Liturgical Calendar - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent 2021, 5th Sunday in Lent | Psalm 119:129-132

Psalm 119:129-132

¹²⁹Your testimonies* are wonderful;
    therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple.
¹³¹I open my mouth and pant,
    because I long for your commandments.
¹³²Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.

* Through these reflections, those phrases that identify God’s word, revelation, or law will be highlighted in the text in the hopes of accentuating the many and varied ways we can visualize what God has given to us for our good.

Worship

Reflection

The first verse in the selection for today points to the wonderful nature of God’s testimonies. What makes these testimonies wonderful is that we can participate in them. Throughout all of the events contained in the Bible, we are made witnesses to what God was doing in and through the circumstances recorded.

As we witness these moments and events, we are given a glimpse of how God works in the affairs of men. How God weaves his purposes through the faithful choices of the various players. We see how God is able to take even the most unwise decisions and use them to advance his will.

The danger we face as we reflect on these events is failing to see the hand of God in the story. While the Bible contains the history of God’s people, these stories are a chronicle of God’s own history with the world. From the opening majesty of creation that is described; to the glorious miracle of Jesus resurrection from the grave; to the final triumphant victory by God over the devil at the end of the ages; all of these highlights and the all of the moments in between are exposing the wonder of God in time and in the world.

We can often miss it because we become distracted by the everyday challenges of life. But, we must find a way, from time to time, to pause and see how much wonder that actually is all around us.

Commentary

Verse 129: The word of God is filled with wonderful realities. The stories that convey these truths can be difficult, even harsh. But, through them we can gain a glimpse of what God has been doing. The wonder of God’s word can fill us. That is one of the main attributes of the entire process. We should not forget this. But this wonder inducing power of God’s word is how we are drawn closer to God. Our soul’s keep what can actually fill us with wonder.

Verse 130: The word of God is revelation from the mind of God. The totality of what it contains cannot be understood in one sitting. It will take a lifetime of study to even scratch the surface of all God has shared with us. However, the more time we spend with God’s word, the more of it we understand. Not because we become wiser, even though that will happen. We understand more because the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds to receive what is there waiting to be learned. To grow in understanding takes time. Therefore, we should take the time to grow in our understanding. We should not feel like we have missed something, when we can reflect on how much we actually have acquired.

Verse 131: The longing described by the Psalmist here is telling. It not only describes a keen awareness of what God offers, but it exposes a knowledge of the value of what God provides. To receive and take in what God gives is to truly satisfied. Only God fill what our soul most desires. And the reason is simple. Only God has the infinite resources to accomplish the task.

Verse 132: For those who love the Lord, there is no need to fear about how God will treat us. When we have understood his grace and have experienced his mercy, our perception of what it means to serve God changes. The Psalmist describes this graciousness according to the surety of its continuation. The writer says, “as is your way.” The reason we can know how God will act is not because we have figured God out. It is because God has revealed to us how he will act, and we can either trust or not. To trust is to enjoy the benefits of God’s unchanging character.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 28 | Psalm 119:125-128

Psalm 119:125-128

¹²⁵I am your servant; give me understanding,
    that I may know your testimonies*!
¹²⁶It is time for the Lord to act,
    for your law has been broken.
¹²⁷Therefore I love your commandments
    above gold, above fine gold.
¹²⁸Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
    I hate every false way.

Reflection

One of my favorite movies growing up was The Karate Kid. In that movie a young man, Daniel Larusso, moves across the country and has his life turned upside down. He moves to a new town, a different way of doing things, and with no one to help him navigate this new reality. Most people already know the arch of the story, so I won’t rehash it here.

As Daniel meets Mr. Miyagi and begins his training, Daniel is asked to perform routine chores. He does not understand what any of these tasks have to do with learning karate. It is not until Daniel has gotten fed up with being treated like slave labor that the “lessons” are revealed.

What the master knew, the pupil was now going to learn.

In the Christian life, context is key. Without context we will not properly understand what is happening around us. And whoever defines that context for us, will determine how we see what comes next.

In the tension between feeling used and being trained, we see the link between obedience and faith. Daniel thought he was being used and taken advantage of. Daniel thought that he had been lied to! But Mr. Miyagi knew he needed to have new patterns ingrained in his mind.

The repetition of the movements of washing cars, painting fences, and sanding floors were all in preparation for the revelation. And what was that revelation? Than Daniel had learned more karate doing “non karate” things than he could have imagined.

Yes, the movie is an oversimplification of the years it takes for mastery. But, it is a wonderful example of what happens when we obey our teacher and then, in a moment, we are awakened to the truth. We know and understand more than we thought, but we just didn’t see it properly. We couldn’t see it because we wanted it all to look like something else.

This, at its core, is discipleship. We obey those we trust in the faith. We follow and imitate their example. And then, when we are ready, we begin to see what was right in front of us the whole time.

Commentary

Verse 125: As we surrender to God’s instruction, we embrace a new direction for our lives. In this sense, we become servants of God. Not in an overbearing or hostile manner. But rather as a willing and appreciative response to God’s grace. As we serve, we are invited to grow in our understanding. However, there are times where we reach the end of what we know, and so we ask for greater levels of insight. God desires for our wisdom to grow. Therefore, we should not be shy in asking for more of it.

Verse 126: We do not always understand God’s timing. It can be difficult to see how much is being “overlooked” by God. So, when we have become familiar with God’s law, our sense of indignation can at times get the better of us. We see something that is out of line, or someone that is flaunting their disobedience and we wonder, “Where is God?” The answer is, he is right where he has always been. God will act when he chooses. Not when we think he should.

Verse 127: In this verse, we see another instance where the Psalmist speaks of their love of God’s commandments. While this sentiment would appear counter-intuitive, it is the attitude we should seek to cultivate. To understand what God’s commandments are, and what they do, is to see how they are also expression of God’s affection and grace toward us. They will then become the most precious gifts in our lives. Or at least we may appreciate them more honestly.

Verse 128: To acknowledge the source of God’s precepts, is to also accept that they cannot be wrong. This may be difficult to understand when we begin our journey of faith. However, to trust God is to trust what he has said. Understanding is, in the Christian life, the consequence of obedience. We do what God commands and then we learn why it is true. This is most often the pattern and process of deeper relationship with God.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 27 | Psalm 119:121-124

Psalm 119:121-124

¹²¹I have done what is just and right;
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²²Give your servant a pledge of good;
    let not the insolent oppress me.
¹²³My eyes long for your salvation
    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
¹²⁴Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
    and teach me your statutes.

Reflection

God’s faithfulness to his own promises may be the most powerful reason for trusting in God. To accept and live in the knowledge that God will do what he has said brings freedom and hope.

Disappointment can have such a crushing affect on us. It can distort our understanding of self. It can make us look at others in the worst possible light. Relationships can be forever ruined because of expectations that were not met. But how do we deal with expectations that were never really possible? Expectations that we created that were not based in truth?

This is why when I find myself being disappointed with God, I have to stop and ask: Is this something God said he would do? Or is this something that I want God to do, and because he didn’t I am now angry?

God will accomplish what he has promised. God will never accomplish what he has never promised. Both of these realities are comforting. The first because God can be trusted. The second because God cannot be manipulated.

Commentary

Verse 121: The witness of our lives is a plea with God to remember his promises. When we live in accord with God’s character we will reap the blessings that come with that. However, those who do not share our faith will find reason to come against us. In spite of this opposition, we can trust in God to safeguard us through the circumstances until we finally stand before him in heaven.

Verse 122: When God speaks, what he says must be accomplished. God has never promised anything that he has failed to provide. This is what true divine faithfulness looks like. Just because we do not always understand how God is working does not mean that he is not active and engaged in the world and in our lives.

Verse 123: It is interesting to describe the longing for salvation in the context of “seeing”. What makes this of particular interest is the way it helps us understand that whatever that salvation is, it will be something that can be seen with the eye. What will be seen will be the fulfillment of what God has promised. What the Psalmist was waiting for we have seen in Jesus.

Verse 124: God in his goodness will judge the world and discipline his children in a consistent manner. What this means is that when God acts, he cannot be accused of wrongdoing. His faithfulness to his own character is what guarantees that justice will be performed by God. Within this context, when we learn God’s statutes, we can know the standard we will be measured against.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 26 | Psalm 119:117-120

Psalm 119:117-120

¹¹⁷Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes* continually!
¹¹⁸You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
    for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
    therefore I love your testimonies.
¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments.

Reflection

As the world continues to deal with and address the ramifications of a global pandemic, the words of Psalm 119 seem particularly useful. The uncertainty of the innumerable variables can cause us to feel unsteady in the world.

When we find ourselves being buffeted by the waves of life, we need to find a fixed point that can guide us home, to safety. That north star is God’s word for those of us who claim the name of Jesus. God’s word is the guiding light in the darkness and uncertainty of world trying to make sense what is happening.

The Christian faith points to an eternal reality beyond the shores of life on this world. This perspective can and should give us comfort. It is the constant reminder that we are passing through. We do not need to take a morbid posture to the uncertainties of life. We should take the attitude that what happens here and now does not have the power to rob us of what is to come.

This is the part of the eschatological hope of the Christian faith. We live today, enjoy today, and embrace today while we seek others to join us on this journey. Through it all we do everything we can to keep our eyes pointed to Jesus. In him we have hope. Not in the things of this world. At least that is the way it should be.

Commentary

Verse 117: Once we have experienced the grace of God, it is difficult to live without it. The beauty of God’s love is that we are not cast away when we falter and fail. God’s goodness draws us back when we are sincere in our remorse. There are some who would say that this is taking advantage of God’s grace. That might be true, if the person’s heart was to do as they wished. However, knowing that we will sin and wanting to continue doing it are not the same. This difference matters and it matters to God. He is the one who knows the heart of the one who comes to him seeking to be restored and reconciled.

Verse 118: To adhere to God’s statutes is to declare a trust in God’s wisdom. To reject God’s commands is to expose a lack of trust in God’s care. As a result, when those who obey God’s word experience blessings in can make those who do not to feel as if they have been rejected by God. This is not necessarily an intentional act by God, but the natural consequence of going one’s own way, apart from God.

Verse 119: One of the characteristics of many of the psalms is the personal and intimate tone they take. We see expressions of anger and desires for revenge in those places where the writer feels under attack. These emotions should be interpreted in ways that diminish the human experience. However, they should not be understood as endorsements by God about what the author should expect. One of the simpler ways of understanding this kind of language is as an awareness by God of the difficulties that emerge in the human experience. In this light, the speaker in the psalm can describe when they perceive is happening, or even hope would happen, without imposing upon God some obligation foreign to his character.

Verse 120: When we find the word “fear” in the scriptures, it has become common to speak of a reverence and honoring of God. While in many cases the context would justify this understanding of the word, this is not one of those cases. There is a real sense in which the reality of God’s “judgments” must be understood a terror inducing. The reason for this is an acknowledgement of the power and authority which God has to adjudicate sin. While it is proper to say that God desires to dispense grace and mercy, God must also uphold his righteousness in the face of sin. Therefore, to fear God, in this context, is to recognize how bad it could be for us, if it were not for God’s grace.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 25 | Psalm 119:113-116

Psalm 119:113-116

¹¹³I hate the double-minded,
    but I love your law*.
¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Reflection

There will never be a time when we have “all the information” we desire. All of the pieces of information, even if they were available, would be difficult to process. This challenge is what makes living without God even more difficult.

God has promised that “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What this means is that in spite of our deficits, God is able to take all that we miss into account. Therefore, even when we miss things, and we will, God does not.

The question I ask myself is this: how do I enjoy the benefits of this promise? The Psalmist reminds us that it is God’s words, and our daily consumption of it, that reminds us of what we have and what we do not have to worry about any longer.

We can find comfort in all manner of difficult situations and circumstances because we can trust God to see us through.

Commentary

Verse 113: As a thought experiment, what would be the opposite of being “double-minded”? In the implication of the phrase is that the person being labeled in this way in unreliable. They are not able to pick a path and stick with it. So, the opposite of being double-minded is being single-minded; being a person of resolve and conviction. The mistake we should avoid here is this, as followers of Christ the mind we seek to be resolved in is not our own. Rather, we should be single-minded in our resolve to do as God has commanded in his word. For it is there that God has revealed his mind to us.

Verse 114: One of the many benefits of studying and meditating on God’s word is the peace it brings. Knowing who God is and how he has promised to work in our lives is a true blessing. We have to normalize the idea that the greatest miracle is not what we can get from God, but that God has given us access to himself. He is our “hiding place and [our] shield.”

Verse 115: As we journey through this life, we must be vigilant of those who would encourage us to deviate from God’s purposes. In the simplest sense, these individuals are “evildoers.” They would ask us to substitute what we have learned about God for what they claim to know about God. This should never be. As we keep God’s commandments, we must grow in our resolve to dismiss those who would cause us to detour from where God is leading.

Verse 116: “Let me not be put to shame in my hope!” This is the call of a sincere heart. The mind of God is so much higher than ours. Because of this, we will not always understand everything God has asked us to do. In times like these we are to place our trust in God’s faithfulness and goodness. We are living with the hope that God will “uphold [us] according to [his] promise.” This is what living by faith means. We obey and leave the outcomes to God.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 24 | Psalm 119:109-112

Psalm 119:109-112

¹⁰⁹I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law*.
¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
    for they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹²I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

Reflection

What do we do when we can’t seem to find the answer we need in God’s word? We can get frustrated or discouraged.

Over the course of the last twenty years I have learned that an important part of my anxiety over God’s silence is me. I come to God believing that God is obligated to bend to my every whim. This is not only wrong, it exposes an assumption that hinders our relationship with God. When we demand God act, we have usurped an authority that does not belong to us.

The Psalmist throughout this psalm provides us with a multitude of reasons why we should never demand of God what God has not obligated himself to do in his word. The Word of God is a binding document, both to God and to us. In it we find everything we need to know about how God operates in the world and how we are to approach him.

God will not do anything contrary to what he has revealed. And if we approach God understanding who he is and how he works, we reduce (and maybe even eliminate) the reasons for our frustration.

Commentary

Verse 109: Every day we make important decisions that will affect the course of our lives. These decisions do not always feel as being significant, but which ones will or will not be cannot be predicted. To live with our eyes set on eternity is the best way of honoring the gift of life we have. So, it is vital that one of those decision we make is to remember God’s law. To acknowledge that what God has commanded also requires our attention every day.

Verse 110: This theme of the plans of those who are against us has been repeated several times. And each time the general direction is that of distraction. When there are people working to harm us, it can draw our attention from what we should be doing. Whether that is an objective or one of God’s “precepts.” The Psalmist admits the reality of this opposition and at the same time encourages us to recognize that a commitment to what God has said is far better.

Verse 111: As children of God, God’s word is an inheritance to us. The beauty of this inheritance is that we do not have to wait to enjoy it. We have access to it right now. All we have to do is make ourselves available to it. When we love the giver, we will treasure the gift even more. This is why we must read and meditate and study the Bible. It is ours by right. To not enjoy it is to diminish the one who provided it for us.

Verse 112: There comes a moment when we understand what is required of us. When that moment comes we must make a choice. There is no way of not making a choice. We will either chose to obey or to disobey. This same moment will occur when we understand what the word of God is to us. At that moment we will have to make a choice. Will we do all God has commanded? Or will we make a different choice?

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 23 | Psalm 119:105-108

Psalm 119:105-108

¹⁰⁵Your word* is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to keep your righteous rules.
¹⁰⁷I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
¹⁰⁸Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your rules.

Reflection

There are many different kinds of challenges on this journey of faith. The variety stems from the uniqueness of each person. No two people, even if they experienced the identical events, would be affected in the same way. Each person is as different as the proverbial snowflakes.

Understanding how wide the possible responses could be helps us to better appreciate the beauty of God’s word. As we approach the Scriptures, each and every person who embraces them will be ministered to in the just the ways they need. This characteristic of the Bible can only be described as miraculous.

How does knowing this help us? I believe it gives us a confidence in God’s ability to lead us we may not feel otherwise. If we know that when we read and meditate and internalize God’s wisdom he is present with us, that increases our desire to drink of that well over and over again.

To trust the Bible is not merely a blind assent. It is a tested decision. But if we have not actually conformed our thoughts to the patterns it teaches we may never actually know. To often in my own life I have claimed my own wisdom and understanding for God’s. This is always a mistake. And it is always a fools errand. It is not until we truly submit to God’s word that we will see the harvest of God’s word bear fruit in our lives.

Commentary

Verse 105: This may possible be one of the best know verse of Psalm 119. The two-fold blessing of God’s word is that it helps us to see where we are AND where we are going. Being able to have a stable footing is vitally important to living confidently before God. Also, knowing we are headed in the correct direction builds our trust in God’s goodness. We see here that God accomplishes all this through his word.

Verse 106: It takes a conscious decision to keeps God’s rules. It is not something we just fall into doing. The principal reason is we really don’t want to. The Psalmists says they have confirmed their oath. One has to wonder how this confirmation has taken place. The simplest way of thinking about it is to remember the context of the psalm up to this point. The context is a trust in God’s word to provide all that has been described. This steady trust is a perpetual confirmation. Both to God, but also to us. As we do what we have promised, God does what he has promised. And with each step, faith is built up in us.

Verse 107: At first glance it would be easy describe the Psalmist’s plea as a request for protect. This would not be an incorrect reading. However, there is another, more subtle implication of the text. Namely, that the word of God described a particular understanding of what life is. The life of faith cannot be quantified in the same terms as that of life without God. This would be to impose upon God that which he is under no obligation to provide.

Verse 108: Thankfulness and worship are always appropriate responses to God’s goodness. Especially when we offer them for no other reason than to let God know we are thankful. As we appreciate God’s grace and mercy we ought to make it a habit to honor God without needing to be prompted. As we give thanks to God, we are also preparing ourselves to receive instruction from him.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, 4th Sunday in Lent | Psalm 119:101-104

Psalm 119:101-104

¹⁰¹I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word*.
¹⁰²I do not turn aside from your rules,
    for you have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

Worship

Reflection

The longer we spend time with God’s word, the easier it becomes to tell the difference between right and wrong. The reason is quite simple. Simpler than we be ready to admit. It becomes easier because we now have access to how God sees the world, including how he see us.

When our thoughts are transformed by the word of God and our lives are conformed to the example of Christ, we begin to understand what would please God. In the same way that familiarity can make us more keenly aware of the preferences of our loved ones, when we know what God commands and what God desires we develop an awareness to what in congruent with God’s character.

Pleasing God is not complicated. But it does take a commitment to living in the light of his word. Pleasing God requires us to set aside trying to please those around us. As we learn what the Scriptures teach, and as we grow in our ability to recognize those things that are in line with it, we can actually respond more consistently to the variety of circumstances we may encounter.

The easiest way I have come to explain what this means is this: We have make decisions based on what God says, not what we feel. Our feelings will try and convince us that what is now before us matters more than the eternal truth of God. The proximity of the issue will confuse us if we are not grounded in who God is. God does not change. Therefore, whatever we do must not make it appear that God has changed.

Commentary

Verse 101: There is a link between our obedience to God word and the choices we make in life. It will be very rare the number of times where we will know what the consequences of our decisions will be. There are so many variables in life. This is why it is both wise and prudent to make choices that lead us toward greater submission to God. What this means is that as we learn what God has commanded, we do those things to the best of our ability. The greater our consistency, the lower the likelihood that we will chose paths that are evil or lead to evil.

Verse 102: In a variety of instances we have seen the Psalmist thank God for his instruction. This is the clearest instance of that sentiment. When we know who the teacher is, our confidence grow in what we are taught grows. So what are we to think when our teacher is God? We should disregard what God says less and less.

Verse 103: The image of eating God’s word and of the sweet taste it has is a vivid word picture. The Psalmist is adamant in their conviction that God’s words are the best things in the world. There is nothing better that having and consuming and savoring the wisdom of God in the Scriptures. In order to understand this, we have to take the full weight of what we have seen up to this point in the psalm into account. The blessings and benefits of obedience to God’s word cannot be calculated, but they can be experienced.

Verse 104: This verse recalls what was said in v. 101. While there might be some relative difference between the “evil” path and the “wrong” path, the difference in effect may not be as different at all. To choose or go down any path that leads away from God’s purposes will invariably reveal a failure to obey God’s word.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 22 | Psalm 119:97-100

Psalm 119:97-100

⁹⁷Oh how I love your law*!
    It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.

Reflection

There is one thing in life that we should all be diligent in cultivating. That “thing” is wisdom. Wisdom is the greatest weapon against living a life of confusion and wandering. When we are wise, even when we cannot avoid hard situations, we can have a perspective that leads us through the hardships.

As a follower of Christ, we have been given access to the greatest treasure trove of wisdom imaginable. It is called the Bible. The richness of this treasure is in the fact that it is not the wisdom of other human beings. It is the wisdom of God.

God has revealed himself in and through the normal, everyday events of the human experience. This means that the Bible contains two important attributes. First, the word of God has a plethora of points of contact that makes sense to us because they are, often times, typical human events. We can learn to see ourselves in the moments that are captured within the texts.

Second, and this one is very exciting to me, the wisdom of God is knowable because God wanted us to learn how to live. When we see God working through the foibles and weaknesses of other human beings, we can be confident that the lessons can be transferred to those who would listen. But, we have to be listening. We have to take notice of how we can get caught up in the same kinds of circumstances. This ability to connect the dots is vital to our growing in wisdom.

Commentary

Verse 97: Given the fact that the longest Psalm in the Bible is about the Word of God, it should be no surprise that the Psalmist speaks glowingly of God’s law. “Oh how I love your law!” This ought to the attitude of those who have spent time with what God has said. This is the way those who have been impacted and changed by what God has declared should feel. However, we cannot love what we do not understand. We will not meditate on it “all the day” when we have an indifferent or even a negative view of God’s word.

Verse 98: The search for wisdom is a perpetual one. What we must recognize is that the finding of wisdom requires humility. There is a need for acceptance of what we have and what we are missing. There is not sense in which we can claim “we have arrived.” What is interesting here is that when we embrace God’s commandments we become wiser than our enemies. What this means is that we do not have to worry about what they are doing. Their efforts will come to nothing. Our continual trust in God’s commandments gives us comfort and strength when confronted by those who seek to do us harm.

Verse 99: In this verse, the Psalmist continues this theme of wisdom. Here it is called “understanding.” There is a trap we all are susceptible to if we are not careful. It is called “appealing to authority.” This is the view point that we should defer to those in positions of authority. They may be in those positions because they know something we don’t. And while experience and training are definitely considerations when evaluating someone’s credibility, there is one significant problem. No one, no matter who they are or what they claim to know, can claim to be the ultimate authority on a topic. No one, except God. And to know God is to know the one who knows all. That is why knowing what God knows is better than knowing what human experts claim to know. Even if what they know is true.

Verse 100: In this verse we see the movement from having more wisdom than enemies, then to more than teachers, and now more than “the aged.” Living a long life has a way of teaching us many lessons. But even a lifetime of experience cannot be compared to the wisdom that comes from obedience to God’s precepts. There is a mystery in the Psalmist’s structure here. In order to understand it, we have to accept the key being offered to us. The key to the kind of wisdom being described is a sincere trust and commitment to God’s word. It is as easy and as hard as that.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 21 | Psalm 119:93-96

Psalm 119:93-96

⁹³I will never forget your precepts*,
    for by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your testimonies.
⁹⁶I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Reflection

When we become children of God, a transfer of “ownership” has taken place. It may be better to say that a transfer of responsibility has taken place.

The day I learned that I would become a father, I felt a weight settle on me. In that moment, there was a realization that I would become responsible for a new life. To say that I was was changed by that awakening would be an understatement. I was shaken by the changes I knew would become a part of my life.

In many ways, I knew that I would never be the same again. I understand that how I saw the world would be altered by the presence of this new life in my home.

While it would be a little foolish to try and describe what God feels for us as his children, I do think we can learn something from the Psalmist’s description in verse 94. We no longer belong to ourselves. When we have entered into relationship with God by faith in Jesus, we have surrendered our rights to our own lives.

There may be some who are bothered by this. I am not one of them. To know that God is responsible for my life, my soul, and my destiny is quite comforting. I don’t always appreciate it like I should. So, it would be wise to do what I can to not lose sight of this wonderful reality.

Commentary

Verse 93: Here we see an explicit connection being made between God’s precepts and the life we have. The idea of “life” here can be understood in a variety of ways. It could be salvation. Or it could mean encouragement. However, the overall tone of the psalm leans in a practical direction. Therefore, with that in mind, it would make sense to see the word “life” here as referring to wisdom. As we learn and remember God’s word, we grow in wisdom. We are enlightened by the mind of God for how we should conduct ourselves in this world.

Verse 94: The pursuit of God’s precepts is an indication of what we value. The greater our commitment to God’s word, the more we understand all God has promised. The way we see our relationship with God also has a role to play here. The Psalmist describes themselves as belonging to God, “I am yours.” This is the posture of the person who sees all God offers and chooses that over anything else.

Verse 95: The fact of opposition should be a given. It will happen in the course of time. Not always because of something we did to instigate it. Sometimes we are faced with conflict because we are doing what God has commanded. In this verse the Psalmist implies that regardless of what may come against us, we should “consider your testimonies.” There should be a resolve to not lose sight of what God has revealed to us. This considering is a safeguard against losing heart in the midst of the schemes of the wicked.

Verse 96: The expanse of God’s commandments cannot be measured and it cannot be quantified. In the world, there are those who would try and convince us of their wisdom. But earthly wisdom has its limits. What’s more, earthly wisdom can never bring us into the presence of God. God’s commands, may at first appear restrictive, but they are far greater than we may fully understand in the moment. But as we dive deeper and investigate further and consider more intentionally what God has commanded, we will see the richness of God’s wisdom like never before.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series