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). This idea of Yahweh being one’s portion or inheritance stems back to his promise to the tribe of Levi in Numbers 18:20 where he promised to be the all-sufficient one for the priestly tribe, which did not receive any portion or inheritance of LAND in Canaan. Therefore, I know that believers have no greater possession in life than God himself; but try telling that to my flesh who lusts for many of the things this world offers. Yes, I believe that God is all I need, but is he all I want? Can I truly say with Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT GOD is the strength of my heart and MY PORTION forever”? I want so very much to have this be the reality of my experience. Furthermore, how can I entreat God’s favor with all my heart and ask him to be gracious according to HIS promise (58), if I’m not willing to keep MY promise? Verse 59 tells me that thinking about the way I live should lead to turning to God’s word. IOW, I need to correct any deviation from God’s word. But do I do so when made aware of such crookedness? And I don’t need to hesitate or delay in doing so (60). Genesis 19:16 tells me this was Lot’s problem. Oh, how that world must have gripped his heart while vexing his righteous soul (2 Peter 2:7). Obedience to the all-sufficient, grace-giving, promise-keeping God should be immediate and not reluctant like Lot. Verse 61 contains another challenging thought: how often do I forget God’s law? Then there’s verse 62. I have never set my alarm to rise at midnight just to praise God because of his “righteous rules.”
Despite all the challenges God’s word presents to me at times, I can say that I have many companions at Fellowship Bible Church and around the world who truly fear and respect and love the Lord and keep his word (63). I am also very aware that everywhere I look in the earth, if I have the proper eyes to see, there is abundant evidence of God’s steadfast, constant, committed love. I just need to open my eyes as well as my heart and remain teachable (64).
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