“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules. I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” Psalm 119:41-48
The psalmist, David, speaks to his God in the midst of conflict…either with people or within himself concerning his own sin or some tragedy that threatens to unravel his world. He feels alone so he cries out to the only One he can… “Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise…” David knows what he needs and he knows without it he will have no hope.
God has promised His love to us… a love that is defined by His salvation according to His own Word…His standard…His definition. It is in this love and assurance that he will be able to stand against whatever foes are tempting him or whatever tragedy has struck. Even in the midst of severe trials he knows it is with this love and assurance according to God’s Word that he can stand, “…then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.”
Wow, we are always wondering what to say to God because of our sin…or we are wondering what to say to God when others stand against us… or what to say to God in our tragedy and right here David tells us where our answers are to come from…God’s Word. And then he reiterates that claim, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.”
Since God has kept His Word in his mouth (read also in the word mouth… heart) David says he will, “…keep your law continually, forever and ever…” Since God’s Word is his life line in so many hard things his desire is to live by that Word all the days of his life. Oh, that that would be the desire of God’s Church today.
By keeping this law continually he will also, “…walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.” This phrase, “a wide place” has multiple meanings, not the least of which is that it speaks of a wide place, a stable place, to stand that gives security to us who walk it and stand and fight…so that we do not need to fear falling off the path…the whole wide place is God’s path in this instance. This is all because we have God’s precepts…His Word that encourages us, strengthens us and gives us clear marching order as we deal with hardship every day in one way or another.
With God’s word in his mouth and his heart and walking securely he can not only endure the problems and tragedies at hand but he will also share his faith with…other kings, “I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.” When the Christian lives on through tragedy and turmoil continually giving praise to God that testimony of faith gives others around you pause to wonder how? What do they have that I don’t have? And by our life and words, even in the tragedies of life, we can give answer for the hope within us.
And lastly at the end of the day…or maybe in the middle of the day…or maybe at the beginning of the day, he says, “I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” For, in His need, once again, He knows where His strength and refuge is found…in God’s Word. Even in hardship…whatever that may be… God’s Word is so important to him and so important to communicate it correctly that he is constantly referring to God’s Word so that he might exercise His faith in a way that glorifies His God and is a blessing to others.
God’s Word does speak to us today and every day. So seek it today, you and your family, and let God give you the answers you need and you can start right here in Psalm 119.
God Bless you this day.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
