Let Your Steadfast Love Comfort Me

“Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!”– Psalm 119:73-80

If you have been paying close attention you will have noticed that I have obviously been back in one of my favorite parts of the Bible, Psalm 119 of late, as weekly I have given one or two devotions from this most amazing Psalm. My time with the Lord often brings me back to this section of Scripture especially when I listen to you and consider all the troubles that we “find” ourselves in these days. For it is in His Word that we “find” hope and comfort and Psalm 119 is written to remind us of this.

David begins today saying, “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.” David recognizes in the midst of troubles and affliction he is brought to remember that God “made and fashioned” him so he is God’s. And as such he also knows that God through His Holy Spirit gives Him understanding of God’s commandments…God’s revealed will. Since the first point is true, therefore the second one is as well.  This is stated to the congregation that he is addressing as hope and comfort in the midst of the affliction God brings into our lives. For he says, “Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” He knows God has placed him in such a public place so others can take hope from him as he takes hope in God and His Word.

To this he says in the midst of affliction. “I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.  Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.” God disciplines those He loves…(this too is a promise to His servants)…so that we will turn back to Him for comfort and assurance. A small child who is disciplined properly will always run into their parents arms afterwards. But God also disciplines us because He is working out our sanctification preparing us for our real home where there will be no more pain or stress and we will be with Him and His people forever. God’s steadfast love is His covenantal promise to His people and this fact comforts David…enabling him to endure, to enjoy, and to seek life when everything around him tells him otherwise. 

David also knows and accepts the promise of God’s justice as well, “Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.” This is something we would do well to take in and remember, for we are not called to revenge but we are called to seek God by meditating on His precepts…and His justice will prevail.

Next David says, “Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.” He is asking God to let the people see him in his distress so they can see him comforted by God and His Word. It is the answer to the old question; “How do I know what a Christian looks like?” And we should be willing and able to say to that person, “Watch my life!” Twice in the short section he asks God to let the people see…really see… his life. David is asking God to help him deal with the affliction before the people in a way that brings God glory and gives hope to the people…he is also asking God to let the people see how he deals with his enemies, “May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!” so that they can have an example for how the Christian life is to be lived in a world full of trauma, crisis, affliction and opposition.

It is easy for even me to start whining and feeling like everything is ganging up on me, but then God’s Word reminds me that I have a greater purpose…to love the LORD with all that I am, thanking Him for my very breath, my very soul, and even my affliction with the expectation that I will love my neighbor…well. And my neighbor? “Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” By focusing on God I can and will overcome in His time and in His way…by focusing on y’all, I will be energized to fulfill the calling I have been given.

I exist for God’s glory and for y’all. Praise be to God for reminding me once again. I pray that what I do will be the example to all y’all that leads you to Christ today and every day. So today, praise the LORD for all that He has done, is doing and will do for us His people so that we might be a blessing to Him and to those around us.

God bless y’all!

In His Grip,
Pastor Mike