Psalm 119: God's Word on Display. Pt. 12
Good morning everyone. Let's start our day right with a cup of coffee in one hand and our Bibles in the other. Take time to look around as your day begins and see the beauty of creation.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy name" Psalm 103:1 KJV
Psalm 119:17-24 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
This is the next paragraph of 8 verses in Psalm 119. In this text we find that the Psalmist makes 4 prayer requests. The commandments and testimonies are mentioned twice while the law, judgments, the word and statutes are found 1 time each.
Asking God to keep His promises
His first prayer request is that Jehovah would deal bountifully with the Psalmist. He knows that God will always keep His promises and that He always does what is right so this request is for God to bless him for the specific purpose that he can "keep thy word."
The Psalmist wants another day of life so that he can dedicate himself to treasuring the scriptures, guarding it in his heart. He wants his conduct, speech and thoughts to be shaped by God's Word.
Psalm 119: 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times
He expresses more deep emotion for the word of God by telling us that his heart breaks because he longs for his eyes to be opened so that he might respond in faith to what God says.
Psalm 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
He speaks about those who choose to reject the Word of God. They are filled with pride and they knowingly stray from God's truth. Jehovah will bring judgment upon them and rebuke them with His displeasure because they ignored the soul saving commandments He gave.
Asking God to remove those who malign his character
Psalm 119:22-23 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
The Psalmist makes his last prayer request that the evil speech of his enemies, and those who disregard God's Word, would be taken out of the way. He wants this character assassination to stop and their contempt toward God forcibly removed from his presence.
The character of God is called into question by the same ones who attack the Psalmist. They blaspheme His holy name and he wants it to be stopped. Notice that even while facing external resistance the Psalmist is resting in what God said.
He continues keeping Jehovah's testimonies and he is constantly thinking about or focusing upon His statutes. The Word of God is a safe and sure abiding place for his soul.
Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
He concludes this section by reminding us that true joy and delight is found when we read, study, meditate on and memorize the Word of God. His thoughts, words and actions are governed by what God says and they shape his character into someone who can be used of God to advance His kingdom purposes.
Points to Ponder....
"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His Holy name" Psalm 103:1 KJV
Psalm 119:17-24 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
This is the next paragraph of 8 verses in Psalm 119. In this text we find that the Psalmist makes 4 prayer requests. The commandments and testimonies are mentioned twice while the law, judgments, the word and statutes are found 1 time each.
Asking God to keep His promises
His first prayer request is that Jehovah would deal bountifully with the Psalmist. He knows that God will always keep His promises and that He always does what is right so this request is for God to bless him for the specific purpose that he can "keep thy word."
The Psalmist wants another day of life so that he can dedicate himself to treasuring the scriptures, guarding it in his heart. He wants his conduct, speech and thoughts to be shaped by God's Word.
Asking God to help him understand the scriptures
Psalm 119:18-29 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
Psalm 119:18-29 18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
The second request of the Psalmist is one that we all need to make on a daily basis. It is a passionate plea to Jehovah to send His Spirit to open the eyes of the Psalmist. It is the specific ministry of the Spirit of God to open human hearts and minds in such a way that any man, woman or young person can understand God's truth.
This has been a habit carefully cultivated by the Psalmist and as the Spirit illuminates his understanding he has read wonderful things in God's law. The word "wonderful" refers to things that are truly marvelous and extraordinary and includes things hidden by God but revealed to the Psalmist by His Spirit.
This has been a habit carefully cultivated by the Psalmist and as the Spirit illuminates his understanding he has read wonderful things in God's law. The word "wonderful" refers to things that are truly marvelous and extraordinary and includes things hidden by God but revealed to the Psalmist by His Spirit.
Asking God not to hide His commandments
Constantly reading the scripture has shown the Psalmist that the child of God is truly a stranger or pilgrim just passing through this world on our way to eternal life with Christ. Therefore he boldly asks that the beautiful commandments of God will not be hidden from him, but that the Spirit will bring understanding to his heart.
Psalm 119: 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times
He expresses more deep emotion for the word of God by telling us that his heart breaks because he longs for his eyes to be opened so that he might respond in faith to what God says.
Psalm 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
He speaks about those who choose to reject the Word of God. They are filled with pride and they knowingly stray from God's truth. Jehovah will bring judgment upon them and rebuke them with His displeasure because they ignored the soul saving commandments He gave.
Asking God to remove those who malign his character
Psalm 119:22-23 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
The Psalmist makes his last prayer request that the evil speech of his enemies, and those who disregard God's Word, would be taken out of the way. He wants this character assassination to stop and their contempt toward God forcibly removed from his presence.
The character of God is called into question by the same ones who attack the Psalmist. They blaspheme His holy name and he wants it to be stopped. Notice that even while facing external resistance the Psalmist is resting in what God said.
He continues keeping Jehovah's testimonies and he is constantly thinking about or focusing upon His statutes. The Word of God is a safe and sure abiding place for his soul.
Psalm 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
He concludes this section by reminding us that true joy and delight is found when we read, study, meditate on and memorize the Word of God. His thoughts, words and actions are governed by what God says and they shape his character into someone who can be used of God to advance His kingdom purposes.
Points to Ponder....
- It is right to pray the promises of God back to Him. We never have to doubt whether He will keep His promises because He always will. This strengthens our inner man and helps us align our prayers with His will.
- It is necessary for us to ask God to open our heart and mind when we are ready to hear from Him. He gave us His Spirit to guide us into all truth and He is pleased when we ask for His help.
- It is good to ask God to reveal those wonderful deep things that only the Spirit of God can search out (1 Cor. 2:9-14). He has many good things that He wants to show those who are willing to make the effort.
- It is right to ask God to take the responsibility for our enemies so that we may respond in love.
May we seek to model the Psalmist in our prayer life as it relates to honoring God by studying His Word. When we pray the promises of God to Him in prayer we can be sure that He will honor those prayers by opening our eyes to His truth and showing us some of the glory and splendor of Jesus Christ. May we ask our Great God to make all things right according to His perfect will and timing.
Bob
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