Author: PGC Administrator

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Psalm 119-3 (vv33-48)

English Standard Version (ESV)

He – Loyal Commitment to God’s Word­

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
  and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
  and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
  for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
  and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
  and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
  that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
  for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
  in your righteousness give me life!

Waw – God’s Word and Salvation­

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
  your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
  for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
  for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
  forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
  for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
  and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
  which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
  and I will meditate on your statutes.

Reflection

• When we find ourselves seeking selfish gain, we are to stop and incline our hearts to God’s Word (vs. 36). When we find ourselves pursuing worthless things, we are to stop and pursue God’s ways instead (vs. 37). Repentance is recognizing we’re wrong, stopping what we are doing wrong and starting to do what is right in God’s eyes. How do we know what is right in God’s eyes? His Word tells us.
• As the psalmist continued to offer his prayer, he said to God, “I will keep your law…forever…” The writer then followed with “…and I shall walk in a wide place…” This statement, in verse 45, also translates, “…and I will walk about in freedom…” (The Voice). The psalmist considered keeping God’s Word as freedom. Why?
• Disobedience, going against God’s Word, is bondage. We might think that living without the word of God gives us freedom. On the contrary, disobedience binds us with guilt, regrets, consequences of bad choices, anxieties and all kinds of problems. Living in obedience to God’s word may not prevent us from ever experiencing these things, but an obedient lifestyle offers us a spiritual freedom that living disobediently cannot provide.
• Pray and ask God to take away the bondage of your past disobedience and set you free to worship and serve him with clean hearts and minds. Thank God for the freedom you have in following God and living according to God’s ways.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.

• Subtitle of each paragraph is from www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/htm/OT/Psalms/Psalms.htm

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Psalms+119

Psalm 119-2 (vv17-32)

English Standard Version (ESV)

Gimel – An Appreciation of God’s Word­

17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
  that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
  wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
  hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
  for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
  who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
  for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
  your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
  they are my counselors.

Daleth – A Prayer for Greater Understanding­

25 My soul clings to the dust;
  give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
  teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
  and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
  strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
  and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
  I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
  let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
  when you enlarge my heart!

Reflection

• Beginning with verse 17, Psalm 119 becomes a prayer. The psalmist asked God to enlighten him in order to understand God’s word for he found delight in and hunger for God’s Word.
• The psalmist asked that God would open his eyes to see “wondrous things” in God’s word. Paul prayed for Christians to have “the eyes of your hearts enlightened” (Eph 1:18).
• In v19, the psalmist described himself as a sojourner, a visitor passing through this world and asked God not to hide His commandments from him. In v20, he longed for God’s judgments – for His Word. Do you see yourself in this way, as someone passing through life who desperately needs the direction and counsel of God?
• Have you ever found yourself spiritually dry or disobedient to God’s Word? What did you do for spiritual revival? What role does God’s Word have in your spiritual revival?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.

• Subtitle of each paragraph is from www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/htm/OT/Psalms/Psalms.htm

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Psalms+119

Reading Psalm 119

• This is the longest psalm in the Bible. It contains a series of eight-line meditations based on each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm celebrates a revelation which brings delight, because each fresh word from God reveals not just information but its author.

• Here are some characteristics of this psalm:
  • Psalm 119 is written in the form of an acrostic poem. An acrostic is a series of lines or verses, which begin with or contain particular letters that, when taken in order, spell out a word or phrase. For example, GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense – is an example of acrostic. Acrostics are often used as tools to help with memorization.
  • It is divided into 22 stanzas of 8 verses each.
  • It uses 8 different words for God’s law. The psalm uses the full meaning of these 8 words to elaborate on The Word of God.
  • Beginning with verse 17, it is written in the form of a prayer.
• The eight different Hebrew synonyms used throughout this psalm in referring to Scripture are:
  • Law, a teaching, indicating a single command, the Books of Moses, or all of Scripture.
  • Testimonies, vivid and unmistakable witnesses to man of God’s will.
  • Way, the pattern of life required by God’s law.
  • Precepts, detailed instructions given by God as guardian of his people.
  • Statutes, binding laws engraved on a permanent record.
  • Commandments, orders or decrees given by competent authority.
  • Promise, a term often translated “word”, suggesting the trustworthiness of divine truth in any form.
  • Rules (Ordinances/Judgment), judgments made by God, containing God’s judgments concerning man’s rights and duties.

• Together these words form a clear picture of the Scriptures. They are God’s authoritative word, in which we can have complete confidence, and through which we learn to trust God and to live a life characterized by godliness.
• These can be taken as twenty-two brief meditations, each launched with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and easy for memorization. They speak of the love revealed in words which unveil the author-God and serve as light to guide God’s children all his/her life.
• The psalmist who wrote this longest psalm sought refuge from his persecutors and found strength by meditating on the Word of God. This psalm is largely a collection or anthology of prayers and thoughts about God’s Word. C. S. Lewis compared it to a piece of embroidery, done stitch by stitch in the quiet hours for the love of the subject and for the delight in leisurely, disciplined craftsmanship.

Psalm 119-1 (vv1-16)

English Standard Version (ESV)

Aleph – The Blessing of Obeying God’s Word­

1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
  who walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
  who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
  but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your precepts
  to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
  in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
  having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
  when I learn your righteous rules.
8 I will keep your statutes;
  do not utterly forsake me!

Beth – The Cleansing Power of God’s Word­

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
  By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
  let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
  that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
  teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
  all the rules of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
  as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
  and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
  I will not forget your word.

Reflection

• In the first paragraph, the psalmist rejoiced in the fact that people who obey God’s word wholeheartedly enjoy God’s blessing. The word “blessed” also translates as “happy”. Re-read verses 1-2 again substituting ‘happy’ in place of ‘blessed’. Based on these verses, how can we pursue happiness?
• God’s word is not a set of rules and regulations to keep us pure and moral. It is God’s total wisdom for creation, protection and redemption. Our only proper response is to wholeheartedly obey and follow.
• To store up God’s word in our heart (v11) is not limited to the memorization of individual verses or even whole passages. It extends to a holistic living in a person’s devotion to the Lord.
• Memorize v11 and ask the Holy Spirit to help you live the verse out in your daily life. You may memorize it by learning this children song by Steve Green. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOoeQoRHZVs

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.

Subtitle of each paragraph is from www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/htm/OT/Psalms/Psalms.htm

Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Psalms+118

Psalm 118

English Standard Version (ESV)

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
  for his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
  “His steadfast love endures forever.”

5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
  the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
  What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is on my side as my helper;
  I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
  than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
  than to trust in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me;
  in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
  in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees;
  they went out like a fire among thorns;
  in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
  but the Lord helped me.

14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
  he has become my salvation.

Reflection

• The psalmist expresses thanks to God for delivering Israel from her many enemies. They had much to thank God for, especially His love which endures forever (vv1-4).
• Then, the psalmist gave personal testimony to God’s deliverance of him in answer to his prayer. God was with him, so he was not afraid of what others might do to him. The Lord would be his helper, even when his enemies surrounded him, The Lord gave him confidence that he could prevail over his adversaries.
• When God’s people discover that everything we have experienced actually demonstrates God’s enduring love for us, then whenever believers gather, it will be a Thanksgiving service. “Not that we have loved Godbut that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10)
• For what events in your life are you particularly grateful to God?
• How did God prove to be your helper, your strength or your salvation?
• Give thanks to the Lord (v1) for his goodness and his forever steadfast love for you.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.