Grasp God's Mercy and Kindness

We have some spiritually delicious thoughts today from Ps. 119:73-76. God made us for a purpose, and if we follow it, we will be an encouragement to others. But sometimes God has to discipline us. It’s best if we take it as God’s faithfulness and surrender to whatever he is teaching us. Still, discipline hurts. We know that. So does David. And in that case, we ask for God’s merciful kindness, which we can do, because it’s God’s character to be merciful and kind.

The best word/concept studies I have done are God’s mercy and lovingkindness. I have run miles on them, and I encourage anyone to take out their Strong’s concordance and study these two words. It will change you forever. It changed David forever. (For a faster study, just look up all forms of the words mercy and lovingkindness in the Psalms.) But for today, enjoy Ps. 119:73-76.

Psa 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.	When I, like David, fully grasp that God made me unique (as he amplifies in Ps. 139), It will unlock a desire to understand the specific purpose for which he made me, the very least of which is to do what he asked in his word. Lord, give me understanding that I might learn your desire for me. It starts with today. Show me anything you desire of me today.
(74)  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.	This reminds me of Pro 27:17  Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. I’ve always applied that to the idea of having sharp friends, not being a sharp friend. True spiritual leaders like David look at their lives as a ministry and an example for others to follow… a discipler. A discipler who hopes in God’s word is a radiant spiritual model, and those who fear God are glad when he/she shows up.
(75)  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.	May I align myself with God like this when I go through any kind of pain or turmoil. “God, you are right, and I am not. I surrender. You are faithful. Yes Lord.”
(76)  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.	But, affliction, no matter the cause, still hurts. David appealed to God for comfort based on His merciful kindness that he showed David in his word. He showed it to me, too, in Exodus. Let’s all bask in this and pray it back to God like David did: Exo 34:6-7a  And the LORD passed by before him [ Moses ], and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  (7)  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.