2023/08/11 – Psalm 119:89-176 - Wondrous Things in Your Law
Jerry Starling
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Reading: Psalm 119:89-176 – Wondrous Things in Your Law
Verse for Today:
(Psalm 119:97) Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all day.
Daily Devo
The Psalmist who wrote this Psalm loved God. That’s why he loved God’s law. For years, I thought he was legalistic. I had the wrong perspective. When I realized it was love driving the Psalmist to write, I saw beauty I’d never seen before. Hopefully, you will also see beautiful things in this Psalm if you doubted it before.
Lamedh: “If your law hadn’t been my delight, I would’ve perished in my affliction. (v.92) Knowing God’s law keeps us from perishing.
Mem: “I understand more than the aged, for I keep Your precepts. (v.100) Doing God’s will beats reading.
Nun: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (v.105) Light in darkness keeps us from stumbling.
Samekh: “I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.” (v.113) James said a double-minded man is unstable in everything.
Ayin: “Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love and teach me Your statutes. (v. 124) Teach because You love.
Pe: “My eyes shed streams of tears because people do not keep Your law. (v.136) Do I weep because people don’t keep God’s law?
Tsadhe: “Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.” (v.144) I know You’re righteous; give me abundant life.
Qoph: “Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life.” (v.149) Love and justice – attributes of God He wants me to have.
Resh: “The sum of Your word is Truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (v.160) Take all of God’s word, and you have Truth & Righteousness.
Sin & Shin: Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble. (v.165) We have peace when we love God and trust Jesus (Romans 5:1).
Taw: I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. (v.176) Let my cry come before You; give me understanding (v.169). Let my plea come before you; deliver me (v.170). My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me (v.170). My tongue will sing of Your word (v.172). Let Your hand be ready to help me (v.173). I long for Your salvation (v.174). Let my soul live and praise You; Your rules help me (v.175). Seek Your servant, for I do not forget your commandments (v.176b).
This final stanza shows several final pleas:
Give me understanding.
Deliver me.
You teach me.
Your commandments are right.
Be ready to help me.
I long for Your salvation, O LORD.
Let my soul live and praise You.
I’ve gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant.
These show the depth of the Psalmist’s love for God and His Word. Wouldn’t it be great if we had as much devotion to the Word of God as this unknown Psalmist did? If we had his devotion, we would be singing, praying, and doing much more than we are now practicing those things.
Pray for Your Self:
Father, teach me to live with Your Word as my constant companion and guide. This is my prayer, in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me):
Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words. I pray that each of us will look at the diligence of the Psalmist and come to love Your word as much as he did because he loved You. This is my prayer in the holy, precious name of Jesus who is Your Word made flesh and loved us enough to die for us to save us from the evil one and deliver us from this world of darkness. AMEN!
Updates for Central
Game Night will be August 19 beginning at 6:30. Bring your favorite game and be prepared for a lot of fun, fellowship, and camaraderie.
Our Next Potluck Fellowship will be August 27. Bring a dish to share, invite your family, friends, neighbors, and have good fellowship and food.
Son Quest will be Labor Day weekend, September 1-3. Final payment is due this Sunday. Make a check payable to the church, mark it for Son quest, and give it to Jerry Holder, Kendra Crist, or Susan Allen.
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our entire contribution that day will go to EEM to provide Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed almost two million Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They expect to have more this year. Ukraine also received $2 Million in benevolent help due to the war.
Prayer Requests
Belinda Pate went to the hospital after a fall. She's home but is not walking well.
Sarah, Bill Leavitt’s friend in the Philippines, has broken her hand and is in the hospital. He asks us to pray for her.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, came home yesterday. Now, pray for her rapid recovery.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. fell, injured his shoulder, and has been in the hospital since early last week. Ruth said Sunday he might be going into rehab soon. She needs prayers as much as Jesse.
Kristi Holder is slowly recovering from her surgery last Monday. It’s taking her longer than she expected, Jerry said, but she is over the initial shock.
Joy Bland came home from the hospital but has been seeing lots of doctors. She’s hoping to have an MRI soon. Saturday, she said she really needs prayers to help her through.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.