Lord Jesus, thank you for the church and for the privilege that is mine to worship you freely. I pray for those in hard places who do not enjoy the freedom I have; please bless them with a profound sense of your pleasure today.
Read PSALM 119:113–128
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
ס Samekh
113 I hate double-minded people,
but I love your law.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
115 Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.
117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
I will always have regard for your decrees.
118 You reject all who stray from your decrees,
for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;
therefore I love your statutes.
120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your laws.
ע Ayin
121 I have done what is righteous and just;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Ensure your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.
125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
126 It is time for you to act, Lord;
your law is being broken.
127 Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,
128 and because I consider all your precepts right,
I hate every wrong path.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘It is time for you to act, Lord; your law is being broken.’1 May we be willing to let God have his way.
Think Further
This amazing poem exalts the Word of God in each verse. The psalmist is excited about the Law of the Lord, his promises, statutes, decrees, commands, and precepts. They are valued more than gold (v. 127). Their impact leads directly to the fear of God (v. 120), causing the psalmist to tremble. The fear of the Lord may be misunderstood today, but it is the place where we find wisdom.2 God delights in those who fear him. The New Testament equivalent of fear is ‘reverence,’ which helps us to understand the place of the fear of God in assisting us in seeking holiness in our lives.3 In Psalm 119 it leads directly to a deep, trembling awe and wonder at the reality of our God revealed in his Word.
In the second stanza we see that the writer is under attack. He is afraid for his well-being and is being oppressed by arrogant enemies (vv. 121, 122). You may also be enduring opposition from those who dislike the faith you have been sharing. The writer prays that God will deal with his own heart, though, asking the Lord to furnish him with discernment through his reading of the Scriptures (v. 125). Then there comes a point where he holds up his hands, admitting that he is powerless in these circumstances. He concludes that only God can help him and asks the Lord to act on his behalf (v. 126). This moment of surrender is vital to coping with oppression. It came to Peter on Galilee when he realized that he was sinking and cried, ‘Lord, save me!’4 Sometimes all we can do is pray, believing that God will act in ways that we could never do. Hearts can never be unlocked from the outside, only from the inside. Only God’s Spirit can go there.5
Apply
Hand over your circumstances to God in surrender today. ‘It is time for you to act, Lord’ may become the prayer key to significant change for you too.
Closing prayer
Loving God, thank you that, when there is nowhere else to turn, you are always there, able to change my circumstances and ready to change me. Use your Word to give me discernment for the changes you desire.
Last Updated on December 15, 2024 by kingstar
