My understanding and view of God will always determine how I interpret and respond to what happens to me. First, I need to realize and affirm that I am a God-made man and not self-made (73a). I may not be able to change certain personality traits, since that is how God “made and fashioned me,”… Read More »
It’s testimony time! Not mine but the poet’s, who went through a time of “affliction” or divine chastening but who came out better for it (67, 71). Perhaps it involved a smear campaign or character assassination by “the insolent” (69) or some sort of financial loss of “gold and silver” (72). (Anyone who has seen… Read More »
This section of Psalm 119 holds some real challenges to me. I know that God takes seriously keeping promises made (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6). So, how can I say “I promise to keep your words” (57b), unless I truly intend to do so? I can do this only if I truly believe “Yahweh is my portion” (57a).… Read More »
In times of afflictions, where do I go for comfort? What do I hope in when times are tough and people are rough? What gives me life and helps me live the life I’ve been given? These questions are answered in this section of Psalm 119. Apparently the psalm writer had a particular word from… Read More »
This section of the prayer-song answers the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this situation it involves obedience to God’s word. It’s clear to me that obedience (keeping God’s law) flows from loving it (47-48). Is this not what Jesus taught his disciples in John 14:15: “If you love me,… Read More »
Today is my 50th spiritual birthday. 50 years ago today on a Saturday night I went with some Christian friends to a Youth For Christ Rally in Lancaster, PA, where I heard baseball legend Bobby Richardson give his testimony. (You can read about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Richardson). Afterwards, he met with me privately and led me… Read More »
Sometimes life’s circumstances knock us flat to the ground. Maybe we try to do the right thing but fail miserably. This may have been the psalmist’s experience, when he found himself clinging to the dust (25a) explaining himself to God (26a). Thank God He listens and answers! The man felt greatly diminished as a person… Read More »
I need to remember that Psalm 119 is an extended prayer, likely penned by a young man (9). In this psalm, the man asks for bountiful dealings by God (17a), open eyes (18a), uncovering God’s commands (19b), and removal of scorn & contempt from others (22a). The reasons he makes the requests are notable: that… Read More »
I find God’s word here to be very relevant to my spiritual life. It teaches me how to keep my way pure – by “guarding it” according to God’s word (1). If I don’t want to drift away from God’s word, I need to seek God in it “with my whole heart” (2). I don’t… Read More »
Ever since I began writing this blog on March 16, I have dealt with an entire psalm each day to correspond to the day of the year. (I began this personally as part of my daily meditation on the first day of the year with Psalm 1.) Now that I’ve come to Psalm 119 on… Read More »
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