For the Love of God’s Word – Psalm 119

A text – Psalm 119:33-40

119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.
119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
119:35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
119:36 Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.
119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.
119:38 Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.
119:39 Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.
119:40 See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.

A reflection:

Some psalms were written to praise the Lord God for good times. Others were written as deep laments, bewailing the tragedies we all face in life. And some are heartfelt cries for God to make us better people, either because we know we have done wrong and that we know it’s time to turn over a new leaf, or because we are desperately clinging to the ledge and want to learn how to be more faithful so that we are never caught out there on the ledge again.

Psalm 119 is 176 verses long, each section starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet – a massive work. Its central theme is the reliance each believer should have, must have, on the Word of God. No matter what the circumstances of one’s life at the moment – persecution, loss, or even great happiness – anything that can happen to us is made better by listening to and obeying the Word of God. In this small section the writer wants God to always turn human beings toward God’s Word, which is life-giving.

Since Jesus himself was known as the Word of God made flesh, the Word of God who could walk around on earth and befriend human beings, this is also a psalm that says that the closer we are to Jesus, the better our life will be, no matter our circumstances. “Give us understanding, that we may keep Jesus and follow him with our whole heart.” What would the world be like if more of us believers acted as this psalm encourages? Jesus did show us how to live, and more than that, if we follow him and fail, he is always beside us to reach out for us and save us, again and again, even when we die and cross into the next world. Jesus, like the rest of God’s Word, gives us life.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us both your Word, the Scriptures, and your son, Jesus.  Help us to keep them close and to follow them so that our life is better and we will stay near to you. We live in gratitude for all you give us each day, oh Lord.  Amen.