Psalm 119 - Qoph: Heart Cry

Qoph. I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!

I will observe Your statutes.

[146] I cried to You; save me

And I shall keep Your testimonies.

[147] I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I wait for Your words.

[148] My eyes anticipate the night watches,

That I may meditate on Your word.

[149] Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;

Revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.

[150] Those who follow after wickedness draw near;

They are far from Your law.

[151] You are near, O LORD,

And all Your commandments are truth.

[152] Of old I have known from Your testimonies

That You have founded them forever." 

(Psalm 119:145-152)

 

The sacrificial cry here is echoed in Proverbs 2:1-5, particularly v.3.  Note the sacrifice of heart (v. 145), desperate need (v. 146), and sleep (v. 147) due to the anticipated benefit (v. 148).  The Psalmist would be revived (v. 149), protected (vv. 150-151), and grounded (v. 152).  Reflecting on v. 151, since Your nearness is the ultimate good (Psalm 73:28), and there is no truth apart from You (Psalm 31:5), we are strong and secure.

 

‘This section is given up to memories of prayer. The Psalmist describes the time and the manner of his devotions, and pleads with God for deliverance from his troubles. He who has been with God in the closet will find God with him in the furnace. If we have cried we shall be answered. Delayed answers may drive us to importunity; but we need not fear the ultimate result, since God's promises are not uncertain, but are “founded for ever.” The whole passage shows us: How he prayed (Psa 119:145). What he prayed for (Psa 119:146). When he prayed (Psa 119:147). How long he prayed (Psa 119:148). What he pleaded (Psa 119:149). What happened (Psa 119:150). How he was rescued (Psa 119:151). What was his witness as to the whole matter (Psa 119:152).’[1]


[1] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119 - Qoph, e-Sword edition

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God and His Wisdom: An Introduction to Proverbs

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To  know  wisdom and discipline, To  understand  the sayings of understanding, To  receive  discipline that leads to insight, Righteousness, justice, and equity, To  give  prudence to the simple, To the youth knowledge and discretion; Let the wise man  hear  and  increase  in learning, And a man of understanding will  acquire  guidance, To  understand  a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:1-7 LSB, with emphasis)   “My son, if you will  receive  my words And  treasure  my commandments within you, To  make your ear pay attention  to wisdom, Incline your heart  to discernment; For if you  call out  for understanding, Give your voice  for discernment; If you  seek  her as silver And  search  for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh And find the knowledge of God
Read more

Friendship with the World

"The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' ( - Jesus, Luke 7:34 NASB) 'You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.' (James 4:4 NASB) 'It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.' ( - the Apostle Paul, 1 Timothy 1:15 NASB) Was Jesus, in fact, a friend of sinners? What is to be the nature of our relationships as believers with unbelievers? As believers, should we refer to ourselves as ‘sinners’? As I've reflected on much of the teaching I've heard in recent times, as well as many conversations I've had, it seems to me much confusion abounds regarding these questions.  I hear the term 'contextualization'
Read more

Precious in the Sight of the Lord

Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones.  (Psalm 116:15 NASB) I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  (the Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:31 NASB) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"   (John 11:25-26 NASB)      Does anyone die too young?      By some accounts, Jesus did.  I have friends and family members for whom many have said that they died an untimely death or that they 'died too young'.  As for me, in many ways I feel that I did not die young enough, so to speak.  Please indulge me to explain.      As I write this, I am in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where my family lived from 1983 - 1999.  When I was in college, my parents went into full time ministry here in the Pittsburgh area with the Navigators.  By many accounts it was a fruitful tim
Read more