with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength and then loving their neighbors. What came to me is that I do not believe the psalmist has this problem. He is definitely clinging to you. He wants to do the right things, but it is out of his love for you that he wants to do them. Honestly, I don’t know how much he is loving his neighbors, but he is certainly devoted to you.
If I were to receive a supernatural letter from you in the mail, what would it say? Would I even have the courage to open it? It’s awfully convenient when these conversations are a one-way street, and I can just imagine your encouraging words to me. But where are your frustration points with me?
With all that said, let’s get into today’s verses.
- 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. – Of course, this is a popular verse. When I read it I can hear Amy Grant singing it. It was written on one of the side of Baylor University’s old administration building, Pat Neff Hall. Of course, we have our current interpretation of your “word.” We think of our modern Bible as your word. For the psalmist, however, I think he was mainly talking about the instructions in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. The laws. Your laws are a lamp unto his feel and a light for his path. As I come against difficult, complex, or confusing situations today at work, help me to use your word, both your law and the other teachings I get through the entire Bible, as well as your still small voice, Holy Spirit, to guide me.
- 106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. – Yes, he has promised it many times. Even in just the previous 105 verses. What must this man have been like to be around? He seems so desperate to throw himself into you. I wonder what kind of personal pain he carried into writing this psalm. What was his state of mind when he chose each word? As I imagine visiting with him, my tendency it to try to get him to relax just a little.
- 107 I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised. – I don’t know if this is the right prayer or not. Maybe you promised the psalmist that you would restore a life he lost, but I feel no such expectation of my life. Studying Job and looking at the lives of Paul, Peter, and the other apostles, I cannot make this same statement to you. I simply pray for the healing of the people I love, regardless of what it might cost me.
- 108 Lord, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations. – Yes, this. My offering of praise is feeble, I know, but I do offer it. My wife and I just did our daily prayer together, and I tried to focus it around worship and praise. Gratitude for what you are doing that I can see and what you are doing that I cannot see.
- 109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions. – Reading about some of the persecution the Christians in some of those Revelation churches experienced was sobering. The church in Smyrna comes to mind. You had no rebukes for them, and yet you told them they were about to suffer, even to death. But they would not succumb to the second death. I don’t suffer to anything near that extent. In fact, outside of a few relationships that are strained, I don’t get chastised for my faith in you at all. So I don’t know what it is like to have my life hang in the balance, but I appreciate this psalmist feeling like his did and yet he would follow your instructions anyway.
- 110 The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments. – I suppose there are traps we gladly walk into. Jesus did that. He would gladly walk into a trap the Pharisees or Sadducees set for him, but then he would cleverly turn it on them and they would find themselves in their own traps. I pray that if I find myself in any kind of difficult situation that you would give me the shrewdness and wisdom to call on you and know what to say.
- 111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. – Your presence in my life is the source of life for me. My heart would be a dark place without you.
- 112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end. – Yes, I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: "Thy Word", Amy Grant, Baylor University, bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Nun, Pat Neff Hall, Psalm 119, Psalms
Mem
97 Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
100 I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
101 I have refused to walk on any evil path,
so that I may remain obedient to your word.
102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
for you have taught me well.
103 How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
104 Your commandments give me understanding;
no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Psalm 119:97-104
Dear God, okay, this Mem section was tough for me to read. I was brought back to the Rich Young Ruler from Mark 10 again. Jesus loved him, but he knew there was a dimension missing. When I read this Mem section it just feels like this young man (I call him young because he mentions his elders) is trying so hard to justify himself through his own power and strength. My wife and I have this joke where when one of us gives the other a nice compliment the receiver of the compliment says, “I know, right?!?” For example, “You did such a great job at ______.” Reply, “I know, right?!?” It’s a way of receiving the compliment but also sarcastically deflecting it to some extent. I almost get the feeling that this psalmist would take a compliment like, “You are amazing at how your follow God’s commands,” and say without any sarcasm, “I know, right?!?”
With that said, let me look to see what I see in these verses.
- 97 Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. – I am grateful for your instructions, but there are times when I want to reject them and be selfish and unforgiving. I know my desires will only lead me to places I don’t want to be, but they feel so good in the moment. I suppose it would be a great aspiration for me to love all of your instructions all day long. Maybe I’m just jealous of the psalmist for getting there when I haven’t been able to yet.
- 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. – I will say that there are times when I feel like I have a secret passcode to peace that others don’t have. Is it wisdom? I don’t know that I’d call it that. It feels more like letting go and living in a state of acceptance of what I cannot control. Perhaps an answer to the “Serenity Prayer” from AA: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
- 99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. – I think this is where he lost me. Honestly, I’m surprised the Jewish church added this psalm to the canon based on this verse alone. As for me, there are certainly times I disagree with my teachers, but I am very aware that I could be wrong. I will never know you completely on this side of life, but I can try to get as close as I can. But I’ll still be wrong about some things. I watched a video yesterday by N.T. Wright on whether or not cremation is okay from an eternal standpoint. He had an opinion. Others have another opinion. I have my own opinion, although I don’t stand by it. I don’t know what’s right. And that’s okay. If I can stay in community you can help us all work it out with fear and trembling.
- 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. – Oh, my goodness. “This one thing you lack…”
- 101 I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. – I’ve walked evil paths. I’ve been tempted by evil paths just this week. So I will modify mine to say I really do my best to not walk on an evil path. I don’t just try not to walk on an evil path, but I do my best to avoid it. But sometimes I stray. I am sorry.
- 102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. – You do teach me well. I wish I followed you better, although I do think I get a little better each year. Thank you for your patience with me.
- 103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. – Yes. This. Your words are awesome, and when I do successfully follow you I find myself in a peace that is awesome.
- 104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. – I completely agree with this verse too. It’s also a reason I want to help others not only call you Lord, but also live a discipling life. I want them to experience this as well. Help me to do that.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Mem, Psalm 119, Psalms, Rich Young Ruler
Lamedh
89 Your eternal word, O Lord,
stands firm in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
as enduring as the earth you created.
91 Your regulations remain true to this day,
for everything serves your plans.
92 If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
I would have died in my misery.
93 I will never forget your commandments,
for by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; rescue me!
For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
95 Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
96 Even perfection has its limits,
but your commands have no limit.
Psalm 119:89-96
Dear God, this psalmist is working so hard for your approval. He is working so hard for your protection. I just want to give him a hug and tell him about your love for him. I want to tell him about grace and mercy. I want to tell him the story about the rich young ruler and how Jesus loved him. If he had been a contemporary of Paul’s and read some of his epistles, how would this psalm have been different?
I’m not saying we don’t need to be mindful of your commands. We do! But it’s like I heard someone say about the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount one time. They said we don’t get your favor by obeying what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. We obey what Jesus taught by worshipping and loving you and receiving your mercy and grace.
I also heard someone recently talk about how we need mercy because of the fall, but grace is something you were giving to Adam and Eve even before the fall. You grace us with your presence and your love. That is just something that happens because you love us so much. What a lovely thought.
With that said, let’s look at the Lamedh section of Psalm 119.
- 89 Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. – While everything around me might look confusing or crazy, nothing on your side of reality is in doubt. This is a great a deep verse. There is a depth of truth to is that is awesome. We were listening to the Bible Project Podcast yesterday, and the teacher was talking about John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, and all sorts of other gospel characters misunderstanding why John and Jesus had come. They thought it was time for redemption from Rome, not from their sin. None of us have much clue what is going on in real time. But you, O Lord, and your eternal word stand firm in heaven.
- 90 Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. – As I said earlier, your love for us is remarkable. Not only mercy. Not only grace. But then when we are bad to you, you are still faithful to us. Amazing. Humbling. Awesome.
- 91 Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. – There are some days when I simply cannot see how everything serves your plans. Again, I have no more perspective than Zechariah or Peter had in their time. Probably much less. Okay, definitely much less. So it can be hard for me to see everything serving your plans, but I can at least appreciate how you can take everything and redeem it for your glory. As for what your plan is for the world or in all of this, I simply have no idea.
- 92 If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. – Death even in living. I’ve seen some who are like that. Help me to be a source of your life to those around me.
- 93 I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. – My life comes through you. These prayer times aren’t my only touchpoint with following you, but they are an important part of it. And I didn’t particularly want to do this prayer journal this morning. But I know it’s part of my foundation that I need to 1.) connect to you and 2.) learn from you. Your commandments give me life.
- 94 I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. – I am going to reject the second half of this verse. I have no justification for you to rescue me or love me except that you chose to offer it to me through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. Through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling after Jesus’s ascension. But I will gladly label myself as yours. Rescue me, Father.
- 95 Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws. – One of the things Satan would love is for me to get distracted from you by the hate or selfishness in my heart. I talked with a friend recently who had a lapse in his addiction. I told him that the times I find myself being most tempted by sin are the times when I am feeling sorry for myself. My selfishness. My rights. That includes the right to defend myself to others. But I reject that and pledge to keep my mind on you and your laws.
- 96 Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit. – What an interesting verse. Your limits are beyond my limits. I am limited. You are limitless. So I humbly bring myself to you and ask for your mercy.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Lamedh, Psalm 119, Psalms
Kaph
81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
but I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
When will you comfort me?
83 I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke,
but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
84 How long must I wait?
When will you punish those who persecute me?
85 These arrogant people who hate your instructions
have dug deep pits to trap me.
86 All your commands are trustworthy.
Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause.
87 They almost finished me off,
but I refused to abandon your commandments.
88 In your unfailing love, spare my life;
then I can continue to obey your laws.
Psalm 119:81-88
Dear God, wow! Halfway through this psalm it shifts tone and goes from a psalm of orientation to a psalm of disorientation. Was this the plan all along. I’ve been critical of this psalmist for not having suffered, but maybe he was saving it. One of the interesting things about taking this thing slowly like this is that it helps me to notice this trend. When I’m done with this psalm in several days, one thing I’ll do is look at the biblical commentary I use to see what scholars think of this psalm.
With that said, let’s look at these verses one by one.
- 81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. – There is a podcast I listen to that has an intro about making sense during confusing times. The funny thing is, I think everyone thinks their times are either the most confusing or at least particularly confusing. This came to mind because I wonder at what level this psalmist needed rescued. Was it life or death or simply a lament? Was it personal rescue or societal rescue? There are times when I am stressed and times when I am in mourning. I get anxious sometimes. And if I were in Gaza or Ukraine right now, I would be feeling the depths of needing your rescue. Father, please rescue those who call on your name, and have mercy even on those who do not. Use all of this pain to draw us closer to you in some way. Don’t let it be wasted. Make it count.
- 82 My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? – I have certainly needed comforted. There are still pains in my life for which I need comfort. Help me to take the comfort your give me and give it to others who need comfort as well. I don’t want just comfort for me. I want to know comfort so I can give comfort. Help me to give comfort.
- 83 I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. – I’ve felt this way before. I’m grateful to not feel it now. I’ve followed you blindly in the midst of pain but not forsaken you. But I do remember the 18-month period when I was in so much pain I didn’t pray like this. I prayed to you silently, but not really meditating on your Word like I am doing now. Thank you for carrying me through that time and teaching me as well.
- 84 How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? – Again, how personal is this persecution for the psalmist? Is it something that a few people are persecuting him or is he in exile and persecuted as a Jew? And how does your “punishment”–even for the evil–work? Somehow, I don’t think any of us really understand that.
- 85 These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me. – So this seems pretty personal. Isn’t it interesting that he wrote this and then published it for others to know and sing? Again, he goes back to his theme of your commands and instructions. Some obey and try to follow and some hate and ignore. Help me to be someone who not only follows, but inspires others to follow as well. I’m thinking of one man, in particular, who needs to know your instructions right now.
- 86 All your commands are trustworthy. Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause. – Again, this is very personal. The phrase “hunt me down” is interesting. I don’t feel hunted by people right now, but I know there are others who do. God, help us all.
- 87 They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments. – There is obviously some pain in these words. Be glorified, Father, even in this pain all of us feel.
- 88 In your unfailing love, spare my life; then I can continue to obey your laws. – Quoting Keith Green: “Make my life a prayer to you. I want to do what you want me to. No empty words and no white lies. No token prayers. No compromise. I wanna share the light you gave through your Son you sent to save us from ourselves and our despair. It comforts me to know you’re really there.”
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: "Make My Life a Prayer to You", bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Kaph, Keith Green, Psalm 119, Psalms
Yodh
73 You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your instructions are my delight.
78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
79 Let me be united with all who fear you,
with those who know your laws.
80 May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;
then I will never be ashamed.
Psalm 119:73-80
Dear God, I wonder how this psalmists would have defined your “commands.” Is he referring to all of the meticulous laws and being pious, or is he looking at the bigger picture. Would he have been the type to come to Jesus, ask what it is to be saved, and then claimed to have kept all of the commands. Would Jesus ask him to sell all he has, give it to the poor, and then come and follow him? In the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10:17-27, Jesus loved the man. That is often forgotten. He loved his earnestness. He loved his zeal. He loved his obedience. To obey is better than to sacrifice. So why did Jesus raise the bar on him beyond the law? It makes me think of the part of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said the series of, “You have heard it said …, but I say…” This psalmist and passionate about following you and loving you. I appreciate him for that. I would love for that to be said of me. But if it were true, would there still be something more I owe you?
- 73 You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. – I owe you everything. You are my creator. I am your created. And I am at the lower end of your creation at that. Even the lowest angel in heaven is far greater than me. I’m just this man on earth who has some amount of reason and thought. Who am I to think I am more than I am? But you are God. Give me the sense to follow your commands.
- 74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. – Accountability isn’t in here, but I can see it in the subtext, for me at least. I want “all who fear you” to be my tribe. My friends. My support. And my accountability. I pray that those I know and respect will know me and hold me accountable, but that starts with me making myself known to them. Help me to be completely known, warts and all.
- 75 I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. – When I first read this verse as part of the passage this morning, I asked myself if I’ve ever considered any event in my life to be discipline from you. I don’t think I have. Should I have? I’ve certainly seen you take challenges in my life, including terrible mistakes I’ve made, and used them as opportunities to teach me. I’ve learned a lot. But I think they natural consequences of my sin are quite enough punishment. I wonder if this is the difference between how the psalmist saw you and how Jesus taught us to see you. The ultimate punishment will be exclusion from your presence in the end, but even that is more a natural consequence of our choices and not what you want to happen.
- 76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. – Yes. I like the idea of claiming your comfort. Again, going back to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who mourn are blessed because they will be comforted. There are times when I really need your comfort. But there are also times when I just simply feel sorry for myself. At those times, I am slowly learning from you to care more about others and the pain they are in than myself.
- 77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. – For those before Jesus, they didn’t have this blanket understanding of your grace or the comfort of it. I appreciate your tender mercy and reconciliation through Jesus so that I might live–both on this earth and past it.
- 78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. – It’s always these types of verses in psalms that catch me off guard. If people are enemies of mine, I suppose I don’t care about their outcomes. I only care if they are enemies of yours–especially if they claim to be of you and then act apart from you. If they are doing that, the bring all of the disgrace upon them you can muster so that they might not misrepresent you and your name.
- 79 Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws. – This kind of goes back to that accountability I was talking about earlier. About being known by my tribe. Being one with them under you so that we might bring you joy and glory.
- 80 May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed. – A clear conscience is an amazing thing. I’ve had a guilty conscience. I’ve had a clear conscience. There’s no comparison. Father, help me to live with a clear conscience, repenting to you and accepting your grace when I am wrong, and repenting to others when I need to as well.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Psalm 119, Psalms, Rich Young Ruler, Sermon on the Mount, Yodh
Teth
65 You have done many good things for me, Lord,
just as you promised.
66 I believe in your commands;
now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
but now I closely follow your word.
68 You are good and do only good;
teach me your decrees.
69 Arrogant people smear me with lies,
but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are dull and stupid,
but I delight in your instructions.
71 My suffering was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
72 Your instructions are more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver.
Psalm 119:65-72
Dear God, I’ve been a little distracted by work this morning while on my vacation. I have an unavoidable appointment in about 20 minutes that I’ve had to get my head in the game for. It’s kind of stunk, but who am I to complain. This vacation has been great and I am completely blessed (is that the right word?) to be here right now. I am grateful to you for this time away and in such a lovely place. Thank you, Father. Thank you. I said yesterday that I need to be more intentionally grateful to you. I am, Father. I am very grateful for you.
Regarding today’s “Teth” section of Psalm 119, I’m actually looking forward to getting into this verse by verse because there were some interesting and disparate thoughts throughout them. So let me see what you might have for me this morning.
- 65 You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised. – Did you promise me good things? Honestly, if you did, it’s not a promise I cling to anymore. Maybe I used to expect good things at some point, but I feel like that has been squeezed/pressed out of me. There are a lot of good things in my life, and I am grateful to you for them. But they feel like a fortunate blessing more than you living up to a promise you made to me. I think of the faithful people in Ukraine or Gaza right now who are really suffering. I certainly can’t claim that I am deserving of this goodness and they are not. No, you are good all of the time, but I might not be able to determine what “good ” looks like. I certainly can’t trust my own definition of it. While I am at it, Father, please bless and care for all of the people who are suffering in these war zones. Whether it’s Thailand and Cambodia, all of the conflicts in Africa, Gaza and Israel, or Ukraine and Russia, I ask that you please raise up people and governments who will care for these who are suffering. Honestly, this is too big for me to know how to pray. Holy Spirit, please take these feeble prayers and use them however you will to make a difference for you, the Father, and Jesus in this world.
- 66 I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. – Yes. This! Teach me good judgment and knowledge. The psalmist still had a lot to learn. I still have a lot to learn. Teach me, Father. Don’t let any opportunities pass by me. Teach me. Give me wisdom and discernment. Help me to see beyond the surface. Help me to bring you glory through my little life.
- 67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. – Boy would I love to say this is true about me, but I still wander off now and then. I suppose it’s less and less, but I confess that I still wander. To quote “Come Thou Fount,” “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above.”
- 68 You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. – Going back to verse 65, you being good doesn’t mean that you owe me good things. But you are good, God. You are good all the time.
- 69 Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart. – I wonder what kind of persecution the author of this psalm experienced. I don’t experience much at all, but I live in a region that, if not on a real level of depth, at least pays lip service to worshipping you. That takes away a lot of my persecution there. But there are times when I get crossways with other believers. That can be hard because I can get really proud of my stances and frustrated when I think people who should agree with me don’t. Sometimes I doubt whether I am right or not. Going back to verse 66, teach me judgment and knowledge.
- 70 Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions. – The word stupid is hard for me. Misinformed, maybe. Sometimes fooled by misinformation sold to them by people who are monetizing misleading them. So I pray for them and I pray for myself, that we might all be learning from you and delighting in your instructions. That we might ultimately be one.
- 71 My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. – Frankly, it’s good to know the psalmist has suffered. I couldn’t tell from what I’ve gone through so far. But he’s right. It does help us to learn to depend upon you, understand who you are calling us to be, and deny ourselves, take up your cross and follow you.
- 72 Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. – Quoting a song here: “Lord, you are more precious than silver. Lord, you are more costly that gold. Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares with you.” I love you, Father, and I thank you.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Tags: bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Psalm 119, Psalms, Teth
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
Tags: bible, christianity, Faith, God, Heth, Jesus, Psalm 119, Psalms
Emails to God 