Daily Devotional Sunday 9th June 2024
by William Moody
Psalm 119:97–120
Mem
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,1
for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O LORD, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD,
and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.2
Samekh
113 I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.(ESV)
God’s word being a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (v105), is a famous and very encouraging verse. The Lord doesn’t leave us blind, but He gives direction in life through His word. The challenge is if we’re willing to study, apply that word from the Lord. The Psalmist has taken an oath to follow God’s word (v106). We need a similar determination.
God’s Word though is more than a guide, it is also the means through which the Lord brings life to His people (v107). In his time of affliction, the Psalmist looks for the Lord to come and bless through His word.
The Psalmist is devoted to the Lord and as he worships, longs to be guided more in God’s truth (v108). His life seems to be in a precarious situation (v109-110), but he is determined no matter what, to remain faithful to God’s commands. Why such a determination?
The Psalmist realises the union of God’s word with the God and that is how he finds such joy in God’s truth and will not be deflected from them (v11-112). Here is a great challenge about our devotion to God’s word.
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