[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[12:34, 16/09/2022] S. R.:
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟟
"I shall give thanks to You
with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments."
Somehow, I have come to believe since
when I was much younger that God is right, just, and good in everything He
does. I have also come to believe that I ought to bless His name, praise Him,
and thank Him. I have also committed to doing them.
How wonderful it is when it is done
with a joyful heart! How wonderful it is to do not just in faith but in
understanding.
The psalmist is devoted to the word
of God so that he may understand and enjoy God. Apostle Paul also said about
the importance of understanding in 1 Cor. 14:15
#Faith ➕ Understanding
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟙
"Your word I have treasured in
my heart, That I may not sin against You."
Not just knowing but treasuring the
word of God. Valuing it, cherishing it, holding it firmly. That's how to avoid
sin, to flee from sin.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟛
"Even though princes sit and
talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes."
Meditation on the word of God is a
more serious business than even the threat of princes.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟟
"Make me understand the way of
Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders."
It's difficult to delight in things
one does not understand. It's not easy even to obey God when one doesn't
understand why.
The psalmist asked God to let him
understand His word so that he may continue to delight in it.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟛𝟞-𝟛𝟟
"Incline my heart to Your
testimonies And not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at
vanity, And revive me in Your ways."
The psalmist asked not just for
understanding but for a will to follow God. And he also asked for the ability
to do.
Oh! How we ought to pray like the
psalmist. Especially to turn away our eyes from vanity, yes, that includes
social media, news, YouTube, internet, phone. Many things we do on the phone
are vanity.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟜𝟛
"And do not take the word of
truth utterly out of my mouth, For I wait for Your ordinances."
The Psalmist prays that he will not
shy away from the word of God. There were some situations I wonder how to
comfort or exhort some people. To quote a Scripture looks like it's
superficial, for it seemed like we have been talking a lot about Bible. And I
would look for a hilarious meme to break the ice. This verse is my prayer too.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟝𝟛
"Burning indignation has
seized me because of the wicked, Who forsake Your law."
The psalmist hates those who hate
God because he loved God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟞𝟛
"I am a companion of all those
who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts."
Friends influence one another.
Therefore, it's right to stay away from a bad companion. However, I do hang out
with some people who aren't that good with the hope that I can influence them.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟟𝟙-𝟟𝟚
"It is good for me that I was
afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to
me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces."
Clinging to the word of God even if
it leads to suffering because God's word is better.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟟𝟜
"May those who fear You see me
and be glad, Because I wait for Your word."
This is also my prayer. And I would
expect any God-fearing person will be praying the same!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟠𝟚
"My eyes fail with longing for
Your word, While I say, 'When will You comfort me?'"
No matter the size and pain of
one's burden, it's not difficult to understand this confession. We are to live
beyond sight, by faith. Where there's faith, there's hope, there's an expectation.
It's appropriate to seek comfort from Him!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟡𝟚
"If Your law had not been my
delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction."
Indeed, there's nothing that
comforts the soul more than the word of God. There's even comfort in arguing with
God (like Job and Jeremiah) yet trusting him.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟘𝟘
"I understand more than the
aged, Because I have observed Your precepts."
A young person should be saturated with
the word of God if he would like to command respect from the elders. Hmmm! 🙂
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟘𝟝
"Your word is a lamp to my
feet And a light to my path."
There's light for those who know
the word of God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟙𝟝
"Depart from me, evildoers,
That I may observe the commandments of my God."
We need to cut ties with wicked
people to practice righteousness.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟚𝟟
"Therefore I love Your
commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold."
My conscience agrees with me that
this is my confession as well!
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟛𝟘
"The unfolding of Your words
gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."
Scriptures aren't tough for
studious hearts. In fact, it's for the simple to gain understanding.
There's no excuse for anyone who
doesn't know and doesn't delight in the word of God.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟜𝟛
"Trouble and anguish have come
upon me, Yet Your commandments are my delight."
Godly people are proven by their
faithfulness towards God in their troubled times, hardly in their prosperity.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟜𝟟-𝟙𝟜𝟠
"I rise before dawn and cry
for help; I wait for Your words. My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I
may meditate on Your word."
If the godly psalmist had such a longing
moment, I am sure it's okay for me to feel the indifference of God sometimes.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟞𝟘
"The sum of Your word is
truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting."
Every word of God is inspired and
authoritative.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟞𝟝
"Those who love Your law have
great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble."
Are we so busy in life that we
don't get to read the Bible every day? Well, would be hindering blessings from
above.
ℙ𝕤𝕒𝕝𝕞
𝟙𝟙𝟡:𝟙𝟟𝟘
"Let my supplication come
before You; Deliver me according to Your word."
Godly prayer is more objective and
less subjective. It's because of who God is and what God says. Not because of
who we are or how we pray.
[07:33, 09/10/2022] S. R.: I've not
decided what to update next after a series on Psalm 119. Maybe, I will take a
break in this group.