Web Theologian

>169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word!170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Throughout this longest of all Psalms we have heard how much the Psalmist loves God’s law, precepts, word. I have spaken from my own life about how that is true. But this last line summarizes why. It is not because of my own self righteousness or goodness. It is not because I have been raised to think this way. It is not because I am better than anyone.

I have blown it. Gone my own course over and over again, but God has sought after me. He has never let me go even though I have often deserved it (mercy), he gave me blessing when I was unable to achieve it on my own (grace). I remember that, I follow him in his mercy and grace and it is because of that I fall in love with the word. Truly I am unworthy, lowly and humble yet it is God who lifts me up.

>161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Those in power aren’t looking favorably on the Psalmist, which should be no surprise since he was a man of power himself. And I have some suspicion that might be the case for our country as well that the entire ‘religious’ movement might have run it’s course with the last administration, but who know we will see.

There are treasures all over God’s word to be found. Spend some time in it and find out for yourself. They can bring peace to you when you are worried and can give you understanding in how to deal with terrible people. All day I God is given thanks. God also provides us with hope for the future there, reminding us that he is in control, he wins, and we will be taken care of.

>153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Check me out. I know I’m a mess that is exactly why I need God’s help, and by the way I still love his law. There are many who are in my position, married, family, doing sales, unsure what is ahead of them; and they don’t even care. They just keep going along in their own strength and there is not concern for anything outside themselves to help them. I’ve read your word and know it to be true.

I have been in over my head for years and yet you have been merciful toward me. There were situations where someone could have gotten killed and should have gotten hurt and yet you took care of us. Disgust toward the faithless? Maybe, but really more of just totally being incapable of understanding how they get through life. The disgust comes when their selfcenteredness begins to hurt others, I hate bullies.

So what is the bottom line YOUR WORD = Truth. You have always been righteous and always will.

>145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law.
151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Now about those times I don’t do what I should. HELP! They suck and I need God’s presence and will listen better then next time. Perhaps you have allowed me to do this so I take notice of you! That my attention, feelings, heart and mind all focus on you early in the day and late at night. That is what you desire of me right. My heart. Well you got it,

I know that there are things that will not go my way, and frankly there will be times that I’ll be scared out of my wits. Allow me to really know and trust in what you have promised. There will be plenty aroung who attempt to lead me astray, yet those commandments you give haven’t changed. On top of that there is you and you have been the same forever.

>137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.
138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Who makes the rules? Often times we think we do, but that is not the case. With science we often try to name the rules, even though it is not only with science we try with counseling and I am sure many other things. Yet most people realize there are forces outside of us, the rules, then some other even note that there seem to be forces even outside the rules, to me that is where God lives. Some might say unfair…true.

I would be concerned if God were not faithful and righeous. He never had to tell me about himself and yet He did. I have taken him up and listened, and the story checks out. Am I the best jude probably not, but I’ve listened. Payed attention to as much as I can and made sure to put it in to practice. The times when I have failed to I have taken note of the consequences. The story checks out, and it is better to enjoy God rather than to fight against the tide.

>129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

I am a pragmatist. Faith does not begin there, I think faith begins with truth, being engaged with Jesus and not being able to get around it. One of the things I am finding the older I get and the more time I just spend in God’s word is that it makes a practical difference. It works. What you read, try to live out, really makes me a better husband, employee, friend, and person. It is wonderful.

Understanding was not something that I was concerned with until the birth of my first daughter. That is probably why God gave me children so young is because I was in seminary and only really cared about the great questions and thought understanding was for the birds. No I am thankful for the light that God provides even if it is dim sometimes, He has truly given wisdom to the simple I am the prime example.

I hope to only grow more and more passionate about my love for God’s word.

>121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.
123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

Our righteousness is no guarantee of salvation, either in the next life or in this one. Otherwise why would the Psalmist be reminding God both of his righteousness and his need to be rescued from oppressors. This realization can guard against a prosperity gospel, that says the better you are the more you will get whether it is money riches power or whatever. Of course God loves to take care of those who follow Him, just be weary of anyone who tries to sell you on a direct relationship between your faithfulness/righteous acts and reward.

I love how teachable the Psalmist is, there is a humility in his writings, even thought he makes no bones about calling the unrighteous-unrighteous or the evil-evil. Just because he loves God’s word clearly does not give him all the answers, only sets him on the way. And that love is deep.

>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.

God’s word is very important. The love of those who follow him. If you meet someone who claims to be a Christian, but doesn’t believe or know the Word, they probably are not a Christian. How could you claim to be modeling your life and never read that which you are to be modeling you life after? And if you do believe you won’t regret it. A hiding place and a shield.

Then there is the other side. Fear. I think of the line from Death Cab for Cutie, “She said that fear is the beginning of love, and I never went back.” Whether you like it or not fear of God is essential to knowing God. It is like standing before a strong storm, or a huge mountain. The power of it sends chils up your spine, now imagine it is personal.

>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 statutesforever, to the end.

Running has given me a clear picture of why we would need a lamp for our feet. A few weeks ago I had a very long run on the schedule. It was right after Taitum was born, and she woke us up at 4:00AM. After settling her down and Karin falling back asleep I realized I was wide awake so I decided to start my 20 miler. Most places you run you don’t need a lamp. There are street lights or no trees and the moon and sky light your way. I ran over to Golden Gardens park at the very beginning of my run. This is a beautiful location but I didn’t think through ahead of time that the path down the hill is not lit and tree covered so your are basically running in total blackness. Now I didn’t fall, but came very close twice. I could have used a lamp to light the way in that moment.

God’s words is that which lights our way so that we are able to chart a course. Make an oath and keep it with His strength he gives us. We can risk being very brave even with our life knowing he cares about it even more then we do at times. Our hearts have been changed so that we can honor God and follow his laws.

>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, 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.

Here is the delight the joy you find. It is not in simply being smarter than others that God gives so that we can look down our nose, but rather wiser. That those things encouraged in his word and especially the law make life better, and give us understand to have patience and perspective on where others are coming from.

One silly example is I don’t think Aidyn, my six year old daughter, would be as good of a reader if we did not read along with her in church every week. We also every Sunday read together as part of our Sabbath. Two very “religious” practices benefit our daughter in her school life. Are there other ways to do the same thing? Yes, but these are worked into a rhythm in which God has called us to live.

This rhythm also makes us delight in good. We long for good. Does this mean we always do it…hell no. But it is at the core desire of our hearts. One friend of mine would always says that you have never met someone who wants to please God more than him, these days I’d argue with him. That is at the core of my life and I have a long way to go in doing it consitantly, and in a way that is not about me, but I want that.