In His Grip

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.) "At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances."    Meditation and prayer are to be day and night (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2).   I have risen in the middle of the night and prayed often, but it wasn’t planned.   Although many times I have resented it, I realize that it is of You, Lord.   Ordinances here are judgments.   I find that, even though increasingly my default thoughts are toward You, the sinful flesh refuses to die.   This is Your means of strengthening me even as I sleep.   Yet, I need to make nightly delight in You a priority.   How do I get to the point of retiring and waking delighting in You?...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law."   ‘The cords of the wicked have encircled me’.   Emotion, or reality?   For the Christian, it is hard to tell, for our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), the world system has a different ruler (1 John 2:15-16, 1 John 3:13, 1 John 5:19), and we are hated in big and small ways because of Jesus (John 15:18-19).   I guess you could say there are ‘micro-aggressions’ which are debatable and macro-aggressions which are historical and very real today.   We are surrounded by this, and it challenges our perception of reality.   Should I just go along?   There is a sense in whi...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments."   Having sought Your favor (Psalm 119:58), considered his ways, and turned toward Your testimonies (Psalm 119:59), the Psalmist now takes action to obey swiftly.   We understand that the blessing is in the doing.   Psalm 1:1-2, Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:25, John 13:17, 14:21, Psalm 111:10.   As is often said by parents, ‘delayed obedience is not obedience’.   We don’t have other things to do before or in preparation for obedience, as important as we think those things may be (Luke 8:21, 10:42).    You are my King, and obedience is not only not optional, but it is the best possible option!   How...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies."   What godly man ever said, ‘I thought upon my ways, and justified myself.’?   While I explore the wonders of Your righteousness, I cannot help but see the depth of my sin and cry out, ‘Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statues!’ (Psalm 119:5).   I tell of my ways, but You answer decisively (Psalm 119:26), my ways may seem right to me even when they could not be more wrong (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 28:26, Jeremiah 17:7).   Save me from such delusion, even if it appears righteous (Jeremiah 10:8)!   In my pride my default is to consider my ways and explore them (see Psalm...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word."     A frequent heart cry!   Your favor is my very life.   Your agenda for me is the ultimate grace.   May I seek nothing less.   Favor here is the Hebrew ‘ פָּנֶה , pāneh, פָּנִים , pāniym: A masculine plural noun meaning a face. Although the literal meaning of face is possible (Gen 43:31; Lev 13:41; 1Ki 19:13), most of the time this word occurs in a figurative, idiomatic phrase. Face can be a substitute for the entire person (Exo 33:14-15);’   It occurs 121 times in Psalms, first in Psalm 4:6 as ‘countenance’, often as ‘before’ (see Psalm 62:8), ’presence’ (see Psalm 44:...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words."   Jesus was the ultimate example of this, John 4:34.   ‘Portion’ is the Hebrew ‘ חֵלֶק , ḥēleq: A masculine noun indicating a portion, a territory.’   Normally a portion is limited in some way.   But You, O Lord, are infinite!   This is used as ‘inheritance’ in Psalm 16:5, a forever portion in Psalm 73:26, and my portion in the land of the living, Psalm 142:5.   With You as my portion, I should be forever satisfied, freed from the desire for lesser things.   Because You are my portion, I take my fill in the means which You have provided, Your living word.   Unlike earthly food, which in ...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "This has become mine, That I observe Your precepts."   My most prized possession: Your word and its work in my heart and life.   Nothing desirable is compared to this (Proverbs 3:15) and diligence, particularly here, is a precious possession (Proverbs 12:27).   Treasures of inestimable value await (Proverbs 2:1-6).   The all-consuming pursuit of it, the price, pales in comparison to the eternal benefits.   ‘Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God.’   ‘God's work is its own wages. A heart to obey the will of God is a most valuable reward of obedience; ‘ [1]   ‘We are not rewarded for our works, but there is a r...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law."   This has become increasingly true of me as sin loses its luster and I can only be at peace if I am at peace with You (Isaiah 26:3).   I am experiencing practically that only righteousness satisfies (Matthew 5:6).   Praise Your name!   I remember Your goodness, Your character, Your promises.   I see more clearly that there is no life outside of You.   ‘Remember’ is the Hebrew ‘ זָכַר , zāḵar, מַזְכִּיר , mazkiyr: A verb meaning to remember, to mention, to recall, to think about, to think on, to be remembered, to recall, to acknowledge, to mention, to make known. The basic meaning indicates a pr...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "Your statutes are my songs In the house of my pilgrimage."   Something is wrong when Your word is not rejoiced in, and something wholly sweet and appropriate when it is.   Statutes are decrees, and pilgrimage has to do with sojourning.   I love this.   My source of joy is not the earthly place I dwell (Philippians 3:20, Psalm 49:11-12, Luke 12:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1) but in the One Who dwells in me (Ezekiel 36:27, John 14:17, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19)!   We look for a better country, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10-16).   Falsehood is all around me and makes me bitter.   Your decrees infuse me with truth a...

(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled ‘God and His Word’.   The introduction can be found here , successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)   "Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked, Who forsake Your law."   In Zayin (Psalm 119:49-56), the Psalmist moves from affliction to derision to indignation to rejoicing in praise, all by the work of Your word.   Here we must turn to Psalm 119:51; my focus must always be on You, both because my soul cannot sustain burning indignation nor the utter derision of people in my own strength.   A wonderful example is found in Jeremiah 20:8-9.   Here Jeremiah laments that the word of the Lord has resulted in reproach and derision constantly.   Yet, it is far worse for him to hold it in than to proclaim it.   ‘Burning indignation’ is the Hebrew ‘ זַלְעָ...