Deliverance is what I need. Deliverance from those who don’t like me; from myself when I don’t like me; from staleness; and from general malaise. That deliverance will come when I grasp hold of God’s precepts.
Precepts are codes of wisdom or principles to guide our lives. We’ve been studying them in Ps. 119, as they are mentioned 21 times in this chapter. We are looking at the last five of them today.
I just finished looking at them and comparing them with other verses to help me apply them. I use two free Bible programs to find verses: www.e-sword.net and www.biblegateway.com/ (though I have installed the Online Bible on my computer). If you don’t have either of these programs, consider adding them to your Bible tool belt.
Now, let’s learn about deliverance and God’s precepts.
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Psalms 119:134 ¶ Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
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In this case, the Psalmist requests deliverance from oppression (injury or cruelty) of man first. Then he will keep God’s precepts. A similar thought is spoken by John the Baptist’s father Zacharias in Luke 1:74-75 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, (75) In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. Enemies can be a powerful force, affecting our walk with God. |
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Psalms 119:141 ¶ I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
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I may be insignificant, and even disliked, yet in spite of what others think about me, or what I think about me, I’m not going to forget God’s principles to live by. The Psalmist comforts himself in God by remembering his precepts. I should learn to turn to God as readily when I feel small and despised. Here’s one to think on: The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? (Psalms 118:6) |
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Psalms 119:159 ¶ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
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If I love God’s wisdom and principles, it will occur to me to ask God to enliven me by his lovingkindness, that is, his acts and words of love that he does for me, not because I deserve it, but because he is a kind God. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, (Ex. 34:6-7a) |
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Psalms 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
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Before I’ll keep God’s precepts or principles, I have to have them before me. How to do that. Putting them to music is a good way. Writing them on 3x5 cards and keeping them with me and referring to them is another way. For sure, the only way I’ll keep his precepts is if they are before me. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:11) |
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Psalms 119:173 ¶ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
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I’ll turn to God for help (rather than to others or the TV, books, magazines, the internet, etc.) when I’ve chosen God’s precepts or principles. It would be great if his word was so ingrained in my heart that my automatic response would be to turn to God for help. Here’s one to turn to: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3) |
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