Lent 2021 - Jeremiah's Vow

Lent 2021, Day 15 | Psalm 119:65-68

Psalm 119:65-68

⁶⁵You have dealt well with your servant,
    O Lord, according to your word*.
⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸You are good and do good;
    teach me 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.

Reflection

The word of God has a purpose we often miss. And the reason we miss it is we have made an incorrect assumption for why God provided a written testament of his will. The purpose we miss is that God wants to shape our characters by the words he has given to us. When we begin to look at the word of God as the instrument God uses to conform our thoughts and wills to his heart, we may very well begin to see the growth we long for.

The underlying assumption for why we miss this purpose is much simpler than we may want to conceed. We don’t want anyone telling us what to do!

We think that heeding God’s word and obeying God’s commands will amount to a repressive restriction upon our person. The problem with thinking this way is it says a great deal about what we believe about God’s intentions toward us. God is “good and [does] good.”

To fail to trust in God’s eternal goodness is to reject everything else we think we know about God. The more we fight against God’s goodness the harder our ability to grow. If God restricts our access to something, we should rejoice. It means God has our best interests at heart. He knows more than we will ever understand. To trust God, even when we do not fully understand his plan, is the best decision we can ever make.

Commentary

Verse 65: God will deal with all of us according to the same standard, his word. What this means is God does not show any favoritism toward any one person. The commonly used word in the scriptures to describe this is “impartiality.” God applies the same standard to all people. That is comforting. It means that we are no better or no worse off before God. God will deal with us without comparing us to anyone else.

Verse 66: Having “good judgment and knowledge” should be something every believer seeks. But, how are we to acquire it? How do we maximize our chances of attaining these good qualities? Interestingly, the writer of Psalm 119 says they come through our believing in God’s commandments. What makes this an odd relationship is we are often told to understand so that we can believe. However, what if, in God’s economy of things, when we believe we come to know? While we may intuitively seek to know first, it may well be worth our energy to believe first and see how that improves our knowing.

Verse 67: We have to recognize the connection between our disobedience to God’s word and our going astray. If we don’t we will wonder why our choices never seem to satisfy our longing. Going astray from God is the preceding action to being afflicted. We are not afflicted because we go astray. When we go astray from God is when affliction can come. And if we are afflicted when we are away from God, we don’t have God to lean on. When we keep God’s word, we are setting ourselves up to be comforted by God because we know what God expects of and desires for us.

Verse 68: The testimony of the Psalmist is that God is both good and a doer of good. This description of God is helpful because it reminds us that God’s character does not change. We can expect God to do good because of who he is. He is a good God. It is in the context of that goodness that we can call upon God to teach us his statutes. If we desire to be good like God, then we must learn to think and live like God as well.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 14 | Psalm 119:61-64

Psalm 119:61-64

⁶¹Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law*.
⁶²At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous rules.
⁶³I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes!

Reflection

The company we keep will influence two important aspects of life. Our friends will impact our perspective on life and our ability to overcome obstacles.

How we view the world is greatly informed by the people we have around us. If they generally have a negative view of the world and of how events will turn out, we will find ourselves mimicking that as well. However, if they are positive and look for the “win,” that will also inform, to varying degrees, how we approach the circumstances of life.

The second area our friends impact us has to do with our resilience. Now, this does not mean that you don’t ever get down or discombobulated. It just means, based on the description above, if our friends have a dim view it is easier to stay out of sorts. The inverse also being true. Upbeat and positive friends look for ways to pick you up. Even if we are not quick to change our attitude or thinking, it can be helpful to know there are others there to support you.

These are not hard and fast rules. They are broad descriptions that have been borne out in my life. But, it should be clear, we are not talking about a naive view of the world. We are talking about recognizing how who we associate with has a greater affect on us than we may like to admit.

Commentary

Verse 61: In the course of living, there are times where others my want to cause us harm. And regardless of the way that harm comes, it can create in us anxiety and worry about our lives. These kinds of situations cannot all be avoided. So, we must make every effort to be prepared. In the verse we see that preporation is best achieved when we do not “forget your law.” In God’s commandments, we find wisdom for how to overcome and even endure difficult moments.

Verse 62: As we mentioned briefly in another section, descriptions of the time of day are many times metaphorical. Referring to some other contextual idea. In this case, it would appear that the reference to “midnight” is another reference to difficulty or times when our peace is being challenged. In these times we ought to still find reasons to praise God. And our praise will make more sense because we are grounded in God’s revelation. In those words preserved for us in the Scripture, we make discoveries of God’s goodness and his manifold promises. These discoveries open up for us newer and deeper and better insights of who God truly is.

Verse 63: Walking by faith can feel daunting at times. However, there is great comfort in knowing we do not walk alone. The Psalmist acknowledges that there are others who also fear the Lord. And it is those fellow travelers who make up the body of the faithful. Our shared faith works to strengthen us and encourage us throughout our journey. What should not be overlooked is that the writer is talking about a specific group of people. Not just anyone meets the criteria for this cohort. It is those who “keep your precepts” who are to be seen as fellow journeyman.

Verse 64: God’s love is the attribute of his character that is most clearly seen in Jesus. The work of redemption on and through the cross are key to understanding God’s love toward us. What is remarkable here is the description of where God’s love resides. It exists and is seen in the whole earth. The creation is a testament to God’s love for us. When we recognize this, we can “see” more of God’s love. The connection to God’s word is this, as we see God’s love in creation (or what is often called “general revelation”) we can then see God’s love in his Word (or “special revelation”). God is at work in the natural world and he is at work in the spiritual world. It’s not one of the others it is both. And usually at the same time.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 13 | Psalm 119:57-60

Psalm 119:57-60

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words*.
⁵⁸I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹When I think on my ways,
    I turn my feet to your testimonies;
⁶⁰I hasten and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.

Reflection

When our lives are dependent on who God is rather than on what provides, we will find it easier to live in and through difficult circumstances. We are no longer slaves to the events of life, whether good or bad.

The reality of God’s provision is too often tied to material things. While God can and has provided for people in physical ways, the deeper promise is to give us himself. To open the doors of his throne room and allow us in.

To be a child of God is to have access to the only one who can free us from the trials and tribulations of this broken world. This is why we must rely upon God’s word as a guide and teacher. It prepares us for and positions in the right mindset to live with God.

Commentary

Verse 57: The link between God’s sustaining power and our faithful obedience should not be overlooked. When we live in accord to God’s commands we become the beneficiaries of God’s very person. This is one of the reasons we are instructed by Jesus to pray for “daily bread.” We are to depend upon God first. If he provides for us through supernatural means (like manna from the sky) or through natural means (like a good job) we are to give God thanks for his presence.

Verse 58: One of the many comforts of a relationship with God is how we are able to approach God. We are not cut off from God. We are able to approach God and to be heard by him. This is comforting because it means that God’s discipline will not be punitive. It will not destroy us. When we know God’s love, we can have peace of mind regarding how God will deal with us when we have faltered in our daily living.

Verse 59: Self reflection is an important and underutilized practice. We don’t have to take a negative view of ourselves to know we still have a lot to learn. Having this awareness is a powerful reminder of how much we need God’s word. The more time we spend in it, the clearer our understanding of what we need to address in our lives. Perfection is not the goal of the journey of faith. Maturity is the goal. And this, to put it plainly, means living according to who God is and who we are.

Verse 60: Diligence is a word that should define our interaction with God’s word. We should not just know the contents of Scripture. We should be striving to align our thoughts and action to what they teach. The connection between knowledge and practice should be strengthened as we grow on this journey toward God.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 12 | Psalm 119:53-56

Psalm 119:53-56

⁵³Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    who forsake your law*.
⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs
    in the house of my sojourning.
⁵⁵I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
    and keep your law.
⁵⁶This blessing has fallen to me,
    that I have kept your precepts.

Reflection

The longer we meditate on and linger with God’s word, the greater our ability to understand God’s heart. The word is not a window into the mysteries of God’s being. Rather it is like water washing away what has been keeping us from seeing clearly.

The world can put so much in our way, it can become difficult to notice what God is doing. We have to continually wash all of that debris away. We have to diligently make the effort to keep our vision clear.

It can feel like a daunting task, but the fact we have God’s word means we can do it. Maybe not perfectly. Maybe even not like we would like to. But if we keep using the cleansing properties of God’s word we will see with renewed eyes.

It can be difficult to make sense of how God’s word works in our lives. It certainly can. The question is whether we will fight through those insecurities and persevere until the end.

Commentary

Verse 53: When we know God’s word; when we have accepted the word’s role in how we live and think; and then we see some blatantly living and speaking against what God has given, it can be anger inducing. But why? Because they forsake God’s law and then seem to prosper. Or they forsake God’s law and then rail against all we have seen and heard from God. This is one of the more candid confessions in the Psalm. It’s presence is helpful, instructive, and liberating. It means we can be honest with God and God is not bothered by our struggles.

Verse 54: The idea of the words of God being like the Psalmist’s “songs” in the those places that are not home is an interesting perspective. The safety and security God’s word affords his people is without equal. It is a wonder so few take advantage of what we have access to. Seeing God’s statutes as something worthy of singing about may appear strange to us, but maybe that line of thought must be challenged and amended.

Verse 55: Particularly in poetic language, when the word “night” is used, it usually means more than just the time of day. From a metaphorical stand point it points to separation from God. However, within the context of Psalm 119, we see that night has a slightly different intent. Here, it appears to us, that the Psalmist is using night to describe those times when it would be easy to dismiss or ignore or become lazy in holding onto God’s law. This why it is important to remember it. Because when we forget, we lose the light of our path in times and places where God is least felt as present.

Verse 56: In the keeping of God’s precepts, there is a blessing already contained within this obedience. We too often think that our obedience will be the catalysts for some other blessing. What we must learn to appreciate is that the fact we are living in obedience is evidence of God’s gracious intervention. When we are living out what God has commanded, we can rejoice in how God has transformed our minds and hearts to the point we desire to obey. This in itself is a blessing.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 11 | Psalm 119:49-52

Psalm 119:49-52

⁴⁹Remember your word* to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction,
    that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹The insolent utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵²When I think of your rules from of old,
    I take comfort, O Lord.

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, 2nd Sunday in Lent | Psalm 119:45-48

Psalm 119:45-48

⁴⁵and I shall walk in a wide place,
    for I have sought your precepts*.
⁴⁶I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
    and shall not be put to shame,
⁴⁷for I find my delight in your commandments,
    which I love.
⁴⁸I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
    and I will meditate on your statutes.

Worship

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 10 | Psalm 119:41-44

Psalm 119:41-44

⁴¹Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
    your salvation according to your promise*;
⁴²then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in your rules.
⁴⁴I will keep your law continually,
    forever and ever,

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 9 | Psalm 119:37-40

Psalm 119:37-40

³⁷Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
    and give me life in your ways*.
³⁸Confirm to your servant your promise,
    that you may be feared.
³⁹Turn away the reproach that I dread,
    for your rules are good.
⁴⁰Behold, I long for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life!

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 8 | Psalm 119:33-36

Psalm 119:33-36

³³Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes*;
    and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
³⁶Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series

Lent 2021, Day 7 | Psalm 119:29-32

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.

Psalm 119:29-32

²⁹Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law*!
³⁰I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
³¹I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
³²I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you enlarge my heart!

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.

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.

The Complete Lent 2021 Series