In His Grip

Tsadhe. Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. [138] You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness And exceeding faithfulness. [139] My zeal has consumed me, Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words. [140] Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. [141] I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. [142] Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. [143] Trouble and anguish have come upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight. [144] Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live."   (Psalm 119:137-144)   Righteous (vv. 137-138, 142, 144), exceedingly faithful (v. 138), pure (v. 140), everlasting (vv. 142, 144), truth (v. 142), a delight (v. 143) are You and Your word.   As You are, so is Your word (Psalm 138:2), so is Your praise (Psalm 48:10, Psalm 119:48).   Because of this reality, zeal overtakes a

"Pe. Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. [130] The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. [131] I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. [132] Turn to me and be gracious to me, After Your manner with those who love Your name. [133] Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. [134] Redeem me from the oppression of man, 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 water, Because they do not keep Your law."   (Psalm 119:129-136)   This is certainly for the overwhelmed.   I need understanding, satisfaction, grace, freedom, and favor - and all are found in You.   Your word is the only thing we can gorge ourselves on and still be healthy - in fact, the more You fill us, the healthier we are!   It is not

"Ayin. I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. [122] Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the arrogant oppress me. [123] My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation And for Your righteous word. [124] Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness 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 they have broken Your law. [127] Therefore I love Your commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold. [128] Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way."   (Psalm 119:121-128)   Our doing is all of Your doing through Your word (see also Isaiah 26:12, 1 Corinthians 1:30, James 1:18).   The Psalmist has done righteousness and justice, seeking Your protection, knowing that Your enemies are his enemies (vv. 121-122).   He knows that he h

"Samekh. I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law. [114] You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. [115] Depart from me, evildoers, That I may observe the commandments of my God. [116] Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. [117] Uphold me that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Your statutes continually. [118] You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless. [119] You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. [120] My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments."   (Psalms 119:113-120)   So much distracts within and without:   the double-minded (v. 113), evildoers (v. 115), inner shame (v. 116), inner fear (v. 117), the deceitfulness of those who wander (v. 118).   Yet this recognition leads to both restraint (see P

"Nun. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. [106] I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances. [107] I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. [108] O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your ordinances. [109] My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. [110] The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. [111] I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart. [112] I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, even to the end."   (Psalm 119:105-112)   No sooner had the Psalmist recognized the light of Your word (v. 105) and resolved to follow it (v. 106) than that resolve was severely tested through inner affliction (v. 107) outward danger (v. 109) and the snares of the wicked (v. 110).   The light grew dim for him bu

"Mem. O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [98] Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. [99] I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. [100] I understand more than the aged, Because I have observed Your precepts. [101] I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. [102] I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me. [103] How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! [104] From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way."   (Psalms 119:97-104)   As one committed to the continual counsel of Your word (see Psalm 119:24), the Psalmist loved it and experienced its immense benefits on earth: 1) Wisdom above his enemies because he held it close (v. 98), 2) Insight above his teachers because of his meditation (v. 99), and 3) u

"Lamedh. Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. [90] Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. [91] They stand this day according to Your ordinances, For all things are Your servants. [92] If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction. [93] I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me. [94] I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. [95] The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies. [96] I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad."   (Psalms 119:89-96)   You established Your word (v. 89) and Your world (v. 90) as an eternal, active foundation for all of life (v. 91).   It is so sure and so personal that Your active word has both preserved (v. 92) and revived (v. 93) me.   Because of this sure foundation, I seek You to sav

"Kaph. My soul languishes for Your salvation; I wait for Your word. [82] My eyes fail with longing for Your word, While I say, "When will You comfort me?" [83] Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes. [84] How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? [85] The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law. [86] All Your commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help me! [87] They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts. [88] Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth."   (Psalms 119:81-88)     The Psalmist goes from death to life, from hopelessness to hope, from darkness to light.   Internally his soul languishes (v. 81), his eyes fail (v. 82), and his flesh suffers (v. 83), and yet he waite

"Yodh. Your hands made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. [74] May those who fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word. [75] I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. [76] O may Your lovingkindness comfort me, According to Your word to Your servant. [77] May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight. [78] May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts. [79] May those who fear You turn to me, Even those who know Your testimonies. [80] May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, So that I will not be ashamed."   (Psalm 119:73-80)   What precious words of comfort and companionship!   We see Your nearness in fashioning me (v. 73) and my circumstances (v. 75).   You comfort me with Your word (vv. 76-77) and protect me from the infl