PSALMS 119
Beth
January 9, 2006
Psa 119:9-10 KJV Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. (10) With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
The hot and young sons of Jacob caused their whole tribe to have to leave the land of Sheshem. The young prodigal son wanted his inheritance right away.
Having a heart that is yielded and close to God is always a struggle for youth. Inexperience in its virgin innocence denies the young life the cynicism that experience uses to caution us. It carries in itself an irresistible attraction, and at times God has used it to accomplish His purpose in young people, even unbeknownst to them. The devil knows it and makes sure to play on their emotions to make them go astray from the path of God.
Rational and logical thinking will not help the youth to make wise and godly decisions. We as parents, pastors and teachers cannot even use our rational, logical and cautious ways to tell them what are wise and godly decisions, because God is not rational nor logical, and His ways are not our ways (Is 55:8-9). The only way a youth can make sure not to stray from the clean path of God’s will in his life is to stay close to the Lord, and harmonize his mind, spirit, heart and walk according to the Spirit of His Word.
The most important gift we can give our children is a love for God’s Word. The most essential habit we can instill in them is a dedication for daily study and memorization. The greatest knowledge we can impart to them is to know how to use the Word as a guide to their lives.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,
Feed my lambs.
(Joh 21:15 KJV)
January10, 2006
Psa 119:11-12 KJV Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (12) Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Throughout the history of religion, many absurd inventions have been conjured up to help us fight against sin, against the lust that wars in our members (Jam 4:1). This Word is clear though, that as Jesus told Martha about Mary sitting at His feet cradled by His Words, “one thing is needful” (Luk 10:42).
The author of this Word also said that we are born in sin, and in iniquity we have been conceived. Therefore keeping from sinning has nothing to do with our personal efforts, but is only achieved by a miracle of the grace of God. The sole part that you have to do is to make sure to walk close to Him daily. Since He is without sin (Heb 4:15), if you walk close to Him, it is impossible for you to go astray.
He is His Word, and His word is Him. Hide His Word in your heart by memorizing It. Let it occupy your thoughts and make It the essence of your daily “conversation”. Hide It in the chambers of your being like a treasure that you hold dear, and it will be your Map, your Light and your “safety net” against the tempting detours of the evil one.
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
(Pro 6:20-22 KJV) with Him.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(Phi 2:13 KJV)
January 11, 2006
(Psa 119:13 KJV) With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
The head of a household at the morning meal had asked the blessing as usual, thanking God for a bountiful provision. Immediately afterward he began to grumble about the hard times, the poor quality of food he was forced to eat, & the way it was cooked.
His little daughter interrupted him. "Father," she began, "do you suppose God heard what you said a little while ago?"
"Certainly," he replied confidently.
"And did He hear what you said about the bacon & the coffee?"
"Of course"--not quite so confidently.
"Then, Father, which did God believe?"
Oh, it is so easy to declare God’s righteous judgments in our lives by repeating our memorized “catechism”. When we are on guard of the public eye, how righteous can we sound, how pious can we appear! But the truth about ourselves really comes out when we are “alone”, or in our familiar surroundings, and not so much on guard about others. Then it is known, if only by our conscience, and certainly by the Lord who already knew, whether we are really thankful for the righteousness of the judgments of God in our lives; His judgments of what He allows to be “dished out” to us.
Oh Lord, help me not to be like the hypocrites who appear righteous on the outside, while inside are full of envy, doubts, complaining and murmuring (Mat 23:27). Help me to declare the righteousness of your judgments with my mouth and with my heart.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
(Psa 51:6 KJV)
January 12, 2006
(Psa 119:14 KJV) I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Imagine yourself having been in great penury. For years you have known deprivation, cold and even hunger. You have seen your wife and children suffering sickness due to the lack of resources of your household. Suddenly, as if by miracle, fate turns like Ali-Baba in the famous story, you are face to face with everything you ever needed and wanted, just for the taking. Here is the solution to your life’s problems. No more tears, no more hunger, no more sickness, no more deprivation. But as in the famous story, these treasures are stolen; these are sweet, but forbidden waters (Pro 9:17).
Then comes the Son of Man with one pearl, one measly pearl in the midst of so many. One pearl that would be given to you for free as a forever gift. This pearl was not bought from an ordinary jeweler, nor found in the midst of the common sea, neither was it refined like mere silver or gold. It was refined in the furnace of affliction (Is 48:10) and it was bought with His shed blood. This pearl carried with her promises of joy, sorrow, abasing, abounding (Phil 4:12), sweetness and bitterness in this life, and the key to the kingdom of God in the next life.
But Lord, it is such a small pearl compared to all these? Do you really expect me to let go of the loot of my life for this… one pearl? Do you really want me to choose an uncertain future against the present visible assurance of sufficiency? Why, what makes that pearl worth more than all these riches?
“My son, the value of the pearl is not in the pearl itself, but in the price it took to acquire it. Is anything more precious than the blood, life, and suffering of the Son of Man?
The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
(Pro 10:22 KJV)
January 13, 2006
(Psa 119:15 KJV) I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
How many times have we quickly brushed aside a piece of advice, suggestion or idea, to later realize that it was key to solving a stubborn issue. How many times have we brushed aside checks and premonitions from the Lord, to later realize that we “knew it all along”?
It is normal not to pay attention to the words of man. Too many people talk unprayerfully generating vain ideas that can become red herrings leading us away from the information that we are meant to get. It is understandable to be doubtful and unsure about our personal premonitions, checks and feelings, which can also be red herrings. But it is absurd to not give the Word of God full assurance of credibility.
Many people utter doubts about the authenticity, accuracy, veracity, righteousness and wisdom of the Word of God, but after hearing more of what they have to say, it invariably stems from ignorance, immature thinking and bias conceptualizing. But totally and purely meditating on the Word of God with “an honest and good heart” (Luk 8:15) never fails to generate respect for the ways of the Lord.
“Lord, help us to not be guilty of lack of respect of Your ways because of our lack of meditation on It.”
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(2Ti 2:15 KJV)
January 14, 2006
(Psa 119:16 KJV) I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Soon after the giving of the Torah at Mt Sinai, a man had to be put to death by the congregation because he was gathering sticks during the Sabbath. To help the children of Israel to remember his statutes, the Lord instituted that they should wear four fringes laced with a thread of blue on each of the four sides of their garments. The thread of blue is supposed to remind them of the Commandment of the Word. Now that the Word of Commandment is engraved on our hearts instead of on stones, we should not have to worry about “forgetting” the Word, but is it really so?
Many of us seem to be afflicted with “selective memory”. The things we like we tend to remember easily, but things we like less we seem to “forget”. Delighting in the Word is the key to not forgetting the Word.
The Word is like a vast sea. One standing on the shore can be amused for a while wading in the waves or even venturing out a little further. But one who commits himself by faith to lose sight of the shore will enjoy a lifetime of adventure and discovery and even more.
May God help us to venture out by faith and discover the delights of His Word. Discover the delights that give us unforgettable spiritual experiences that keep us coming back for more, experiences that make if impossible to forget His word!.
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
(1Ti 4:15 KJV)
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