Month: June 2025

A Life Worth Living

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Taw

169 O LORD, listen to my cry;
    give me the discerning mind you promised.
170 Listen to my prayer;
    rescue me as you promised.
171 Let praise flow from my lips,
    for you have taught me your decrees.
172 Let my tongue sing about your word,
    for all your commands are right.
173 Give me a helping hand,
    for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
174 O LORD, I have longed for your rescue,
    and your instructions are my delight.
175 Let me live so I can praise you,
    and may your regulations help me.
176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
    come and find me,
    for I have not forgotten your commands. – Psalm 119:169-176 ESV

The psalmist has reached the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, bringing his lengthy poem to an end. Utilizing the pattern he has used throughout the psalm, he begins each sentence of these last eight verses with the letter taw or tav. This last strophe serves as the conclusion or coda of his psalm.

As he prepares to wrap up his song, the psalmist intensifies his request for deliverance, begging Yahweh to listen to his cry and prayer. He not only wants to be heard, but he wants to experience Yahweh’s intervention. Fearing death, he longs to live so he can continue to interact with God’s word. Throughout this psalm, the author has repeatedly expressed his deep love and affection for the Scriptures

I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches. – Psalm 119:14 NLT

Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice. – Psalm 119:24 NLT

I long to obey your commandments!– Psalm 119:40 NLT

How I delight in your commands!
How I love them! – Psalm 119:47 NLT

Your instructions are more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver.– Psalm 119:72 NLT

…your instructions are my delight.– Psalm 119:77 NLT

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.– Psalm 119:97 NLT

How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey. – Psalm 119:103 NLT

Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.– Psalm 119:111 NLT

…no wonder I love to obey your laws! – Psalm 119:119 NLT

I stand in awe of your regulations. – Psalm 119:120 NLT

Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold.– Psalm 119:127 NLT

Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!– Psalm 119:127 NLT

See how I love your commandments, LORD.– Psalm 119:159 NLT

I rejoice in your word 
like one who discovers a great treasure. – Psalm 119:162 NLT

I love your instructions. – Psalm 119:163 NLT

I have obeyed your laws,
for I love them very much. – Psalm 119:167 NLT

This isn’t hyperbole or pious-sounding rhetoric. The psalmist sincerely means what he is saying. Over his lifetime, he has grown to love the word of God because it has proven to be faithful, true, reliable, wise, and encouraging. While his life has not been easy, his reliance upon the Scriptures has provided him with hope because it reveals the character of his God.

The stories contained in God’s word portray His power, love, mercy, grace, justice, sovereignty, and righteousness. The Books of the Law reveal the righteous demands Yahweh has placed on His covenant people, but also outline the sacrificial system He provided to provide atonement when they failed to keep His commands. The psalmist had read the Books of History and seen how Yahweh had shown mercy and grace to His rebellious people. Yes, He had punished them for their sins, but He had also forgiven and restored them on more than one occasion.

The Books of Wisdom had provided the psalmist with insight into God’s nature, outlining the importance of godly wisdom and the need to pursue it with unbridled enthusiasm.

Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,
and you will gain knowledge of God.– Proverbs 2:2-5 NLT

This has been the pattern of the psalmist’s life. He has taken to heart all the lessons found in Scripture and applied the many admonitions to make God’s word a priority. But he longs for more. He is far from satisfied and not ready to end his quest to know God better. That is why he cries out, “rescue me as you promised” (Psalm 119:170 NLT). He is not ready for death, but longs to experience more of life so he can grow in his understanding of Yahweh.

“Let me live so I can praise you” (Psalm 119:175 NLT), he pleads. For the psalmist, life was essential to experiencing God’s presence and power; it was also vital for responding in praise. The psalmist’s mindset reflects that of the prophet Isaiah when he wrote:

For the dead cannot praise you;
they cannot raise their voices in praise.
Those who go down to the grave
can no longer hope in your faithfulness.
Only the living can praise you as I do today.– Isaiah 38:18-19 NLT

Another psalmist shared this same sentiment when he wrote:

The dead cannot sing praises to the LORD,
for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
But we can praise the LORD
both now and forever!– Psalm 115:17-18 NLT

These men were not discounting the idea of an afterlife, but their doctrine of life after death was not fully formed. The ancient Hebrews did not have a well-developed understanding of the hereafter. They believed in some kind of post-death existence, but found it difficult to understand its exact nature. For them, life was the realm in which Yahweh’s blessings were experienced. Health, wealth, and prosperity were the signs of a blessed life. Suffering and sorrow were evidence of a disobedient life. That is why the psalmist is confused by the circumstances surrounding his life. He had been faithful and obedient to God’s commands, yet he was suffering.

Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your laws.– Psalm 119:157 NLT

I am insignificant and despised,
but I don’t forget your commandments.– Psalm 119:141 NLT

The psalmist wanted to live because he was not done pursuing God’s word. He wanted to experience more of God’s blessings and was convinced they could only be experienced in life, not death. He believed praise to be the purview of the living, not the dead. He desperately wants to live, not so he can experience more of what life has to offer, but so he can continue to experience the life-changing lessons God’s word has to offer.

O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
and your instructions are my delight.
Let me live so I can praise you,
and may your regulations help me.– Psalm 119:174-175 NLT

Suffering wasn’t enjoyable, and it didn’t always make sense. But, for the psalmist, it was an opportunity to seek Yahweh’s help and see His deliverance. The struggles of life drove him to his knees and made him increasingly more dependent upon the LORD. Problems were the launching ground for praise. Without a need for God’s assistance and deliverance, praise would become unnecessary. But God’s rescue has a way of making His people rejoice. When God shows up, His people tend to shout out His praises. And the psalmist wants to live so he can continue to witness God’s presence, experience God’s power, and respond in praise.

The psalmist closes out his song with a cry of complete dependence upon Yahweh’s help. He describes himself as a lost sheep who has unintentionally wandered away from the fold and find himself in danger.

I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
come and find me,
for I have not forgotten your commands. – Psalms 119:174 NLT

This lost-sheep motif is found throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. God used this analogy to describe the state of His covenant people.

“My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.” – Jeremiah 50:6 NLT

Speaking on behalf of his fellow Israelites, the prophet Isaiah confessed their self-imposed state of spiritual lostness.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.– Isaiah 53:6 NLT

The psalmist could relate to this imagery of wandering sheep, and he longed for the Good Shepherd to seek him out and restore him to safety and rest. He desired to be back in the fold, where he could continue to experience the love and protective presence of his Master. It isn’t farfetched to imagine that the psalmist had the words of David in mind as he concluded his psalm. It was the shepherd of Israel who wrote the following tribute to Yahweh’s faithfulness and love.

The LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD
forever.– Psalm 23:1-6 NLT

The psalmist wanted what David described. He had experienced it before and was not ready for it to end. Life was worth living because it was the avenue through which Yahweh revealed Himself to men. Yes, life could be full of green meadows and peaceful streams. There were times of feasting and rejoicing.  But there were also dark valleys and fear-filled moments when the Shepherd seemed nowhere to be found. But, like David, the psalmist believed that God’s goodness and unfailing love would pursue him
all the days of his life, so life was worth living. He truly believed that life was the key to loving and praising God, and would have fully agreed with the words of Psalm 150:6:

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Father, I want to love life, not because of all the perks and benefits it provides, but because it is the platform upon which I get to see and experience Your power and presence. Too often, I see the trials and troubles as setbacks and unnecessary bumps on the road of life. I try to avoid them like the plague or pray them away when eluding them fails. But it is in the difficulties of life that You show up. It is in those moments when I have no more tricks up my sleeve or any other options to pursue, that I tend to turn to You. My weakness makes me aware of my need for Your strength. When times get tough, my prayer life improves. When I don’t know what to do, I am forced to turn to You. And when I do, You always show up. Thank you for life, not because it’s always perfect and free from trials, but because it is the place where my weakness gets exposed and Your power is displayed. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Knowing God

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Qoph

145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
    I will keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me,
    that I may observe your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
    that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
    O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
    they are far from your law.
151 But you are near, O LORD,
    and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies
    that you have founded them forever.

Resh

153 Look on my affliction and deliver me,
    for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
    give me life according to your promise!
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O LORD;
    give me life according to your rules.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
    but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust,
    because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts!
    Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth,
    and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Shin

161 Princes persecute me without cause,
    but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word
    like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
    but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous rules.
165 Great peace have those who love your law;
    nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
    and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies;
    I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and testimonies,
    for all my ways are before you. – Psalm 119:145-168 ESV

The psalmist’s ongoing prayer for deliverance from his enemies was based on his desire to obey Yahweh’s commands. He longed to live so he could continue observing and applying all the truths found in Yahweh’s written word.

I cry out to you; rescue me,
    that I may obey your laws. – Psalm 119:146 NLT

It would be an understatement to say that he was obsessed with God’s word. He confesses to staying awake at night thinking about God’s promises. The Scriptures were his hope for healing and deliverance because he knew obedience was rewarded with blessing. That is why he made the pursuit of God’s word a high priority in his life. He had made a lifelong habit of putting the written word of God ahead of all else and was committed to spending the rest of his days seeking to know Yahweh by searching the Scriptures.

I have known from my earliest days
    that your laws will last forever. – Psalm 119:152 NLT

Life is filled with uncertainties, and the things of this earth will pass away, but the word of God is reliable and eternal. Yahweh’s decrees are unchanging and completely trustworthy, through all generations. They don’t change with the times or require updating due to the constantly evolving nature of world conditions. The psalmist believed in the constancy and consistency of God’s word and wholeheartedly embraced the teaching of the prophet Isaiah.

“The grass withers and the flowers fade
    beneath the breath of the LORD.
    And so it is with people.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
    but the word of our God stands forever.” – Isaiah 40:7-8 NLT

He expressed this belief earlier in this psalm.

Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens. – Psalm 119:89 BSB

And he states it again in the next strophe.

The very essence of your words is truth;
    all your just regulations will stand forever. – Psalm 119:160 NLT

His unwavering belief in the divine nature of Scripture and its timeless wisdom kept him going during the darkest moments of his life. Verses 153-160 contain some of the strongest statements regarding his current circumstances.

Look upon my suffering and rescue me… – vs 153 NLT

Argue my case; take my side! – vs 154 NLT

Many persecute and trouble me… – vs 157 NLT

Give back my life because of your unfailing love… – vs 159 NLT

His situation was dire, but his dedication to God’s word remained strong. He refused to allow the difficulties of his life to distract him or cause him to doubt God’s promises.

I have not forgotten your instructions. – vs 153 NLT

I have not swerved from your laws. – vs 157 NLT

See how I love your commandments… – vs 159 NLT

He accuses his enemies of not only neglecting God’s word but of having no concern for it whatsoever. “They care nothing for your word” (Psalm 119:158 NLT), he declares. They refuse to give it the honor it deserves and reject its authority over their lives. But for the psalmist, the Scriptures are more essential to human life and flourishing than air, water, and food. He knows his life depends upon the life-sustaining power of God’s word. Earlier in this psalm, he described God’s word as “sweeter than honey” (Psalm 119:103 NLT). This confession echoes the words ofJeremiah the prophet.

When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
    They are my joy and my heart’s delight… – Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

The psalmist would have been familiar with the story of Job and his epic bout with sorrow and suffering. But the beleaguered Job was able to write the following words during some of his darkest moments.

For I have stayed on God’s paths;
    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
I have not departed from his commands,
    but have treasured his words more than daily food. – Job 23:11-12 NLT

It was King David who wrote:

The laws of the Lord are true;
    each one is fair.
They are more desirable than gold,
    even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even honey dripping from the comb.
They are a warning to your servant,
    a great reward for those who obey them. – Psalm 19:9-11 NLT

My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.

You satisfy me more than the richest feast. – Psalm 63:1, 5 NLT

Like the great king, the psalmist found hope and sustenance in the word of God. They were more than words on paper or quaint stories from the ancient past; they were life-giving truths that revealed God’s power and confirmed His presence among His people. That is why the psalmist could say, “I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure” (Psalm 119:162 NLT). God’s words were more precious than gold or silver. They were more nourishing than the finest feast and as vital to life as fresh water. 

But the psalmist found God’s word more than life-sustaining; it was also praise-producing.

I will praise you seven times a day
    because all your regulations are just. – Psalm 119:164 NLT

The Scriptures are more than information on a page or stories in a book. They are the revelation of God to man and make the unknowable God knowable. They make the unapproachable God accessible and relatable. His words reveal His will and make His divine ways understandable and applicable.

The psalmist had discovered the viability and reliability of God’s word. The Scriptures contained the truth concerning His power, trustworthiness, and love. They revealed His character and affirmed His covenant faithfulness. And as another psalmist put it, they were the proof of God’s presence and the key to wisdom.

All he does is just and good,
    and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
    to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.
    All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. – Psalm 111:7-8, 10 NLT

Father, Your word is reliable. From Genesis to Revelation, we have a compendium of insights into Your character and a powerful reminder of Your goodness, greatness, mercy, and love for Your people. But it is so easy to treat Your word flippantly by seeing it as nothing more than a historical narrative of ancient peoples and past events. But Your word is alive and active. It is relevant and powerfully productive in bringing about life change and heart transformation. But it takes a commitment to reading it and allowing the Holy Spirit to apply it to our lives. Help me to see Your word as more vital than food and water and more valuable than silver or gold. May it become the highest priority in my life so that I might become more Christ-like and praise-prone. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Revelation of God

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Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
123 My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the LORD to act,
for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.

Pe

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137 Righteous are you, O LORD,
and right are your rules.
138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live. – Psalm 119:121-144 ESV

While the psalmist continues his practice of using three new letters of the Hebrew alphabet to start each sentence of these three sections, his theme remains unchanged. In fact, one might say he is somewhat repetitive. These three strophes contain little in the way of new information but simply reiterate and reinforce his overall message.

He begins by defending his faithful adherence to Yahweh’s commands. He is not claiming sinless perfection but is declaring his commitment to make the word of the LORD his highest priority. In his mind, he has done nothing to deserve judgment or punishment for disobedience.

Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right. – Psalm 119:121 NLT

Yet, he finds himself oppressed by arrogant people who violate the instructions of the LORD. These law-breakers are making his life miserable, and he can think of nothing he has done to deserve their wrath. He continues to be perplexed by Yahweh’s delay in providing deliverance.

My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.– Psalm 119:123 NLT

There is a sense of urgency in his words. Like a watchman on a tower, he strains his eyes scanning the horizon for some sign of his rescuer’s arrival. From his study of the Scriptures, he knows that Yahweh is faithful and redeems His people from their troubles. He has read the passages that speak of Yahweh’s lovingkindness.

“I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” – Exodus 20:6 NLT

“Yahweh! The LORD!
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” – Exodus 34:6-7 NLT

So, he begs Yahweh, “Deal with me in unfailing love” (Psalm 119:124 NLT). But even as he waits for Yahweh’s intervention, he desires to grow in his understanding of Yahweh’s words and ways.

…give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies! – Psalm 119:125 ESV

The word “testimonies” is another synonym for the Ten Commandments. In Hebrew, it is the word ʿēḏûṯ, and it speaks of God’s witness two His divine character through His righteous Law. The Book of Exodus often refers to the Ten Commandments as the Tablets of Testimony.

And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. – Exodus 31:18 ESV

In a sense, the tablets “testified” to Yahweh’s expectations of His people. They contained the written code of conduct that would set them apart as His chosen people. The words covenant and testimony refer to the conditional agreement made between God and the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

God’s commands were clear, concise, and etched in stone, but that didn’t mean His people understood or obeyed them. That is why the psalmist repeatedly asks Yahweh to teach him so that he might understand His testimony. He knew God’s laws were far more than imperatives and prohibitions to be obeyed; they were a witness to God’s glory and goodness. Each command revealed some aspect of Yahweh’s character and was designed to aid the Israelites in their understanding of and appreciation for His holiness.

The psalmist knew the Ten Commandments were more than a list of shalls and shall-nots. Yahweh had given His commands, not to see if the Israelites could live up to them, but to expose their sinfulness and their need for His help. The apostle Paul would later write, “Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins” (Galatians 3:19 NLT). He explained to the believers in Rome, “Am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, ‘You must not covet’” (Romans 7:7 NLT).

The psalmist wanted to look behind the curtain and understand the purpose behind God’s commands. Why had God forbidden coveting, adultery, lying, and stealing? If an ungodly person refrained from adultery, did that suddenly make them godly? Was a relationship with God based solely on one’s ability to adhere to a set of rules? The psalmist knew there had to be more to it than that. He wasn’t satisfied with knowing God’s commands; he wanted to understand them.

The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.– Psalm 119:130 ESV

The psalmist was a simple man who longed to know Yahweh better. He was doing everything he could to live up to Yahweh’s exacting standards, but he somehow knew that was not enough. Law-keeping did not necessarily produce a knowledge of and love for God. So, he begged Yahweh to be His teacher, enlightening him to the more profound truths hidden within the word.

Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes. – Psalm 119:135 ESV

The psalmist longed for enlightenment. He knew that God’s revelation required explanation. Adherence to a list of commands was not enough. Knowing what God expected of His people was not the same as understanding the why behind it. The Israelites prided themselves on their knowledge of God’s word. They were well-versed in the stories of Scripture and able to recite God’s commands. But according to God, their hearts were far from Him.

“These people say they are mine.
They honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
And their worship of me
    is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.” – Isaiah 29:13 NLT

Because they knew God’s laws and half-heartedly attempted to keep them, they claimed to have a relationship with Him. They boasted in their status as God’s chosen people. They took great pride in their knowledge of His law. They bragged about the many blessings He had showered on them as His treasured possession. But Yahweh warned them that they had missed the forest for the trees.

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” – Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV

The psalmist wanted to know God. He longed for an intimate and personal relationship with the Lawmaker. While he might not be able to grasp the intricacies of God’s laws, he was convinced of the integrity of the One behind them.

O LORD, you are righteous,
    and your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect
    and completely trustworthy. – Psalm 119:137-138 NLT

Your justice is eternal,
    and your instructions are perfectly true. – Psalm 119:142 NLT

He understood that the law was an extension of the Lawmaker. They were a means to an end, not the end itself. The laws were not the point – God was. But he loved God’s commands because they revealed God’s justice, righteousness, lovingkindness, patience, and power. As he searched the Scriptures, he saw examples of God’s faithfulness and love. As he examined his own life, he could see proof of God’s presence and power. Yahweh had a track record of faithfulness.

Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
    that is why I love them so much. – Psalm 119:140 NLT

So, despite his less-than-ideal circumstances and his far-from-perfect adherence to God’s commands, he remained committed to pursuing obedience and seeking understanding.

As pressure and stress bear down on me,
    I find joy in your commands.
Your laws are always right;
    help me to understand them so I may live. – Psalm 119:143-144 NLT

Difficulties have a way of breeding disobedience. When things don’t go as planned, we tend to replace God’s will with our own. Disappointed in God’s failure to deliver results, we devise our own strategy for success. We bend the rules or reject them altogether. We compromise our convictions and cut corners. We make spiritual concessions and choose worldly means to solve our problems. But the psalmist encourages us to stay the course and remain faithful to God’s word. He promotes commitment over compromise and obedience over abandonment of God’s commands.

Knowing God is the key. Trials can either draw us to God or away from Him. Life’s difficulties can reveal His presence and serve as opportunities to experience His power, or they can drive us to seek our own path. The psalmist would remind us of this timeless truth found in God’s word.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
 – Proverbs 14:12 ESV

Father, like the psalmist, I want to know You better. I want to grow in my knowledge of Your will and ways, and You have chosen to reveal Yourself through Your word. Give me an ever-increasing love for the Scriptures because they reveal You. As Jesus Himself said, “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” (John 5:39 NLT). The Scriptures are a means to an end and You are that end. I want to understand and know You better with each passing day. I want to discover the truth of who You are in the revelation You have provided. Produce in me a growing love for Your word so I will grow in my knowledge of You. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Light to Our Path

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Mem

97 Oh how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD,
    and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

Samekh

113 I hate the double-minded,
    but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
    for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
    therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments. – Psalm 119:97-120 ESV

The psalmist isn’t adept at concealing his emotions. You might say he wears them on his sleeve, and they flow freely from his mouth. Whether he is discussing his suffering or declaring his affection for his sovereign LORD, he is blunt, bold, and unapologetic.

Oh how I love your law! – vs 97

How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth! – vs 103

I am severely afflicted. – vs 107

The wicked have laid a snare for me. – vs 110

Your testimonies…are the joy of my heart. – vs 111

I love your law. – vs 113

I love your testimonies. – vs 119

This is a man of deep emotions who has found his relationship with Yahweh to be a roller-coaster existence full of ups and downs and twists and turns. Things haven’t always turned out how he expected, and his life has not always been easy or explicable. Yet, he has found Yahweh to be a consistent presence and a constant source of hope and help in the good and bad times. Yahweh has always been there because He is faithful, trustworthy, and a covenant-keeping God who keeps His word and fulfills all His promises.

When the psalmist considers all of Yahweh’s revealed word as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures, he is encouraged and energized by the wisdom and insight they contain. Through his study and application of God’s law, he discovered it to be not just a codified list of moral and ethical rules of conduct, but an expression of Yahweh’s character and life-transformative power.

When he took the time to meditate on God’s commands, he became wiser than his enemies. He gained an advantage over his adversaries by deeply reflecting on the insights found in God’s commands rather than simply obeying them. The wisdom permeating God’s law gave him a new perspective and a greater understanding of God’s will. In time, his knowledge of God’s revealed will and ways surpassed that of his teachers. This is not a prideful boast on his part, but a testimony to the life-transforming power of God’s word.

The psalmist confessed, “Your commandments give me understanding” (Psalm 119:104 NLT), and that understanding produced life change.

I have refused to walk on any evil path,
    so that I may remain obedient to your word. – Psalm 119:101 NLT

Your commandments give me understanding;
    no wonder I hate every false way of life. – Psalm 119:104 NLT

No wonder I love to obey your laws! – Psalm 119:119 NLT

He hadn’t just committed God’s laws to memory and attempted to keep them; he had been transformed by them. Once he understood God’s heart behind them, they became a source of hope (vs 114), his treasure and delight (vs 111), and sweeter than honey (vs 103). They were pleasant rather than onerous because they became more than rules to keep; they were expressions of God’s manifold wisdom.

When the psalmist states, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT), he confessed the power of God’s word to change the trajectory of his life. In a world marred by spiritual darkness and an age before the advent of electricity, light was more than a luxury; it was a necessity. For the psalmist, the illuminating power of God’s word was just as vital as an oil lamp to light one’s path in the darkness. He had discovered that the Scriptures, including the Mosaic Law, the writings of the prophets, and the historical books, were indispensable for navigating life. These Spirit-inspired works were the revelation of God and provided invaluable insight into His character and His redemptive plan for sinful humanity. 

When the psalmist read God’s word, it dispelled the darkness around him because “God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all” (1 John 1:5 NLT). He discovered the truth found in Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?” He understood what Isaiah the prophet meant when he wrote: “The LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (Isaiah 60:19 NLT) and “Let us walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5 NLT).

God’s word could not only reveal the right path to take, but also illuminate the way. In keeping God’s commands, the psalmist understood he was walking with the LORD. The light of God’s word was pointing the way and guiding his steps. The Scriptures are a form of God’s presence. In His word, He has revealed Himself to mankind. As we study and meditate on His revealed word, we see more of Him. We get a glimpse into His nature and insights into His divine character. The stories of the Bible reveal His glory, power, and holiness, as well as His grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. 

It is interesting to note that when God gave Moses the instructions for making the Ark of the Covenant, He also commanded what was to go inside it. According to the Book of Hebrews, “This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant” (Hebrews 9:4 NLT). The manna served as a constant reminder of God’s power to provide for all their needs. Aaron’s staff symbolized God’s power to deliver because it was used to part the waters of the Red Sea. It also served as a sign of God’s blessing on the Levitical priesthood. The stone tablets were engraved with the Ten Commandments, a black and white testimony to God’s irrefutable requirement of holiness among His people. 

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” – Leviticus 19:2 ESV 

It was over the Ark of the Covenant that the glory of God was said to dwell. His Shekinah glory, in the form of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, hovered over the Mercy Seat that served as the lid of the Ark of the Covenant. It was that glorious presence of God that led the people of Israel during their years wandering through the wilderness.

The LORD went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the LORD did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people. – Exodus 13:21-22 NLT

In the same way, God’s word guides and directs His people today, just as it did the psalmist. His word reveals His will, displays His character, demonstrates His power, and gives evidence of His gracious provision. The psalmist had learned to trust in God’s word and rely upon His unchanging character. It directed and sustained him, encouraged and enlightened him, and convicted and comforted him. That is why he could say, “You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope” (Psalm 119:114 NLT).

Father, Your word is far more than an ancient book filled with stories from the past. It is a revelation of who You are and how You interface with those You have made in Your likeness. It is a constant reminder of Your power, holiness, and greatness. It provides insight into humanity’s sinfulness and declares its well-deserved declaration of judgment. But Your word also reveals Your plan of redemption. It displays Your patience, compassion, and longsuffering nature. In Your word, we see your holy expectations of mankind as well as Your gracious provision of a sacrificial system and, ultimately, the unblemished Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). I want to love Your word because it reveals Your love for us. I want to obey Your word because it expresses Your righteous will for us. Like the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, Your word guides, directs, illuminates, and illustrates Your presence among us. Help me keep my eyes fixed on Your word because it reveals who You are and all that You are doing. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

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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.

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.

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 119:73-96 ESV

The psalmist continues to describe his less-than-ideal circumstances, using descriptive imagery to heighten the tension and emphasize his reliance upon Yahweh. Whatever was going on in his life, he saw Yahweh as the only solution, and he viewed his love for Yahweh’s word as the basis for his hope. In verse 78, he describes the “arrogant people” spreading lies about him. These unidentified individuals were making his life miserable, and the only thing worse than their slanderous words was the stress-inducing delay waiting for Yahweh’s deliverance.

I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
but I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
When will you comfort me? – Psalm 119:81-82 NLT

He describes himself as “shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke” (Psalm 119:83 NLT). This rather cryptic-sounding imagery suggests that his life quality had been radically altered by his circumstances. A wineskin was usually filled with life-giving liquid “that gladdens the heart of man” (Psalm 104:15 BSB). But as a result of the unrelenting attacks of his enemies, the psalmist’s life was empty and void of joy. He was a dried-up, smoke-infused shell of his former self and in great need of Yahweh’s help and healing.

How long must I wait?
When will you punish those who persecute me?
These arrogant people who hate your instructions
have dug deep pits to trap me.– Psalm 119:84-85 NLT

But despite the difficulty of his situation and the disappointing delay in Yahweh’s response, the psalmist declares his unwavering trust in Yahweh’s promises as found in His word.

I have put my hope in your word… – vs 74 NLT

…let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me… – vs 76 NLT

…your instructions are my delight…  – vs 77 NLT

My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. – vs 82 NLT

I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.– vs 83 NLT

I refused to abandon your commandments.– vs 87 NLT

His persistence was fueled by his understanding of Yahweh’s character. He knew the LORD was trustworthy, faithful, and reliable. As the Creator and sustainer of all things, Yahweh was all-powerful and sovereign over all that happens on earth. In verse 73, the psalmist acknowledges that he was the byproduct of Yahweh’s creative power. He echoes David’s words found in Psalm 139.

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well. – Psalm 139:13-14 ESV

But while the psalmist gratefully acknowledged Yahweh’s role in giving him life, he wanted more.

…give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. – Psalm 119:73 ESV 

In a sense, he was saying, “You created me, now equip me with understanding.” He prayed for divine enlightenment to better comprehend God’s ways because much of his experience made no sense. He viewed his predicament as having come through the hands of God, but that didn’t mean he understood the why behind it.

I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant. – Psalm 119:75-76 NLT

The psalmist was willing to trust that the attacks of his enemies were part of Yahweh’s plan for his life. He viewed their assaults as disciplinary in nature because he believed Yahweh had sent them. He just didn’t understand why and wrestled with knowing how long his suffering would last. His attitude reflects a healthy confidence in God’s sovereignty. The One who made him could also enlighten him.

“He only who gave life to our bodies can give light to our minds, and if our minds are enlightened by His Spirit, His word will teach us how to do His will.” – Thomas Cobbin

Verses 81-88 honestly portray the psalmist’s confusion and frustration over his situation. He believes in Yahweh, but is wrestling with the prolonged nature of his suffering. Whether the psalmist was familiar with Psalm 22 is unclear, but his words echo David’s pain.

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief. – Psalm 22:1-2 NLT

But as bad as things seemed, David didn’t lose hope.

Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors trusted in you,
    and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
    They trusted in you and were never disgraced. – Psalm 22:1-5 NLT

Like his ancient ancestors, the psalmist cries out to God, begging to understand what He is doing.

How long must I wait?
    When will you punish those who persecute me? – Psalm 119:84 NLT

He pleads for divine intervention so that he might continue to live a life of obedient submission to the word and will of God.

In your unfailing love, spare my life;
    then I can continue to obey your laws. – Psalm 119:88 NLT

These verses and Psalm 22 could have been written by Jesus Himself. In fact, Jesus quoted the words of David during His final moments on the cross.

The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” – Matthew 27:41-46 NLT

Just hours earlier, when Jesus and His disciples gathered in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, Jesus prayed the following prayer: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42 NLT). Facing the reality of His pending death by crucifixion, Jesus displayed his human nature by declaring His desire to escape such a gruesome and painful end. But He was committed to doing His Father’s will. 

When he appeared in human form,
    he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:7-8 NLT 

Jesus was willing to suffer and die to fulfill His Father’s will. He trusted His Father’s plan and wholeheartedly committed Himself to carrying it out. And the psalmist reflects the same determination and dedication to trusting Yahweh’s will for his life.

Your eternal word, O LORD,
    stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation,
    as enduring as the earth you created.
Your regulations remain true to this day,
    for everything serves your plans. – Psalm 119:89-91 NLT

He may not have liked what was happening in his life, and he certainly didn’t understand it. But he was willing to trust Yahweh with it. This was a man who wrestled with the uncertainties of life. He loved the LORD with all his heart and tried to live in keeping with His Word, but things didn’t always turn out as expected. But he kept trusting and remained hopeful. His God was eternal and faithful. The words of God were non-negotiable but also reliable. Things might not go as planned. Life could be difficult and disappointing. But he remained faithfully committed to Yahweh’s words, will, and ways.

Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me,
    I will quietly keep my mind on your laws.
Even perfection has its limits,
    but your commands have no limit. – Psalm 119:95-96 NLT

For the psalmist, a life of perfect peace and tranquility was wishful thinking. Nothing in this life will last. Nothing man makes will endure. Everything has its limits, except the word of God. No matter what the future held, he knew that Yahweh held his future.

Father, we all want the good life and, as believers, we somehow think it’s guaranteed because of our faith in Jesus. When He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV), we hear Him promising our best life now. We conjure up images of a trouble-free, blessing-filled life that looks a lot more like heaven than earth. We want to define the “abundant life” on our terms and then demand that You deliver it. But, like the psalmist, we end up discovering that this life is not always easy and things don’t always turn out the way we want. Yet You are always faithful and reliable. You are unchanging and unwavering in Your love for us and Your willingness to mold us into the likeness of Your Son. Give me endurance to suffer well and to never lose hope in Your sovereignty plan for my life. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A Like-Minded Love for God’s Law

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Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
    I take comfort, O LORD.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD,
    and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.

Heth

57 The LORD is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes!

Teth

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
    O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
    but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces. – Psalm 119:49-72 ESV

Life for the psalmist was full of ups and downs and twists and turns. He knew what it was like to experience Yahweh’s blessings and the difficulties that come with living in a fallen world. He had his share of setbacks and sorrows, but remained faithful to Yahweh and committed to keeping His law.

The “words” of Yawheh gave him hope (vs 49) and provided comfort in the face of affliction (vs 50). As the psalmist considered the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures, he found them to be filled with messages of Yahweh’s sovereignty, power, and provision for His chosen people. The stories of Israel’s past confirmed Yahweh’s promise that He would dwell among His people.

“I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” – Exodus 29:45-46 ESV

“I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” – Leviticus 26:11-12 ESV

Yahweh had remained with them through thick and thin. Despite their disobedience and spiritual infidelity, He had maintained His covenant commitments. This did not mean that He overlooked their apostasy or that their sins went unpunished. Their track record of unfaithfulness cost them dearly, because Yahweh eventually followed through on His promise to punish them for their disobedience. Long before the Israelites had set foot in Canaan, Moses warned the Israelites that failure to obey Yahweh’s commands would prove costly.

“But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:

Your towns and your fields
will be cursed.
Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be cursed.
Your children and your crops
will be cursed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
will be cursed.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
you will be cursed.

“The LORD himself will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning me.” – Deuteronomy 28:15-20 NLT

Yet, the psalmist knew that Yahweh’s judgment was justified; the people of Israel had gotten what they deserved. But he also knew they had received what they didn’t deserve: Yahweh’s mercy and forgiveness. He had redeemed and restored them. That message of Yahweh’s persistence and patience with His unworthy people resonated with the psalmist because he also needed that undeserved grace.

The psalmist knew he was far from perfect. He struggled with sin just like everyone else, but strongly desired to live obediently.

LORD, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.– Psalm 119:57-58 NLT

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

He shared the experience of the Israelites, having chosen the path of disobedience until the LORD lovingly rebuked and restored him.

I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
    but now I closely follow your word. – Psalm 119:67 NLT

When he writes, “You are good and do only good,” (Psalm 119:68 NLT), he echoes the words of a song written by Moses. 

I will proclaim the name of the LORD;
    how glorious is our God!
He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is! – Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NLT

Though he had experienced Yahweh’s judgment, he was not bitter or angry. Instead, he was grateful for having his eyes opened and his heart softened by the gracious hand of the LORD.

My suffering was good for me,
    for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.
Your instructions are more valuable to me
    than millions in gold and silver. – Psalm 119:71-72 NLT

This personal experience with Yahweh’s loving discipline made him all the more committed to the integrity and efficacy of Yahweh’s commands. He had discovered the truth behind the ancient proverbial statement:

My son, do not despise the LORD‘s discipline
    or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
    as a father the son in whom he delights. – Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV

Rather than despise the LORD’s discipline, the psalmist despised those who dismissed or disobeyed God’s commands.

I become furious with the wicked,
    because they reject your instructions. – Psalm 119:53 NLT

He had no patience with the godless and lawless. He refused to tolerate or associate with those who promoted profligate living. Those who had chosen to disobey God’s commands were constantly tempting him to join in their camp, but he wasn’t taking the bait.

Evil people try to drag me into sin,
    but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. – Psalm 119:61 NLT

Yahweh’s commands were his anchor in the storm. The word of God was the solid rock on which he built his life and depended upon for peace, contentment, hope, and assurance for tomorrow. This reliance upon God’s truth prompted him to seek the company of like-minded individuals.

I am a friend to anyone who fears you—
    anyone who obeys your commandments. – Psalm 119:63 NLT

Surrounded by wicked and lawless people, he knew he needed the companionship of other faithful men and women who shared his love for and commitment to Yahweh’s commands. Godliness is not a solo activity; it is a team sport that requires the combined efforts of all those involved. The psalmist seemed to understand the concept that Paul expressed to the church in Corinth. This was a divided congregation suffering from unhealthy competition and infighting over spiritual gifts. Rather than working together for the good of the body, they were clamoring and competing for supremacy based on their individual spiritual gift. So Paul

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 NLT

God’s commands were given to the entire community, not just individuals. Faithfulness is a group endeavor that benefits everyone, which the psalmist and Paul both understood. A love for God’s law that lacks love for others is of no value to anyone. The apostle John summed up this need for communal love and a unified commitment to God’s commands.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. – 1 John 4:20-21 NLT

Father, it’s so easy to turn my pursuit of Christlikeness into a solo sport that leaves everyone else out of the picture. We are prone to practice a form of Lone Ranger Christianity that misses the point of the body of Christ and our need for unity. It is amazing to consider that many of Your laws were horizontal in nature; in other words they had to do with the relationships between individuals. That is why Jesus gave a new commandment, that we love one another. Obedience to Your law without a love for Your people is useless. That is what the Pharisees practiced. Give me a love for Your Word that manifests itself in a love for others and a desire to live in unity with all those who share a common faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Power to Obey

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Daleth

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!

He

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

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. – Psalm 119:25-48 ESV

The psalmist’s life was anything but easy. Following Yahweh’s law had not guaranteed him a trouble-free life or provided him with immunity from sin and sorrow. He flatly states, “My soul clings to the dust” (Psalm 119:25 ESV), describing his current state of mourning. He provides no specifics as to his predicament, but adds, “My soul melts away for sorrow” (Psalm 119:28 ESV). He is struggling with deep depression and reaches out to Yahweh for help and healing.

“Revive me by your word,” he pleads (Psalm 119:25 NLT) because he is filled with doubts and doing battle with his own inner demons. False ideas fill his mind, and wrong conclusions about his problems wreak havoc with his self-confidence. He can’t seem to decide whether his pain is self-induced or the result of disobedience to God’s commands. Is he being punished for his sins or simply reaping the consequences for his unfaithfulness?

It almost seems he is grasping at straws as he searches for an explanation to his dilemma. He even brings up the love of money and materialism.

Give me an eagerness for your laws
    rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things,
    and give me life through your word. – Psalm 119:36-37 NLT

This is a man in turmoil, who longs to be restored to a right relationship with Yahweh. But he knows the key to his restoration is found in God’s commands.

…revive me by your word – vs 25 (NLT)

…encourage me by your word – vs 28 (NLT)

…give me the privilege of knowing your instructions – vs 29 (NLT)

Teach me your decrees – vs 33 (NLT)

Give me understanding – vs 34 (NLT)

Make me walk along the path of your commands – vs 35 (NLT)

Give me an eagerness for your laws – vs 36 (NLT)

…give me life through your word – vs 37  (NLT)

The psalmist knows that something is missing. He understands the value of God’s decrees but seeks more than mental assent to a set of regulations. Knowing God’s laws and keeping them are not the same thing. Knowing what God commands is useless if the heart doesn’t grasp the why behind it. That’s why he pleads, “Help me understand the meaning of your commandments” (Psalm 119:27 NLT) and “expand my understanding” (Psalm 119:32 NLT).

Laws can do little to regulate the lives of those who fail to comprehend their underlying purpose. Without understanding why God gave His statutes, men will always view them as restrictive and repressive. They will become a burden rather than a delight. But the psalmist inherently knew God’s laws were not just a list of prohibitions to be obeyed; they could bring joy, pleasure, peace, comfort, security, and an overwhelming sense of God’s presence and delight.

That is why the psalmist says, “I have determined to live by your regulations” (Psalm 119:30 NLT). He claims to cling to them like a drowning man grasps a life preserver. He pursues them with a vengeance because he comprehends their value. He knows true happiness is found only when one obeys God’s commands. Disobedience doesn’t bring delight. Freedom from the law doesn’t emancipate or make one the master of one’s fate; it enslaves and entraps. The apostle Paul understood this reality and warned the believers in Rome not to allow their desire for freedom to end up enslaving them to sin.

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. – Romans 6:16-18 NLT

The psalmist also understood the danger of pursuing freedom at all costs.

Help me abandon my shameful ways;
    for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
    Renew my life with your goodness. – Psalm 119:39-40 NLT

He knew that God’s laws were good, holy, and had a divine purpose behind them. They were not a set of arbitrary rules designed to restrict and repress, or the sadistic musings of some cosmic kill-joy intent on keeping humanity from having a good time. They were the gracious gift of a good God who longed for His children to experience His blessings by living according to His holy standards. Once again, the apostle Paul provides insight into man’s love-hate relationship with God’s law.

…it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. – Romans 7:7-12 NLT

The psalmist was content to give Yahweh the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t fully understand all that was going on in his life, but he knew that the answer was to be found in the law, not apart from it. He longed to experience God’s love as salvation from his doubt, despair, and difficulties.

LORD, give me your unfailing love,
    the salvation that you promised me. – Psalm 119:41 NLT

His salvation would be found in keeping the law. But to keep the law, he would need help. He described God’s laws as his only hope (vs 43) and understood Yahweh was his only source of help to live obediently. This entire psalm is a tribute to the efficacy and integrity of God’s law and a declaration of the psalmist’s commitment to remaining obedient in the face of opposition and uncertainty.

I will keep on obeying your instructions
    forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
    for I have devoted myself to your commandments. – Psalm 119:44-45 NLT

This anonymous psalmist represents all God’s children who have ever wrestled with doubts concerning God’s commands. Even New Testament believers, who embrace the doctrine that they have been set free from the law of sin and death, wrestle with the concept of obedience. When they hear Jesus say, “If you love me, obey my commandments” (John 14:15 NLT), they question the validity of salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. Jesus’ words sound a lot like works, and it doesn’t help when He later states, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me” (John 14:21 NLT).

The disciples wrestled with Jesus’ words because they did not yet have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God. In fact, Jesus told them their ability to obey would be made possible through the Spirit’s power.

“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.…when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – John 14:23-24, 26 NLT

But even with the power of the Spirit of God present within him, the apostle Paul described the ongoing state of confusion and conflict that would plague the life of every believer, including himself.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. – Romans 7:21-25 NLT

But Paul knew that Jesus was the solution to his ongoing sin problem. Jesus was not just the source of salvation, but also of being restored to a right relationship with God the Father. He was the key to our ongoing sanctification, the transformation of our lives into His own likeness as we live in obedience to His commands in the power of the Holy Spirit. For the psalmist and Paul, obedience was the key to God’s blessing, and God was the key to obedience, so none of us might be tempted to boast (Ephesians 2:9).

Father, You demand obedience but You also supply the power. Your law is not onerous or impossible; it is holy, righteous, and good. And while we are incapable of keeping it in our own strength, You sent Your Son to live according to Your law – without sin. He kept every aspect of Your law. He was fully obedient at all times, even to the point of suffering death on the cross in keeping with Your will for Him. And because He obeyed and we believed, we have received His righteousness. We are made new and fully acceptable to You. Not only that, we have received the presence and power of Your Spirit, empowering us to live obediently to Your commands – not perfectly but persistantly and willingly. With the psalmist I pray, “Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!” (Psalm 119:39-40 NLT). Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The ABCs of God’s Word

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Alef

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

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.

Gimel

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. – Psalm 119:1-24 ESV

This anonymous psalm contains 175 verses, making it the longest chapter in the Bible. Another unique feature of this psalm is its acrostic arrangement around the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The author has painstakingly arranged each set of eight verses around a different Hebrew letter, with the first word of each verse beginning with that letter. Verses 1-8 start with the letter aleph, verses 9-16 begin with the letter beth, and verses 17-24 use the letter gimel. This pattern continues to the final eight verses, which feature the letter taw. 

This acrostic arrangement could have served as a catechismal tool, providing an easy-to-remember format for teaching doctrinal truth to children. The author uses a variety of synonyms throughout the psalm to encourage obedience to and reverence for God’s word.

  • The law 
  • Testimonies
  • Way(s)
  • Precepts
  • Statutes
  • Commandments
  • Rules
  • Word
  • Works
  • Promises

Each of these synonyms refers to God’s spoken word as recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, which included the Law and the Prophets. The Law was how the Israelites referred to the books written by Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Prophets includes the prophetic and poetic books that form the rest of the Old Testament. In his gospel account, Luke records the journey of two of Jesus’ dejected disciples who were making their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They had just witnessed the death of Jesus and were mourning their loss when suddenly, Jesus appeared before them. At first, they failed to recognize Him, but when they finally realized they were talking to their resurrected Rabbi, they were shocked. This led Jesus to gently rebuke them, saying, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26 NLT). Then Luke adds, “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 NLT).

So, when the psalmist refers to “the word” of God, he speaks of the Old Testament, the same Scriptures Jesus used to instruct His two disciples on the road to Emmaus. But his emphasis on the Word should not be mistaken for worship of the Word. The psalmist goes out of his way to use synonyms that illustrate the spoken word of God. The Israelites believed that the Law of Moses was received directly from Yahweh on Mount Sinai. It was divinely inspired and, therefore, sacred. The prophets spoke on behalf of Yahweh, having been called and commissioned by Him to declare His message of repentance to His people. But Yahweh also “spoke” through His actions, demonstrating His power, holiness, and transcendence through His “wondrous ways.”

Yahweh wasn’t just a character from the stories recorded on ancient scrolls. He was the living God who made Himself known through creation and His mighty acts of judgment and deliverance. He made promises and kept them because He is trustworthy and true. He gave laws and expected them to be obeyed because He is righteous and just. He provided rules for living because He was sovereign, all-wise, and knew what was best for His children.

This entire psalm is one man’s testimony to Yahweh’s praiseworthiness. For 176 verses, covering every one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the psalmist encourages unbridled worship of Yahweh in the form of willing obedience.

Joyful are people of integrity,
    who follow the instructions of the Lord.
Joyful are those who obey his laws
    and search for him with all their hearts. – Psalm 119:1-2 NLT

He expresses his own longing to live in keeping with the laws of God, but acknowledges his incapacity to do so.

Oh, that my actions would consistently
    reflect your decrees! – Psalm 119:5 NLT

He makes a personal promise to do everything in his power to remain obedient but confesses that he may need help.

As I learn your righteous regulations,
    I will thank you by living as I should!
I will obey your decrees.
    Please don’t give up on me! – Psalm 119:7-8 NLT

In the second set of eight verses, the psalmist admits how difficult it is for sinful man to live up to Yahweh’s holy standards. He opens verse eight with the proverbial question: “How can a young person stay pure?” The psalmist would have been well acquainted with the psalm of David.

The LORD looks down from heaven
    on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
    if anyone seeks God.
But no, all have turned away;
    all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
    not a single one! – Psalm 14:2-3 NLT

He would have also known about the prophet Isaiah’s less-than-flattering assessment of humanity.

We are all infected and impure with sin.
    When we display our righteous deeds,
    they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
    and our sins sweep us away like the wind. – Isaiah 64:6 NLT

When he asked how any young man might live a pure life, he already knew the answer: Obedience to the word of God. Purity wasn’t self-determined and could not be self-produced. Left to their own devices, sinful men and women will follow the desires of their sin-prone hearts. The prophet Jeremiah provided a stark assessment of the human heart.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? – Jeremiah 17:9 BSB

And the Book of Proverbs describes the futility of pursuing self-purification.

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? – Proverbs 20:9 BSB

The psalmist knew that his only hope was in the Word of Yahweh.

I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11 NLT

This is about more than inculcating knowledge or storing up information. It’s about life change that comes through heart transformation. The psalmist knew from experience that behavior modification was not enough. Reformed habits were not a long-term solution to a sinful heart.

For the psalmist, the law was a means of knowing Yahweh better. Like creation, Yahweh’s Word was intended to be a revelation of Himself. His righteous statutes, commands, and precepts were designed to reflect His holiness. When God gave the law to Moses, He told him, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2 NLT). 

The written law was a reflection of Yahweh’s character. It was the code of conduct He required of His chosen people. They were to live set-apart and distinctively different lives from the nations around them. In living in obedience to His commands, they would reflect their status as His treasured possession. Their lives would mirror His glory and righteousness to a world mired in darkness and sin.

In the third set of eight verses, the psalmist acknowledges his dependence upon Yahweh. Not only does he need Yahweh’s Word, but he also requires Yahweh’s help to understand and obey it.

Open my eyes to see
    the wonderful truths in your instructions.
I am only a foreigner in the land.
    Don’t hide your commands from me! – Psalm 119:18-19 NLT

He doesn’t gloat in his set-apart status as a child of God or boast in his identity as a descendant of Abraham. Instead, he refers to himself as a foreigner, an undeserving stranger who needed Yahweh’s help to know and obey His commands. This mindset is starkly different from that of the Jews with whom Jesus spoke and recorded by John in his gospel account.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32 NLT

Notice that Jesus ties true discipleship with obedience to His Word or teachings. He offers His audience freedom in exchange for faith in His words concerning Himself. Jesus would later claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” (John 14:6-7 NLT). He was the Living Word that provided access to the Father and the power to live in obedience to His commands. 

But the Jews to whom Jesus spoke took exception with His words.

“But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” – John 8:33 NLT

They were cocky and bit overconfident in their status as God’s chosen people. They took great pride in their heritage as Abraham’s descendants and viewed themselves as Yahweh’s treasured possession.  Yet, Jesus was unsparing in His assessment of their true status.

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.” – John 8:34-38 NLT

Even in Jesus’ day, the Jews put a higher value on their inheritance than on obedience. Their status as Jews was of more importance than Yahweh’s command to obey. Jesus was speaking the words of His Father, but they refused to hear and obey. They prided themselves on their adherence to the Mosaic Law, but Jesus had come to fulfill the law and the prophets. He was the latest revelation of God. According to the opening lines of John’s gospel, “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:14 NLT).

Long before Jesus appeared in human form, the psalmist wrestled with a desire to know and understand God’s truth. He desperately desired to obey God’s Word as revealed through the Scriptures. But he knew how difficult this could be.

You rebuke the arrogant;
    those who wander from your commands are cursed. – Psalm 119:21 NLT

Despite setbacks, personal attacks, and struggles with disobedience and unfaithfulness, the psalmist remained committed to knowing and keeping God’s word. He also knew that any attempts to obey were hopeless without God’s help.

Even princes sit and speak against me,
    but I will meditate on your decrees.
Your laws please me;
    they give me wise advice. – Psalm 119:23-24 NLT

He didn’t view God’s commands as onerous or burdensome. They were a delight because they reflected God’s wisdom, glory, goodness, and power. God’s laws were a window into His very nature, providing earth-bound humans with a glimpse into His majesty, holiness, grace, and mercy. As the psalmist will later confess, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT).

Father, I love Your Word because it reveals You. When I open Your Word, I get a glimpse into Your character, a reminder of Your power, and encouragement that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the unchanging, all-powerful, gracious, and merciful One who saves, sanctifies, redeems, restores, loves, and disciplines. Your written Word and the Living Word reveal You in all Your glory. Give me a greater desire to know both better so that I might obey You more readily and willingly. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The LORD is for Us

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1 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.
15 Glad songs of salvation
    are in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
16     the right hand of the LORD exalts,
    the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
    and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD‘s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Save us, we pray, O LORD!
    O LORD, we pray, give us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God,
    and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,
    up to the horns of the altar!

28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
    you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever! – Psalm 118:1-29 ESV

This is the final psalm in the Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a section of the psalter focused on the praise of Yahweh. The repetitive use of the Hebrew word hālal, from which the English word hallelujah is derived, is why these six psalms are closely linked. These psalms contain references to the Exodus account, which led to their being called the Egyptian Hallel.

“As the final psalm of the ‘Egyptian Hallel’, sung to celebrate the Passover . . ., this psalm may have pictured to those who first sang it the rescue of Israel at the Exodus, and the eventual journey’s end at Mount Zion. But it was destined to be fulfilled more perfectly, as the echoes of it on Palm Sunday and in the Passion Week make clear to every reader of the Gospels.” – Derek Kidner, Psalms 73—150. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series, pp. 412-13.

It is interesting to note that the word hālal appears nowhere in Psalm 118. Yet, it is considered the final of the Hallel Psalms. There is little doubt that the unidentified author of this psalm intended his song to praise Yahweh, but he chose to use a different word to convey his sentiments.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
    that I may enter through them
    and give thanks to the LORD. – Psalm 118:19 ESV

He uses the illiterative phrase yāḏâ yâ, which can be translated as “praise Yahweh.” Yâ is the contracted version of Yᵊhōvâ, and yāḏâ conveys the idea of thanksgiving as a form of praise for all that Yahweh has done. 

The psalmist opens his song with the words “yāḏâ Yᵊhōvâ” and provides the reason for his imperative.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 118:1 NLT

Four times in as many verses, he repeats the phrase, “His faithful love endures forever.” He then spends the following 28 verses extolling the myriad ways Yahweh has proven His goodness and unfailing love. He begins with a personal testimony of Yahweh’s gracious activity in his own life.

In my distress I prayed to the LORD,
    and the LORD answered me and set me free. – Psalm 118:5 NLT

While the psalmist’s name remains a mystery and the nature of his distress is unclear, he leaves little doubt that his circumstances were less than ideal.

…hostile nations surrounded me. – vs 10 NLT

…they surrounded and attacked me… – vs 11 NLT

They swarmed around me like bees;
    they blazed against me like a crackling fire. – vs 12 NLT

My enemies did their best to kill me… – vs 13 NLT

Whoever the psalmist was, he found himself in a difficult situation in which the odds were stacked against him. His adversaries were many, and their intentions were clear: They were out to destroy him. But in the depth of his pain and suffering, he called on the LORD and was delivered.

I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD. – vs 10 NLT

Though he was overwhelmed and outgunned, Yahweh gave him a resounding victory over his enemies. Rather than boast in his own prowess or military proficiency, the psalmist gives all the credit to Yahweh.

…the LORD rescued me.
The LORD is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory. – Psalm 118:13-14 NLT

He then explains the reason for his song of praise.

Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! – Psalm 118:15-16 NLT

The psalmist credited Yahweh for the victory, but he refused to blame him for his predicament. In fact, he did just the opposite. He viewed Yahweh as just in punishing his sin and merciful for sparing his life.

The LORD has punished me severely,
    but he did not let me die. – Psalm 118:18 NLT

And the psalmist, who had been overwhelmed with fear and apprehension, was now overwhelmed with gratitude to Yahweh. He couldn’t help but sing the LORD’s praises for all He had done.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
    and I will go in and thank the LORD.
These gates lead to the presence of the LORD,
    and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory! – Psalm 118:19-21 NLT

The psalmist summarizes his experience by referring to himself as “the stone that the builders rejected” (Psalm 118:22 ESV). Looking back on his situation, he recalled his inadequacy and helplessness. Surrounded by his enemies and ill-equipped to deal with their threats against him, he felt rejected by God. At one time, he had considered himself integral to Yahweh’s plans, but the circumstances of life left him feeling discarded and forsaken. But Yahweh had not abandoned him. 

The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the LORD has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:22-24 NLT

In the gospel of Matthew, he records a conversation Jesus had with the religious leaders of Israel. Jesus told them a parable about a “certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country” (Matthew 21:33 NLT). When the fall harvest arrived, the landowner sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But “the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another” (Matthew 21:35 NLT). The landowner sent a larger group of servants, but they were treated similarly. Finally, the landowner sent his son, expecting him to be treated with respect. But “they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him” (Matthew 21:39 NLT).

When Jesus asked the religious leaders what they thought the landowner should do to these tenant farmers, they quickly replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest” (Matthew 21:41 NLT). Then Jesus, borrowing from Psalm 118, dropped a bombshell.

Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.’

I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.” – Matthew 21:42-44 NLT

Jesus took this psalm of thanksgiving and praise and turned it into a warning of future judgment on all those who rejected Him as LORD and Savior. The Pharisees and Sadducees viewed Jesus as useless and of no value to their plans. They had discarded Him as nothing more than a religious heretic. They were the enemies who surrounded Jesus and threatened Him with death, but their efforts to eradicate Him would prove unsuccessful. God had not forsaken the psalmist and would not forsake His own Son.

The psalmist prophetically wrote, “Bless the one who comes in the name of the LORD” (Psalm 118:26 NLT). Matthew picked up on this phrase when he recorded Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Praise God in highest heaven!” – Matthew 21:7-9 NLT

Jesus was the fulfillment of Psalm 118. He was the rejected cornerstone and the one who comes in the name of the LORD. He was surrounded by enemies but won the victory in the power of the LORD. He defeated sin and death. He broke the bonds that held humanity captive. The Hallel Psalms speak of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. They remind us that God is always there for us.

We literally walk in His presence each and every day (Psalms 116:9). He watches over us, and we can trust Him. In fact, the psalmist reminds us that “It is better to trust the LORD than to put confidence in people” (Psalms 118:8 NLT). People let us down, just like we let them down. But God never lets us down and never disappoints. He never fails to come through. He may not do things the way we want them done, but He always delivers – in ways we could never have imagined – and always for our good and His glory.

The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph.
    The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! – Psalms 118:16 NLT

The LORD is for us. So why don’t we trust Him more? Is it because we refuse to recognize His hand in our lives? We have not trained ourselves to look for the signs of His presence. They are there. His answers to prayers that come at just the right time. His gracious provision for all our needs. His providential protection despite our proven unfaithfulness. God is for us and He loves us. That thought should blow us away and result in praise and thanksgiving – all day, everyday.

Father, I know I don’t thank You enough. I take far too much for granted, including the gracious gift of Your Son’s sacrifice on my behalf. I want to live with a stark awareness of your goodness and graciousness in my life, not just for salvation but for Your constant provision, protection, and blessings along the way. The psalmist was grateful and expressed it in song. I am quick to complain but slow to compliment and commend You for Your sovereign role in every area of my life. I want to live more gratefully and joyfully, recognizing Your activity in my life and thanking You for it because Your faithful love endures forever. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Common Grace. Communal Praise.

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1 Praise the LORD, all nations!
    Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 117:1-2 ESV

This extremely short psalm is addressed to “the nations.” The author uses the Hebrew word gôyim, which typically referred to non-Israelites. But in this case, he seems to have in mind all nations, including Israel. The second Hebrew word he uses is ‘ummâ, which refers to a “people, tribe, or nation.”

The psalmist calls people of every tribe, nation, or tongue to praise the LORD. Regardless of their ethnicity or religious proclivity, they should extol the greatness of Yahweh because they have enjoyed the benefits of His common grace. As Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, God “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45 NLT). He also stated that God “is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked” (Luke 6:35 NLT). This addresses one of three points of God’s common grace as outlined by the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and adopted as the doctrine of common grace at the Synod of Kalamazoo (Michigan) in 1924.

Yahweh shows undeserved favor to all those He has made. David highlighted this amazing reality in one of his psalms.

The LORD is merciful and compassionate,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
The LORD is good to everyone.
    He showers compassion on all his creation. – Psalm 145:8-9 NLT

When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Iconium on one of their missionary journeys, they attempted to persuade the pagan Gentile crowd of God’s love for them by highlighting this feature of His common grace.

“In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” – Acts 14:16-17 NLT

The second point of common grace is God’s sovereign restraint of sin among humanity. Since God has a plan of redemption and that plan has a timeline, He intervenes on behalf of fallen humanity and prohibits the extent of their sin so that His plan can unfold according to His divine schedule. You see this point played out in the promise He made to Abraham. In Genesis 15, God told Abraham, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth” (Genesis 15:13-14 NLT). God was informing Abraham of the 400 years his descendants would spend in captivity in Egypt. But God clarified that the story would have a positive ending.

“After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction.” – Genesis 15:16 NLT). 

God had everything under control. He was orchestrating all the details concerning the creation of the Hebrew nation, which included their four-century-long captivity in Egypt and the restraint of sin among the Amorites. When the time came for the Israelites to conquer the land of Canaan, the guilt of the Amorites and the other inhabitants of the land would have earned their elimination. In fact, prior to Israel beginning their conquest of the land of Canaan, God provided Moses with a lengthy list of prohibitions against sexual sins and abominations. Then He added, “Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. Because the entire land has become defiled, I am punishing the people who live there. I will cause the land to vomit them out” (Leviticus 18:24-25 NLT). 

Through His common grace, God restrained the behavior of the Canaanites long enough for the Israelites to become a great nation, experience deliverance from Egypt, and arrive at the border of the promised land.

In Genesis 20, Moses records a less-than-flattering moment from Abraham’s life, when the father of the Hebrew nation sought sanctuary in the land of Gerar. In an ill-advised plan to protect himself from harm, Abraham told his wife Sarah to introduce herself as his sister. His fear was based on the fact that she was beautiful, and one of the inhabitants of Gerar might be tempted to kill him to have Sarah as his wife. Abimelech, the king of Gerar, was taken by Sarah’s beauty and decided to make her a part of his harem. But God intervened and protected Sarah from being sexually violated by Abimelech. In a dream, God warned Abimelech of the danger he was in.

“You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” – Genesis 20:3 NLT

Having not consummated the relationship, Abimelech pleaded with God.

“Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn’t Abraham tell me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘Yes, he is my brother.’ I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.” – Genesis 20:4-5 NLT

In the dream, God responded, “Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her” (Genesis 20:6 NLT). God graciously intervened and prevented Abimelech from committing adultery.

The third point of common grace involves the ability of the wicked to do acts of righteousness. God’s grace makes this capacity of the unrighteous to do good deeds possible. Even with unregenerate hearts, they can show kindness, extend mercy, express love, and do good deeds to others.

Speaking to a group of pagan unbelievers, Paul said, “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it” (Romans 2:14 NLT). Their actions demonstrate God’s common grace, allowing them to do good even when their hearts remain unrepentant and unregenerate. 

So, for the psalmist, his message of praise is directed at all nations and includes every people group on the face of the earth. Every Jew, Gentile, pious Hebrew, and pagan heathen was obligated to praise Yahweh for His steadfast love and faithfulness. All men benefit from God’s goodness and grace. They breathe the same air, enjoy the bounty of God’s creation, experience the joy of human relationships, and are allowed to exist on this earth despite their sinfulness and open rebellion to their Creator.

While the psalmist had no concept of Jesus as Messiah when he wrote this abbreviated psalm, he foreshadowed the very words of Jesus when He gave His farewell address to His disciples.

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20 NLT

God’s grace was to be available to all mankind, regardless of their ethnicity. Jesus’ death and resurrection opened a way of salvation to anyone who would receive God’s gift of grace. Paul described this message of God’s grace as “good news” to all who would believe it.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” – Romans 1:16-17 NLT

In the Book of Revelation, the apostle John describes a vision he received of the heavenly throne room. In it, a heavenly host was singing the praises of “a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders” (Revelation 5:6 NLT). The song they sang highlighted the sacrificial death of Jesus and its gracious impact on the nations of the earth.

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation.
And you have caused them to become
    a Kingdom of priests for our God.
    And they will reign on the earth.” – Revelation 5:9-10 NLT

John was given a second vision of the heavenly throne room, in which he saw “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” (Revelation 7:9 NLT). They were standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And the song they sang echoed their common experience with God’s undeserved grace.

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
    and from the Lamb!” – Revelation 7:9-10 NLT

This is the message of this short but powerful psalm, and the day is coming when all the gôyim and ‘ummâ will praise God for who He is and all He has done for them. People from every tongue will proclaim their gratitude for His steadfast love and faithfulness with one voice, and they will do so for eternity.

Father, You are a good and gracious God. Your love never fails and Your mercies are new every morning. There is not a day that goes by in which we fail to experience Your common grace. You bless all mankind with life and breath. You shower us with rain. You give us light in the form of the sun. You provide us with food. You bless us with children. And You provided us with the gift of Your Son, as the sole means by which we can be restored to a right relationship with You. Every human being owes You a debt of thanks. But all who have found salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone own you their never-ending praise and adoration for eternal life. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.