What’s the best way to react with God’s word after I finish my quiet time and close my Bible? David is a great example of someone who obviously hid God’s word in his heart and thought about it and applied it throughout the day.
That says something positive about his solitary profession. He was a shepherd. He had time to reflect—out there with the sheep. He took an instrument with him and made up songs. He handled his solitary time well. He came up with the most excellent reflections on God. In fact, God inspired him. David is one of the writers of the Scriptures.
Today, there are some excellent level-setting verses in our Monday look at the next set of eight verses in Ps. 119. We are on verses 57-64. Today, I just had time to look at the first four, and they are so rich. Have a look with me.
|
Ps. 119:57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
|
Portion means inheritance or possession. This will seem crude and ungodly, but this verse reminds me of when I got my iPhone. It came with a pamphlet explaining what all I could do with the phone, and I devoured the manual. In the same way, I have Jesus, and I have the book that explains not only him, but the spiritual realm he is over and the God who he is and how he thinks and how he has worked from creation and his plans for my life and the world. He is my portion and I have his words. I want to commit myself afresh to keeping his words, not just reading them. I want a greater passion for applying God’s word than my initial passion for my iPhone manual. |
|
(58) I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. |
Very interesting, because intreated means sick or weak. Favour means face or presense. David is saying “I was sick and weak for your presense with my whole heart.” I wish I was that way all the time, but it often takes trials to produce that passion. His resulting prayer was “be merciful unto me according to thy word.” He appealed to God based on his word, and God’s word says God is merciful. In fact, that is part of God’s own description of himself in Ex. 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. David knew this verse. I know it too, and I have readily prayed for God’s mercy and goodness through the years. It’s one of the best-kept secrets of the Bible. We can ask for and expect mercy. I learned it from David. |
|
(59) I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
|
Self-reflection is a good idea and a lost art. This is a good reminder for me. Since I walk 3 miles each morning, I should use that time to think on my ways compared to God’s word and turn my feet to his testimonies. Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. May I reckon it so. |
|
(60) I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
|
This is a great attitude. Any parent loves it when their children immediately do what they were asked. God is a parent, and he is the same. He certainly noticed David’s obedient heart. Look: Act 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. David made haste and delayed not to keep God’s commandments. |
Comments