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We come to Psalm 119 Verses 17 – 24 . Someone has called these words pure prayer - use these words at times in your prayers - at home – in Prayer Meetings and Worship Services. “Lord, do good to us Your servant this day - and we will live - we will obey Your Word - we vow that - we promise that - we say that together - this is what we will do, O GOD.”

Here again is a recent translation/paraphrase – each line begins with G

Grant me Your favour and I will live giving honour to Your Word.

Graciously endow me with light to see the wonder of your Word.

Going alone on this earth may I have the security of Your commands.

Great yearning for Your laws constantly overwhelms me.

Grim are the prospects of the arrogant who are cursed and stray from Your commands.

Guidance by Your statutes keeps scorn and contempt from me.

Governors may unite in their slander of me, but Your servant will meditate on Your decrees.

Glory flows through Your statutes; they are my counsellors.

Trials are arising - difficulties are beginning to appear - as the Psalmist makes his ways through these verses - he has been meditating - contemplating - committing himself to serving The Living God - but we see in these verses some of the problems which he faced - and which we too face, as disciples of Jesus.

And if he did not receive the blessing of God - the goodness of God - the presence of God - he would not make it. And - he wants to live as a servant of GOD. And - to do this he realizes that he needs to pray - has to pray - must pray. He knows he cannot serve GOD in his own strength alone. The king is willing to be a servant.

See Jesus in that picture – the King - yet, touching the leper - teaching the disciples by taking the towel and washing their feet.

We are beginning to see throughout this Psalm, links in a chain - Blessing in verse 1 - but how can it be found? Verse 9 - and now we are led right to the source.

Verse 18 – The Psalmist appeals to GOD - personally and directly. Open my eyes - we have to ask God to do that - sometimes we can read the Bible and it can look like the telephone directory - but when we ask JESUS to open our eyes - and with this purpose in mind - then, we may be able to see wonderful things in His Law.

‘Law’ signifies INSTRUCTION - let me see your instructions – like looking at a packet - a tin - “Let me see the instructions on the label”. Many people see nothing in this Book - and others only see what they want to see - and some see certain truths - and wish they weren’t there.

And remember, he only had part of what we have. His prayer implies that he finds it difficult to see the glories of God’s Word - and that there is veil that needs to be lifted - a cataract that needs to be removed. The veil is not on the Book - but on our eyes – and over our hearts.

We hear people say - “I cannot see that - that is not how I see it.” The Psalmist does not blame the Book - he asks GOD to open his eyes, that he may see. The Hebrew says - UNVEIL MY EYES. GOLD MUCH FINE GOLD.

“Give us sight to see”. Light comes - and then we begin to see more and more.

Believers do not complain about the obscurity of The Word of God - about it being hard - but of their own blindness. The defect is not in The Word - but in ourselves.

There are wonderful things in these verses - in these pages. This is not dry dull boring irrelevant stuff.

Verse 19 – The Psalmist realises he is but a stranger on earth - we are only here for around 70 years - then comes further prayer - “Do not hide your commands from me.” No matter where he went - he was a stranger. We go into situations at times - and we wonder why we are there - we feel out of things - we realise that we too are strangers - that this is not our home - that this environment is so unlike what GOD wants us to enjoy. Paul knew this - yet, we are to be a light in that darkness - and influence that situation as salt does in food. But SALT in the NEW TESTAMENT did more than that – because of the high potash content, when spread on the fields, it acted as a fertiliser – and when spread on the latrine it acted as a disinfectant.

As salt of the earth, we are called to encourage the growth of good stuff, and prevent the spread of bad stuff.

Does GOD ever hide His truth? Would HE do it? But - the man who wants to know what GOD has to say - GOD in His Grace reveals His Truth - reveals His truths - bit by bit. When a person wants to know His Truths - and seeks and searches - HE REVEALS.

These words remind us that this is not our home - but they also teach us how to live while we remain in this world. Peter has much to teach us on this in his letters.

And - if these go - what have we? For us it is Jesus Christ - if we have not JESUS, what have we?

Verse 20 – I want to know Your ways - Your Word - this is what I long for - this is what I so wish. It was a constant feeling - steady - habitual - there all the time. Let me not lose Your word! It is The Word which guides us to the place where our GOD dwells - it is Jesus Who guides us to God the Father. We can endure much when we know we are walking with our God - we can carry our Cross when we know it is the Cross of Jesus. Prize the Word - in good times - for times of sadness and seasons of adversity. This is the day to treasure God’s Word.

Yes, Lord, open my eyes - and may your Word never be out of my sight - may I always be able to see spiritually. Longing can be at the very heart of prayer - desiring - wanting the things of GOD.

Verse 21 – And GOD rebukes - GOD deals with the arrogant - who are cursed - and who stray and wander. Remember Pharoah - or Herod.
People try to challenge GOD as if they were some sort of champion - or they provoke HIM like a rebel. This is a verse which many might wish were not there - that is why we need the whole of the Bible - to arrive at a complete picture of GOD.

The God of the Psalm is the same God of the New Testament.

Verse 22 – Were people scorning him - ridiculing him - treating him with contempt? YES - and these can be painful experiences. Deal with this O, GOD. God either removes slander - or takes the sting out of it. And if we try to defend ourselves - and try to clear our reputation - it can be like the little boy who tried to remove the blot from his book - his bungling attempt made it ten times worse. A worse mess resulted.

Even those who keep The Word of God can be slandered - and that can be grievous - sore - and heavy to bear. Yes, we will experience reproach. If we are innocent - we can legitimately ask GOD to clear our name. “Roll it off me”.

Verse 23 – O, yes, all this was going on - and do we not know something of this? Falsely accused - as Jesus was. People were after the king - out to get him - and if we are close to Jesus - and people are firing arrows at Jesus Christ the King - do not be surprised if some wound you.

The nearer you are to the king, the more likely you are to be hit. Remember how men conspired against Jesus - and plotted to have HIM crucified. Our weapons are The Word of God and Prayer. I will continue to meditate upon your word - there is a determination here - there is a faithfulness here - which today is scarce. We need the Word of God more than we think.

There are two pictures in this verse - princes sitting conspiring against the king - and David sitting meditating upon God’s Word - answering the critics and conspirators by never answering at all.

Verse 24 – This Word is my delight - he is expressing emotions - but it is MORE - here is what I look to - for counsel - for guidance - for comfort - for strength. While his enemies took counsel with each other - David took counsel with GOD. The Hebrew actually says - MEN OF MY COUNSEL.

David does not give up The Word of God - learn from that. It was their delight to slander - and to tear to bits. It was his delight to meditate as he turned to GOD for help. The Statutes of God lead on to DELIGHT. And - The Word applies to every situation in our lives.

I remember that day when I saw that every New Testament letter began with “GRACE AND PEACE”. You can use that anywhere - at a wedding - at a funeral - no matter where you are, that greeting is appropriate.

In Verse 16 he says ‘I will delight’ - now they have become that - after he had worked at it - and made it a priority in his life. What he aimed for - he had now attained - and that seldom comes easily. But with God’s help - it is possible.

“Lord God – let me find what I am looking for – the Psalmist is delighted in Your Word, and he finds it delightful. May that be my experience more and more – as I read and meditate upon what is written in these pages – and as I serve help me to share the light and love of Jesus.” Amen.

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - February 25 - March 1