2nd September 2023 – Psalm 119:97-120
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 for ever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
for ever, 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 judgements.
The next section (113-120) seems to follow naturally from the previous note’s emphasis, from the pressures that come upon faithfulness to the thought of a refuge from these pressures that will comfort the heart. One commentator entitles the section as a prayer to be loyal to the Word in face of much opposition; and this is done by hiding in God (114). What is said in 113 is better rendered 'I hate double-minded persons', and seem to have a connection with what has been said in the previous sections, where wholehearted commitment was the order of the day. To those who are totally committed, 'half-and-half' people necessarily seem suspicious. Love for the law is the only way, even if it brings opposition. Hence the idea of protection and refuge throughout the section. Nor is this negative and cowering, but a quiet resting in God and waiting on His Word (cf Psalm 57:1). Not only so, in 115 the Psalmist exercises a positive, even aggressive, faith: 'Depart from me...'. Here is a resistance from the base of refuge (cf Mark 11:23, 'Whosoever shall say to this mountain...') - not prayer, but assertion and commanding. This is something we can do when we are hidden in God! In there, too, one's eyesight becomes wondrously clear: we see the emptiness of sin and its fallacy. This is the meaning of 'their deceit is falsehood' in 118. 'All godless life is a blunder as well as a sin, and is fed with unrealisable promises' (Maclaren). The end of the life of sin is dross (119), to be cast out as slag from a furnace. Hence the sense of dread expressed in 120, as he sees what God does to the wicked - a fear lest any wickedness might persist and prevail in his own life, and incur that judgment too.
1st September 2023 – Psalm 119:97-120
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…
31st August 2023 – Psalm 119:97-120
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…
30th August 2023 – Psalm 119:65-96
Teth 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.66 Teach me good judgement 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…
29th August 2023 – Psalm 119:65-96
Teth 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.66 Teach me good judgement 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…
28th August 2023 – Psalm 119:65-96
Teth 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.66 Teach me good judgement 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…
27th August 2023 – Psalm 119:65-96
Teth 65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.66 Teach me good judgement 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…
26th August 2023 – Psalm 119:41-64
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…
25th August 2023 – Psalm 119:41-64
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…
24th August 2023 – Psalm 119:41-64
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…