Category: Liturgical Calendar

Psalm 119:49-52

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.

* 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.

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Reflection

When we find ourselves in dark places emotionally, the kind and compassionate word of a friend can bring relief. How much more the words of God when the darkness seems to deepen? Where do we turn to when the darkness of night does not yield to the breaking of day?

Too often we surrender to the dark. Not because we want to. We surrender because we don’t know what else to do.

As believers in God, as disciples of Christ, as travelers on the way, we have a different option. We have a better way.

The word of the Lord serves as light in dark times. As a balm when we find ourselves wounded and in pain. As a cool drink of water upon parched lips. As a river of joy for a sorrow-filled soul. The word of God is not like the good words of thoughtful men.

The word of God is the written revelation of the all wise God. From God’s lips to our ears; through our ears to our souls, the word of God can penetrate and mend was seemed utterly broken.

One of my fears is that we too often have too low a view of God’s word. And because of this, we have to little confidence in God to perform what we has written. We have to hedge our bets and in doing so we have uprooted our faith from the only fertile soil in which in can flourish.

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Commentary

Verse 49: The link between what God has promised to what we can have confidence in is unbreakable. It endures because God has forged the bond in the fire of his character. The Psalmist reminds God of what he has promised. And it is within the context of this promise that the write has placed their hope.

Verse 50: The Psalmist extends the idea of comfort here. They explicitly link together the comfort they feel in the midst of “affliction” they may find themselves. An amplification of what the write understands God’s promise to be is provided. The promise made and guaranteed by God is that there is life attached to it. This serves as an sure foundation for hope and peace.

Verse 51: Opposition to the faith of any and every believer should be expected. This means that the world outside of the community of faith does not share the values or objectives of God’s people. Therefore, their approval is not required for our obedience to God’s commands. This further implies that there is no legitimate reason to ever “turn away from your law.”

Verse 52: This is the first time the Psalmist makes a reference to the age of God’s rules. They say the rules come “from of old.” These are not new rules. They were not the result of some recent or current event. To be more accurate they are as old as God himself. Which is to say, they are eternal rules, truths, commandments, precepts, etc. There is nothing new about what God is calling us to do. We can take comfort in this because it means we can trust God. God does not change, and he does not amend what he has required of us either.

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Psalm 119:45-48

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.

* 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.

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Worship

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Reflection

An often under appreciated effect of God’s word in our lives is the development of courage. We don’t always make this connection. I think this is the case because we interact with God’s commandment in search of answers, rather than in search of wisdom.

The difference between answers and wisdom is that answers resolves one question. But wisdom prepares us to answer a variety of questions. When we become wise we learn to adapt and adjust. It is this ability that gives us greater courage. We no longer fear not having answers because we have learned how to find solutions.

This courage then makes us more resilient. We worry less about not being able to stand for what we believe.

When we have been formed by God’s wisdom, there are few challenges we have to fear.

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Commentary

Verse 45: The idea of walking in a “wide place” leaves the impression of a multitude of options. There are many avenues that could be taken, but because the Psalmist has “sought your precepts,” there is not worry of being distracted or detoured. However, when we seek God’s precepts, we see that not all available paths are good.

Verse 46: When we have internalized the Words of God, when we have been trained by God’s commandments we will be able to speak in the presence of kings an paupers and not be phased. The reality of what we learn from God is that it is good for anyone. Status is not a determine factor in who is worthy of hearing the testimonies of God.

Verse 47: The idea of “delight” is one easy to overlook. Whatever view of God’s commands we have will affect how we understand that benefit to us. If we have a negative view of God’s commands we will find little reason to delight in them. However, if we see them as a blessing, as a gift, as the way God conforms us into the image of Jesus, then we may see reasons to delight in them.

Verse 48: In this verse we have to references. One to commandments and on to statutes. As we have seen these are synonymous. It is interesting that with reference to God’s commandment the Psalmist is reaching out for them. And the reason for this is that they love God’s commandments. Again, consider the previous verse’s idea of delight should be kept in view. There is then a shift from affection to contemplation. The writer not only loves God’s commandments but will meditate upon what God has established, which is what a statutes infers. And so should we. We should love and meditate on what God has said continually.

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Psalm 119:41-44

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,

* 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.

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Reflection

If the Bible is the word of God (and I believe that it is) and if God is all wise (and again, I believe that he is), then when we study and internalize its truth we too become wise. Not to the same degree as God, but in the same direction.

The world pretends to offer us wisdom. It boasts of its own insights and revelations. To the average person these ideas can seem interesting and can even stimulate our curiosity. The problem is that none of this moves us closer to God. In the end, the wisdom of the world is a dead end.

One of the deflections the world tries to get us, those who claim to follow Christ, to accept is that it is a form of wisdom that is equal in quality as that of God’s. On its face, this notion is ridiculous. But, too many in the Church have bought into the lie. This is not the way of truth and light.

If we desire to live in a way congruent with God’s character, then we must do all we can to know what God actually desires and commands. Fortunately for us, God has provided us with access to this information. It is found in his Word. And when we engage with it and allow ourselves to be molded by it, we will become wiser than the world could ever dream.

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Commentary

Verse 41: There is a symmetry to the clauses in this verse. In particular, there is a synonymous relationship between God’s steadfast love and his salvation. The Psalmist asks for God’s love to come to them. And in the following clause there is a further description of what that love is. It is the salvation that God gives because of God’s promise. When we think of God’s love we are also looking at what that love has provided, namely salvation.

Verse 42: The approaching of God’s love, the experiencing of God’s salvation is the answer we have against those who would deride us. When we are mocked and ridiculed, our answer is that we are loved by God and we are saved because of God’s faithful promise. Our answer to the opposition we face is found in the word we have grown to trust. This is one aspect of God’s word often overlooked. Until we understand how God’s word gives us the answers to our detractors, we will struggle to trust it to provide the answers we yearn for.

Verse 43: When we know the value and power of God’s “word of truth,” we will understand how much we need it. It becomes more than just a means of instruction, it becomes our support in times of great stress and distress. We can find our hope because what God has said in his word, and through his commands God points to the greater reality of his care and affection. When we finally and completely appreciate what we have, we dread the thought of its absence.

Verse 44: The final verse of this section is a vow. The Psalmist vows to keep God’s law “continually.” The idea here is of a dedicated observance. The person who accepts the authority of God’s word in their lives also accepts the commitment it will take to stay truth to it. That is not to say that there will not be days of struggle and moments of doubt. The nature of a vow is to serve as a reminder to the one who made it that they are now under a particular obligation. An obligation they entered into freely.

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Psalm 119:37-40

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!

* 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.

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Reflection

There are an any opportunities for distraction in the world as there are sets of eyes. This is one of the many unspoken challenges to living a life that is accord with God’s word.

We have to choose to turn our eyes and our attentions toward God. To refocus our efforts and to submit our impulses to the will of God does not come cheaply. A cost will be incurred. Too often I find myself hoping that God will simply make living by faith easier. And then I am confronted with an even more pressing realization, how does that help me become stronger? It doesn’t.

As the years have passed and I have seen more of what this world has to offer (both good and bad), my confidence in God’s commands has grown. I want to trust the all-wise God to lead me. To comfort me through his immovable faithfulness.

In a world where everything appears to be in flux, the notion of an immovable God can be disorienting. And yet, this reality is our safe harbor. It is our calm in the storm. Because God never moves, we can always find him to be right where he has promised. And that place is where he has always been, for he is the ever-present God. There is no place where he is not, for there is not place where he cannot be.

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Commentary

Verse 37: Sometimes we need help is averting our eyes from those things that would draw our attention from God. We would like to believe that we have the spiritual maturity and strength to do it. However, this is not often the case. As we turn away from those “worthless things,” we can turn to God. And as we turn to him, we can call upon God to give us life. But this life is not on our terms. It is life in God’s ways. This is neither unreasonable nor should it be surprising.

Verse 38: When those moments of doubt come, and they will, we can ask God for a reminder. There are promises that God makes that are too big to believe. They just don’t seem possible. When the reality of what God has promised begins to sink in, then comes the doubt and worry. How can we keep from ruining the precious gift God has given? We may be tempted to think this way, but we should reject this line of thought. Whatever God promises he will fulfill. And there is nothing more praiseworthy than a person who keeps their word. So when God makes a promise, both of blessing and discipline, we should listen and heed his word.

Verse 39: The Psalmist says that God’s “rules are good.” This is not simple lip service. This is a declaration of an inherent quality of God’s word that must be reclaimed. What God has commanded is good. Period. And the tension that is often felt is our rejection of this particular good. When we know what we ought to do and choose another path, we instinctively feel the reproach of that. It is a willful rejection of something God has given. Something good God has provided for our comfort and direction.

Verse 40: The life we have in Christ originated in God’s righteousness. Another way of thinking about God’s righteousness is as God’s essence. That quality of being that defines how God operates. God is good. He is righteous. Therefore, he will never act in a way contrary to these immutable realities. As followers of Christ and believers in God, we can walk in God’s precepts because we can count on God’s unchanging character.

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Psalm 119:33-36

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!

* 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.

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Reflection

There is no greater teacher than God. He knows the end from the beginning. He founded the heavens and the earth so that they would sustain life. In his eternal wisdom God has arranged all that we see and all we have yet to see. It is within this context, with this level of access that God offers to lead us. What’s more, God invites us to seek his mind that we might conform our lives to it.

Over the years I have wondered why the Church continues to relitigate some issues and topics. It seems that we never really get ahead of them. Could it be we have not really sought God’s wisdom on these things. The work of theological reflection can become so complicated. I think it is because of pride. We want to be the ones who discover “the key” that gives us the power or influence or insight we all need. This will never happen.

Whether we want to admit it or not, whether we want to accept it or not, God has already given to us the instrument, means, and strategy for addressing all that is wrong with the world. And that includes starting with me.

If we are not satisfied with God’s answers on the subjects that cause us concern, why do we think another flawed, broken, and sinful person’s answer will be any consolation? It will not be. It cannot be. And until we come to terms with this, we will seek other teachers other than God. We will seek other saviors other than Jesus. We will rely on other means of support other than the Holy Spirit.

As a Christian, anyone who offers you a solution that does not begin with, is saturated by, and terminates in Jesus is selling you something that will not last. More to the point, it will fail to accomplish its alleged purpose.

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Commentary

Verse 33: The Psalmist petitions the Lord to teach them God’s statutes. This is an invitation to greater responsibility. We may not always understand instruction in this way, but within the context of our relationship with God, it is precisely this. The greater our knowledge of God, the higher God’s expectation of our obedience. The more we know, the more we become accountable for. And, as a result we understand why there is value in continuing to learn and grow and obey.

Verse 34: Because the law of God originated in the mind of God, there are aspects of it for which we require God’s assistance to understand. This does not mean that we could not figure it out eventually. The problem is that we don’t have the time! What God knows by virtue of his being God, creates an insurmountable obstacle to us, if it were not for God’s gracious intervention. The theological concept that describes this process is: Revelation. God must reveal what we could not discover through our own efforts, but once it has been provided, we can see what was intended.

Verse 35: The commandments of God, in one sense, serve to clear the road in front of us. What this means that as we more clearly understand God’s laws, we grow in wisdom. As we grow in wisdom, our ability to see further down the road of life also increases. Maturity, whether in the natural or the spirit, has a way of bringing peace of mind. And when we are able to rightly determine a course of action, we can enjoy the fruit of those insights. The primary fruit which is delight, according to the writer.

Verse 36: One of the best antidotes to selfishness is surrender to God’s testimonies. Seeing and knowing how God has worked has a way of focusing our attention. When our attention is God, we do not have time to focus on anything else. This distracting living, where we have time to look at what others have or are doing, can lead us down paths of selfishness we never intended or thought possible.

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Psalm 119:29-32

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!

* 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.

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Reflection

It is too often the case that we make decisions based on incomplete information. The consequence of this is that we may never really feel confident in what we decide. We struggle to minimize all of the possible negative outcomes, only to find out we missed something in our assessments.

As we continue living with God, we will discover that perfect wisdom is not something we can ever attain. But, we don’t have too. If our trust is in God and our hope in Christ, we can rely on them to lead us where we should go. There is no need to try and “figure it all out.” We can seek the Lord and he can direct our steps.

My hope cannot be built on what I know. I will never know enough. If we can turn over that desire to God, we may just discover that God is all we will ever need to navigate through life. Let’s rejoice in God’s wisdom as he has given it to us in his word.

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Commentary

Verse 29: The contrast between “false ways” and being instructed in God’s law is a helpful reminder. The deeper our understanding of God’s law, the easier it becomes to fend off the temptation to believe falsehoods. The Psalmist writes this in the forms of a supplication. By framing his request in this way, we learn that we will continually need God assistance. We cannot manage the many ways we can be drawn to what is untrue. We cannot anticipate all of the avenues whereby we many encounter a lie. We therefore need help. And it is right and prudent to seek it.

Verse 30: Here the Psalmist declares a decision of how they will live before and with God. They describe this as “the way of faithfulness.” What a fitting description of how we should strive to live. We are on a journey. But we do not know how long we will be traveling. So, it is wise to make a clear commitment to endure until we have arrived. What we should avoid, as much as we can, is not enjoying the journey itself. And we do that by allowing God’s “rules” to serve as a guide. As we grow in our trust in what God has said, the greater our confidence that we are on the right path.

Verse 31: When the circumstances of life would rob us of joy, and the unexpected obstacles we may have to traverse try discourage us, we should “cling to [God’s] testimonies.” And why should we make a habit of doing this? Because when we do, we position ourselves to be aided by God’s good mercy. As we labor to grow in our understanding of what God has said, the better our ability to see what God is doing. But something else happens. The clearer our memories of of God’s past interventions become. We may not always see it, but God has been present.

Verse 32: This is a simple, and yet beautiful, encouragement here. As we interact and internalize God’s word, our stamina for obedience increases. We will no longer merely walk in God’s commandment. We will be able to run. To advance even faster on the journey toward maturity. And the reason we will have this increased capacity is because God will have enlarged our hearts. Our awareness and sensitivity to God’s movement in our lives will then become easier to identify as a result.

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Psalm 119:25-28

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!

* 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.

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Reflection

It would be tempting to think we can endure the journey of life with less of God’s word. The terrible irony is this: without God’s word we are wandering an endless desert with no source of water within reach. The word of God is the portable oasis we need. And has been given to us as a heavenly gift.

When we tap into the totality of God’s commands we receive the fullness of its provision. This does not mean we are actualizing all that God has provided. It is better to say we have access to it all, and as we mature and grow in wisdom, we enjoy the benefits more intentionally.

God’s word can be what leads us to safety, or it can feel like a millstone around our next. How we experience it will depend on why we engage with it. If we approach God’s word as a gift, we find security and counsel. If we approach God’s word as a burden, we will feel the weight of all we have been forgiven by Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross.

It took me a long time to see this difference. And now that I know it, I can never go back to how things used to be. Knowing and living in God’s good pleasure is not worth surrendering, for any reason. Under any circumstances.

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Commentary

Verse 25: How did God create all things? In the opening chapter of the Bible, we are told that he spoke them into existence. By the power of his word what never existed came into being. While not to the same degree, the word of God as contained in the Scriptures continue to infuse life in all who embrace God’s word. Why? Because the word of God written come from the same source as the words of God spoken. When we read God’s commandments, their power are not resident on the pages, but in the author. The author is the one who validates and enacts what the words on the page convey.

Verse 26: The God who has spoken (and continues to speak) desires for us to be vocal as well. The apostle Paul captured this idea when he asked, “And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14 ESV). The preacher is the mouthpiece of God, carrying the words of God, to those who need to hear from God. We reflect our heavenly Father best when we imitate him in being verbal communicators. We don’t have to speak to thousands to do this. Something our audience need only be one person. And, in order to speak, the Psalmist asks God to teach them.

Verse 27: The Psalmist makes a link between our understanding of God’s precepts and our desire to consider the “wondrous works” of God. We do not always understand how studying God’s word, how reflecting on what God has revealed helps us to appreciate his labors in the world. The Psalmist in another place tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1 ESV). How? By reminding us that all beautiful things come into being by the hand of an artist.

Verse 28: The struggles of life can fell overwhelming. We are reminded of this. The imagery is that of the soul melting away. Our endurance will be taxed in this world. Adversity will be a companion to everyone at some point in their lives. The question is how to we find the strength to persevere? We are told that it is found in God’s word. There is a property in God’s word that can invigorate us even in the midst of strife. Into this reality we must entrust ourselves. For when we do, we will experience a renewal of courage.

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Psalm 119:21-24

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.

* 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.

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Reflection

It only takes one day of living to know that not all is well in the world. The brokenness of the human experience is manifested in a myriad of ways. They don’t all have to be named, to be known. They hover over our minds like a fog that never lifts. This is the dark side of life.

In the verses that serve as our focus today, we see the the heaviness of the fall. We see it in the struggle of living apart from God’s word. We see the barrage that we must endure even when we have been faithful to what God has instructed. The injustices we may be forced to endure when we have no access to the means of relief. These and so many more could rob us of our ability to rejoice in God. If we would let them.

But the Psalmist calls us to a deeper wisdom. One grounded in the testimonies of God where delight springs with an unquenchable constancy. There is a wisdom that the world offers to us, but it will fail. And the reason it will do so is it cannot replenish itself. It will always be short-sighted because it comes from those whose vision is marred.

The wisdom of God can penetrate the darkness of the world. No shadow can restrain its brilliance. No corner can hide from its influence. There is nothing that can dampen the power of God’s wisdom. That is why we can rest in it. And why our confidence will never be misplaced.

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Commentary

Verse 21: To “wander from [God’s] commandments” is the surest way of incurring the discipline of God. Not because God will actively bring his rebuke. The reality is any move away from what God has given for us to do will invariably result in discipline. In our obedience we receive the blessing of God’s protection. But in our disobedience we say to God we do not need his loving care. This is why our wandering can be so dangerous. God does not desire or enjoy the discipline of his children. But God has already given us the way of escape. We are the ones who must take it.

Verse 22: One of the difficulties most often associated with obedience will be the disdain of those who are not in relationship with God. Our desire to submit to God and live in accord with his testimonies identify us to the world. We must not be surprised by this. In fact, we should expect it. However, we don’t have to enjoy this kind of suffering. We can call upon the Lord to provide a reprieve. We can look to our God and inquire for relief from these burdens. But, even if they are not removed, we should not allow those discomforts and frustrations to keep us from keeping God’s word.

Verse 23: It does not matter who may find reason to come against us, their station in life should not become a distraction to how we live our faith before God. If there is one thing that is certain on our journey of faith it is that we will encounter opposition. It may not be another person necessarily. But whatever it may be, we must do all we can to not be distracted or deterred. When we meditate on God’s statutes, we are striving to focus our attention. This cannot happen when our minds are drawn away from what we are trying to contemplate.

Verse 24: We again encounter the Psalmist speaking of delighting in God’s words. This reminder is vital if we are going to understand how we should feel about God’s commands. They should not feel like burdens to us (1 John 5:3). They are to be for our minds and souls a refreshing ointment and a healing balm. To approach God’s word as an inconvenience is to not fully appreciate their role in our lives. This way of understanding God’s words takes time to understand, and even longer to cultivate. But this should be the charge we take up each and every day.

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Psalm 119:17-20

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.

* 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.

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Worship

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Reflection

The power of the word to transform and set free cannot be easily described. But once it has been experienced, it can never be denied. We can become discouraged when we don’t see the kind of transformation we desire. It can create doubt and even fear that we will be consigned to the uncertainty of not knowing if God is pleased with us.

We do not have to live with this cloud of anxiety. There is a promise we can hold on to.

God desires for us to live with him according to the truth. That is why he gave us his word. That we might learn it and be transformed by it. When we interact with God’s word we are awakened to more than we could every imagined.

The promise we have is that if we desire to see, God can give us the ability. But, we have to actually want to see. We have to accept the implications and ramifications of what that means.

In our search from God, we will discover more than we may have ever wanted to admit about ourselves. This is the price we pay to have an honest and true relationship with God.

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Commentary

Verse 17: The desire of the Psalmist is to live in such a way that they might live out God’s word. In order to accomplish this, the writer asks God to bless them. To bestow upon them an abundance of blessing so that they may live out what God has spoken. Now, it would be easy to think this is a request for material increase. However, that would not fit the context. What the Psalmist needs and what God can provide in infinite quantities is the spiritual fervor to obey his commands. This perspective would be a more accurate point of view of the request.

Verse 18: A second request in this section is for the Lord to give the Psalmist the ability to see. This kind of sight is what we all should desire. It is the ability we need to perceive the world as God made it and wants it to be. Without this divine sight, we will experience severe difficulty on our journey of faith. What makes this second request particularly interesting is the Psalmist’s reason for asking. That they might see “the wondrous things out of your law.” The inference here is there are wondrous things that we should see in God’s law that we often timed do not see. When we are unable to see those things, there is a gap in our understanding of what God has revealed.

Verse 19: The journey of life is transient. Those who live for any length of time will see the effects and impact of death. Seeing our time on earth as a period where we are “passing through” can be helpful. It can force us to consider how we expend our energy and what consumes our time. We are journeying through. We will not be here forever. In light of this transient reality, the Psalmist asks God to provide access to his commandments. To not hide them for us. In our knowledge of God’s commands there is information that makes this journey easier to navigate.

Verse 20: What we value is what we dedicate our time and efforts to. The writer here explicitly states that their soul is “consumed with longing for [God’s] rules.” Let us take this declaration at face value. The intensity of this conviction exposes the singular focus all followers of Christ should desire. Faith is not, or ought not to be, something we turn off and on. Who we are in God because of the work of Christ should be the defining reality of our lives.

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Psalm 119:13-16

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.

* 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.

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Reflection

There is a famous phrase attributed to the great St. Francis of Assisi.

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

St. Francis of Assisi (attributed)

The problem is, there is no evidence that he actually said this. Well, maybe calling it a problem is a bit much. It would be better to say that this refrain may actually be a summary of his actual thoughts. It is possible that this pithier version was distilled from what St. Francis actually said, namely: “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”

As we learn more of God’s word, we begin to have our thoughts shaped and reshaped by God’s thoughts.

As we spend time with God, we are influenced and directed in ways that actually bring us closer to where God is drawing us.

Whether we know it or not, the manner in which we live our lives does have an impact in how others receive what we say to them. There needs to be a congruency between word and action. However, and this is just as important, we can’t avoid speaking what we know to be true just because are still figuring our how to live in greater consistency!

I find that too often, I don’t speak because of some fear of being seen as a hypocrite. But this happens when what we say is coming from us. When we are the source. But if we are speaking the words of God, it doesn’t matter that I’m saying it or some donkey on the road. The words of God are true even when a notorious liar speaks them. They may be the only true things that person ever says. But that doesn’t make the words any less true.

As we invest time in God’s word, and as we inwardly digest that word in our lives, the greater our assurance of faith with God. And as our we grow in grace we must share what we have learned, even when we haven’t fully implemented what God has said.

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Commentary

Verse 13: There is a sense in which we will never fulfill the charge of this verse. But, that is not its intent. By making this declaration, the Psalmist is displaying the nature of what our commitment should be. There is an intentionality to the work of proclaiming the rules of God. But the breadth of this commitment is to declare “all the rules.” We cannot select which rules we like and then discard the rest. If we take up the mantle of heralding the rules of God, we must faithfully declare them all. From the most glorious to the most convicting. To speak one is to become responsible for speaking them all.

Verse 14: The comparison described here is shocking. The gladness that comes from having the security of riches, of having the stability that material wealth can afford is compared to the delighting in God’s testimonies. What God says can comfort and heal and encourage and instruct. To have God’s testimonies is to be protected. We do not have to shun material blessings. But we must not diminish the purpose and power of what God has spoken in the Scriptures.

Verse 15: We have been reminded several times to develop a focused attention on God’s ways. In this verse we are encouraged to meditate. This is another way of describing the spending of time considering what God has given to us. It is the mulling over of the precept we are considering. To use a culinary idea, to meditate is to marinate in the precept we are contemplating. To allow the truth we are engaging to get inside of us, flavoring us with its attributes. As we meditate we are also to once again look upon God’s example. God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), but we must strive to conform out lives to them anyway.

Verse 16: This is a second reference to delight. In this case, the delight is directed at the statutes of God themselves. The reality of how God’s words and commands can bring joy to our lives can be somewhat counterintuitive, but it is possible. In order to achieve it, we have to understand God’s commands as gift rather than a restriction; as a key rather than a lock. The Psalmist continues by offering a statement of conviction: “I will not forget your word.” In order to not forget, something must first be known.

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