Psalm 119, pt II: Strengthen me according to Your word

From Psalms

Psalm 119, verses 17-32 

(Gimel)
¹⁷Deal bountifully with thy servant,
      that I may live, and keep thy word.
¹⁸Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
      wondrous things out of thy law.
¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth:
      hide not thy commandments from me.
²⁰My soul breaketh for the longing
      that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
²¹Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
      which do err from thy commandments.
²²Remove from me reproach and contempt;
      for I have kept thy testimonies.
²³Princes also did sit and speak against me:
      but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
²⁴Thy testimonies also are my delight
      and my counselors.

(Daleth)
²⁵My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
      quicken thou me according to thy word.
²⁶I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me:
      teach me thy statutes.
²⁷Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:
      so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
²⁸My soul melteth for heaviness:
      strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
²⁹Remove from me the way of lying:
      and grant me thy law graciously.
³⁰I have chosen the way of truth:
      thy judgments have I laid before me.
³¹I have stuck unto thy testimonies:
      O Lord, put me not to shame.
³²I will run the way of thy commandments,
      when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Strengthen me according to Your word, Oh Lord.  Remove from me the way of lying.  I really appreciate this term, "they way of lying."  It's not just remove the lies from from my life - but the way of lying from me.  That includes the cheating, the lying, the deception, the hiding and covering up, the stealing - all the ways of lying.  Because if I can have god remove from me the way of lying then I can be truer to myself and to the person God intends for me to be.

I am choosing the way of truth.  And truly I need to be strengthened to have the courage to live truthfully.  Sometimes it is so much easier to hide from the tough decisions and the truth.  God's word and judgments I have laid before me.

As I read this part of Psalm 119 I get the sense that the psalmist is crying out to God.  Possibly because, as I read it, I feel like I am crying out to God for this support.  Why is it I still struggle with "the way of lying."  That I feel I must hide and cover-up, deceive and steal.  What is it I am afraid of?  I guess it varies from situation to situation but I still have fear in my life.  Fear of authority, fear of failure, and fear of rejection.  There is nothing logical about any of this fear but I still have it.  And so it is I turn to God, again, and ask for Him to quicken me and strengthen me to overcome these fears so that I can live the way of truth.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 119, pt I: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

From Psalms

^{Psalm 119}
(Aleph)
¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
      who walk in the law of the Lord.
²Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
      and that seek him with the whole heart.
³They also do no iniquity:
      they walk in his ways.
⁴Thou hast commanded us
      to keep thy precepts diligently.
⁵O that my ways were directed
      to keep thy statutes!
⁶Then shall I not be ashamed,
      when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
⁷I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,
      when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
⁸I will keep thy statutes:
      O forsake me not utterly.

(Beth)
⁹Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
      by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee:
      O let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
      that I might not sin against thee.
¹²Blessed art thou, O Lord:
      teach me thy statutes.
¹³With my lips have I declared
      all the judgments of thy mouth.
¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,
      as much as in all riches.
¹⁵I will meditate in thy precepts,
      and have respect unto thy ways.
¹⁶I will delight myself in thy statutes:
      I will not forget thy word.

I have finally made it to Psalm 119. The mother of all psalms.  With 176 verses it will be a journey within a journey.  Not only is it the longest psalm, it's also the longest chapter in the entire bible.  It's enough to make me procrastinate just thinking about.  I have yet to even scan all of my writings on it.  However, it's uniqueness is not just in its length.  Or the fact that it's 22 sections start with the sequential letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  The uniqueness is that each of its lament, praise, vindication, and deliverance requests are grounded in God's word, the Bible (or in the case of the Old Testament, The Torah) itself.  It's a prayer of
and for somebody who delights in and lives by the sacred law of the Bible/Torah.

So, I guess it should be no surprise that such a large part of my recovery was supported by my work in Psalms.  I can truly understand relate to psalmist in these first two sections.  I have kept God's word hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against Him.  I have rejoiced in the way of God's sacred word and testimonies as much as in all riches.  I see that the Psalms have brought more to my life than any material riches.  So, I meditate on the precepts and respect unto God's ways.  It delightful for me to read and I will always remember God's word.

 Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 118 (KJV):The Lord is my strength and song, and has become my salvation

From Psalms

Psalm 118

¹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
      because his mercy endureth for ever.

²Let Israel now say,
      that his mercy endureth for ever.
³Let the house of Aaron now say,
      that his mercy endureth for ever.
⁴Let them now that fear the LORD say,
      that his mercy endureth for ever.

⁵I called upon the LORD in distress:
      the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
⁶The LORD is on my side; I will not fear:
      what can man do unto me?
⁷The LORD taketh my part with them that help me:
      therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

⁸It is better to trust in the LORD
      than to put confidence in man.
⁹It is better to trust in the LORD
      than to put confidence in princes.

¹⁰All nations compassed me about:
      but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
¹¹They compassed me about;
      yea, they compassed me about:
      but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
¹²They compassed me about like bees:
      they are quenched as the fire of thorns:
      for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

¹³Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall:
      but the LORD helped me.
¹⁴The LORD is my strength and song,
      and is become my salvation.

¹⁵The voice of rejoicing and salvation
      is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
      the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
¹⁶The right hand of the LORD is exalted:
      the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

¹⁷I shall not die, but live,
      and declare the works of the LORD.
¹⁸The LORD hath chastened me sore:
      but he hath not given me over unto death.

¹⁹Open to me the gates of righteousness:
      I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
²⁰This gate of the LORD,
      into which the righteous shall enter.
²¹I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me,
      and art become my salvation.

²²The stone which the builders refused
      is become the head stone of the corner.
²³This is the LORD's doing;
      it is marvellous in our eyes.
²⁴This is the day which the LORD hath made;
      we will rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD:
      O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
²⁶Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:
      we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
²⁷God is the LORD,
      which hath shewed us light:
bind the sacrifice with cords,
      even unto the horns of the altar.

²⁸Thou art my God, and I will praise thee:
      thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

²⁹O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
      for his mercy endureth for ever.

Some mornings are harder than others.  On those mornings its important to remember that God has his hand on me.  Because I find when I start the day off right, meaning with a good prayer, things seem to fall into place and the distractions which usually lead me to my addictions seem to fall away.  I have to agree with Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said that psalms are best read on your knees in prayer.  In fact, I think he said that's the only way to read them.  However, when I read the psalm 118 though I'm reminded that it can actually be sung (I think this actually from psalm 107 - but the opening line is the same as verse 1).

My point is connecting with God early in the day is very important because it sets the tone for the rest of the day.  It reminds me to be His light.  It reminds me of my covenant with Him and His blessings and gifts for me.  It reminds me no matter how hard, or how confusing, my struggles get I can always call on Him.  That he has saved me when I have called on Him in the past.  That I, like all of us, am one of His children and He will continue to guide me.

In my prayers I pray for not only me, but for anyone who needs His guidance and support.  That we may find Him in the people in our lives, to teach us His way, and to set us free.

Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 117 (KJV): His merciful kindness is great toward us

From Psalms

Psalm 117

¹O praise the LORD, all ye nations:
      praise him, all ye people.
²For his merciful kindness is great toward us:
      and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

Praise ye the LORD.

Today, I am not going to dwell in the shortest psalm of the Bible.  In fact, I'm going to try to keep this as short and simple as possible.  For today I am very grateful that today's psalm is only two verses long.  Praise the Lord for his merciful kindness is great and the truth of his word will endure forever.  Amen.
Thanks for letting me share.

Psalm 116 (KJV): I am thy servant, thou hast loosed my bonds

From Psalms

Psalm 116

¹I love the LORD, because he hath heard
      my voice and my supplications.
²Because he hath inclined his ear unto me,
      therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

³The sorrows of death compassed me,
      and the pains of hell gat hold upon me:
      I found trouble and sorrow.
⁴Then called I upon the name of the LORD;
      O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

⁵Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
      yea, our God is merciful.
⁶The LORD preserveth the simple:
      I was brought low, and he helped me.

⁷Return unto thy rest, O my soul;
      for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

⁸For thou hast delivered my soul from death,
      mine eyes from tears,
      and my feet from falling.
⁹I will walk before the LORD
      in the land of the living.
¹⁰I believed, therefore have I spoken:
      I was greatly afflicted:
¹¹I said in my haste,
      All men are liars.

¹²What shall I render unto the LORD
      for all his benefits toward me?
¹³I will take the cup of salvation,
      and call upon the name of the LORD.
¹⁴I will pay my vows unto the LORD
      now in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵Precious in the sight of the LORD
      is the death of his saints.
¹⁶O LORD, truly I am thy servant;
      I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid:
      thou hast loosed my bonds.

¹⁷I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
      and will call upon the name of the LORD.
¹⁸I will pay my vows unto the LORD
      now in the presence of all his people.
¹⁹In the courts of the LORD's house,
     in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

Praise ye the LORD.

Indeed, I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my cries for help.  In so many ways psalm 116 truly reflects the emotions I have with God.  Let me share a few of them with you.

He listens to these cries (and works in my life) so I will call on him forever - (verses 1 and 2).  Addiction is a horrible place (verse 3) - and thankfully I have not seen the same place I was in when I started this journey.  So I am owe God my life I am his servant (verse 16).  I know that I can always rely on the name of the Lord and when I am in need I will call on his name. (verse 17)  Here I am paying my vows unto the Lord...in the presence of his people (verse 18).

Thanks for letting me share.