Tag: Psalm 119 Study

Oh how we need the Lord’s mercies to live! “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”(Lamentations 3:22-23)

We never deserve God’s mercies – but we especially do not deserve them when we refuse His law.

Towards those who dealt “perversely” (wrest), the Psalmist committed them to God. Instead of meditating on how to “get even” or “get back,” his thoughts were on God’s precepts. How much better would my reactions be if I focused on God’s Word instead of the problems others cause me?

Seems to go along with Psalm 119:63, “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” If our heart fears the Lord and we know God’s testimonies, then we’ll attract friends who also fear God and know His testimonies.

Is my heart sound in God’s Word? That will never cause shame before the Lord.

Similar to verse 71 (“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”), how do we view affliction? Do we truly believe that God afflicts us in His faithfulness (literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity:)? Because God’s judgments are right, and because we are His children, like the best of fathers, He must afflict us to bring us back to His commandments. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”(Hebrews 12:6-11)

Merciful kindness – OT:2617 checed (kheh’-sed); from OT:2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty:

Comfort – OT:5162 nacham (naw-kham’); a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself):

According to thy word – OT:565 ‘imrah (im-raw’); or ’emrah (em-raw’); feminine of OT:561, and meaning the same:

Thy servant – OT:5650 `ebed (eh’-bed); from OT:5647; a servant:

Are we deserving of God’s merciful kindness? But yet, hasn’t He promised it?

“Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:8)

“He shall send from heaven, and save from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” (Psalm 57:3)

“For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.” (Psalm 57:10)

Do we trust in these promises? Do we remind God of these promises? (and thus remind us of the truth of these promises) Do we take comfort in these promises?

If we had the choice between God’s Word or a million dollars, what would our honest choice be? Are our labors towards God’s Word or worldly riches? “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

In thinking just about the first phrase (“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me”), that should be reason enough for us to desire God’s Word. If He had the wisdom to create us – to mold us, fashion us, form us (and beyond that, gift us, bless us, redeem us, save us, provide for us, sustain us) – why don’t we desire to know more of that wisdom? What folly for the created to say to the creator, “Yep, I’m here and living, but I don’t need You anymore!” And yet, how often do we do this?

How much we need wisdom from our creator! And the amazing thing is, He will grant it to us! (“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5)

Does our behavior encourage other believers? Are we steadfast in our hope of God’s Word or do we falter and fail? Personally, I know that the friends who encourage me most are those who are steadfast even in the midst of trouble. Those who cling to God’s Word in problems rather than mere men.

Similar to verse 51 (“The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.”), it is another reminder to keep God’s commandments no matter what others say or do.

Afflicted – OT:6031`anah (aw-naw’); a primitive root [possibly rather ident. with OT:6030 through the idea of looking down or browbeating]; to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows):

We don’t care for affliction much – the idea of looking down, brow beating, depressed . . . but God does not send those experiences our way fruitlessly: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4) – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

What is our response to tribulation and testings? Do we see them as good and able to work good in our lives? (“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28) My response determines whether or not the affliction will draw me closer to God and help me to learn His statutes, or whether I will refuse.

God uses afflictions to get our walk back to His path. Do I balk at afflictions, testings, troubles, trials? Or do I stop to ask the Lord how He’s using them in my life? Can I say like the Psalmist, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”(Psalm 119:71)

Just as we must believe in God’s commandments (vs. 66), we must believe that God is good to be fully receptive to His truth. God is good. Can I say that at any moment of any day?

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.” (Psalm 73:1)

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)

Sometimes, we need to stop and reflect God’s goodness; how He has indeed dwelt well with us. If we do a search in His Word, we will find that “He is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:23).

God doesn’t merely expect us to keep His Word – He also keeps His Word.

Good judgment and knowledge come only from God. Before we learn them, though, we must believe them. Am I founded in the Word of God? Do I know that it is truth? How can I learn from something that I think is fallible? I must be fully convincedthat God’s Word is truth. I must have total faith that His promises are true. Only then can I make any progress in learning His judgment and knowledge.

A brief review of from Whom we’re learning judgment and knowledge: “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14)

For a moment, it is good to stop and reflect on God’s mercy – it fills the earth! How do we know this? There is simple observation from nature, but we are sure because of God’s Word.

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalm 86:5)

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”(Psalm 86:15)

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalm 103:8)

“The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” (Numbers 14:18)

“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)

If this is the Lord, then why shouldn’t I be willing to learn from Him and of Him?

Who are our companions (associates)? Our friends should not merely claim a relationship with Christ – it should be evidenced that they fear (revere) God and keep His Word. Their walk should be compared to Scripture. Are they even trying to follow God’s Word?

There are a couple of warnings about companions:

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)

“Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.” (Proverbs 28:7)

We need to be like Paul, whose companion was a fellowsoldier, a servant: “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” (Philippians2:25)

There is no excuse to forget God’s law. When trials come, it should not bring us further from God’s law, it should not cause us to doubt God, but bring us closer. What is the difference? Some people forget God’s law – that He warns us we’ll suffer trials and tribulations (“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”James 1:2-4). They forget that God promises rewards to those who endure (“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12). Those few verses should help us to stay focused not on the enemy or the trials we’re facing, but on God, Who is sufficient through our trials.

Here is another “night” mentioned. What am I doing at midnight? If I awaken in the middle of the night, do I turn my thoughts immediately to God in thanksgiving? Do my thoughts go to His Word?

The perfect example of midnight worship is Paul and Silas: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)