Psalm 119:89

89 Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens. (ESV)

There are a lot of people in the world today who believe that the Bible was written for a backwards people in a backwards time, and has no truth for us today. They are, of course, wrong, and the plain testimony of scripture about itself is that God’s word is eternal. This verse is just one of many testimonies of that divine truth.

Psalm 119:90

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast. (ESV)

Again, David reminds us of the eternity of God’s revelation and promises. His mercy and faithfulness extend even to us today. God created the earth, and it remains to this day as well.

Psalm 119:91

91 By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants. (ESV)

Of course, not everyone is God’s servants. David refers to those who continue according to God’s ordinances – those who walk in obedience to Him.

Psalm 119:92

92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction. (ESV)

If God’s law does not delight us, then we shall die in our sin.

Again, a lot of people say that obedience to Christ is optional, or something you can “add later” to your faith. The testimony of scripture tells us different.

Psalm 119:93

93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life. (ESV)

And this is exactly why obedience isn’t optional. He has given us life, and by the gift of His grace, we are His.

Psalm 119:94

94 I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts. (ESV)

The saved seek God’s precepts regularly. It is not an option, it is evidence of our faith.

Psalm 119:95

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies. (ESV)

Even in the face of destruction from our enemies, God’s word is our refuge, our strength, and our hope.

Psalm 119:96

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad. (ESV)

The earthly idea of perfection is very narrow, but the word of God is very broad. As I study God’s word, I am truly amazed that it covers as much as it does. The Bible, in most translations and printed editions, only covers about 1,000 pages, give or take. And look at all of the literature – commentaries, systematic theologies, dictionaries – that have been written about the Bible. They use far more words to not say nearly as much. Thank you, Father, for your broad commandment! Amen.

Dan Phillips at Team Pyro blogs on whether Christianity is rational. He describes the anti-intellectuals in Christianity thusly:

Their religion is a Schleiermacheranian mish-mash of feelings and sentimentality; and, lazily, they like it that way. Like Alice’s queen, they have ‘believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’ They can splop! down an absurd statement and, when challenged to try to make any kind of sense of it—let alone Biblical sense—they can loftily murmur that their religion is a matter of the heart, not of the mind.

This is of course to stand Biblical religion on its head (pun noted, but not intended). As soon as you assert anything about God, life, reality, you find yourself in the arena of thought and ideas. Even the assertion that nothing can be asserted about God is an assertion about God, open for analysis, criticism, acceptance or rejection.

This is by the design of God, who crafted us to analyze, understand, exercise dominion (Genesis 1:26-28). Thus He positions the first commandment as ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’(Matthew 22:37; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5).

Tim Challies covered similar ground about 5 months ago reviewing J. P. Moreland’s book Love Your God With All Your Mind.

Albert Mohler has a wonderful excerpt from a commentary by Joy Davidman (Mrs. C. S. Lewis) on Pagans Ancient and Modern:

The old pagans had to choose between a brilliant, jangling, irresponsible, chaotic universe, alive with lawless powers, and the serene and ordered universe of God and law. We modern pagans have to choose between that divine order, and the gray, dead, irresponsible, chaotic universe of atheism. And the tragedy is that we may make that choice without knowing it — not by clear conviction but by vague drifting, not by denying God, but by losing interest in him.

Psalm 119:81

81 My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word. (ESV)

The psalmist again expresses his joy at God’s word and God’s mercy. Does my soul faint for God’s salvation? We who are saved from the second death, do we realize the full meaning of His salvation the way the psalmist, who know only the promise of Christ, does? Does the idea that God saved us make us faint?
Again, also, is the idea of God’s word as His promise and our hope.

Psalm 119:82

82 My eyes long for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?” (ESV)

Despite many prayers over many years, I am not a morning person. I don’t know if I ever will be. I am, however, a night owl. For this reason, I often do my Bible study at night, before going to sleep. But still, many nights, I neglect my duty because I’m “too tired.”
Not the psalmist. He searches the word of God until his very eyes fail. He seeks God’s comfort until his eyes can no longer look at the text. Ironically, the comfort of God is an area I find my own faith weak – too much, I worry, I trouble myself over tomorrow, I am anxious for far more than nothing. If only I would search His word, like the psalmist, until my eyes failed me.

Psalm 119:83

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes. (ESV)

The first part of this verse is obscure to those of us who have never aged wine in skins – which I’m guessing includes most of the readership. John MacArthur says this:

Just as smoke will dry out, stiffen, and crack a wineskin thus making it useless, so the psalmist’s affliction has debilitated him.

David is describing his “affliction.” Yet despite his troubles, David remembers God’s statutes. It is easy, sometimes, to blame our misfortunes on Him. But just because we are in the midst of difficulty, doesn’t mean we should ignore God’s commandments. Like David, we must remember them always.

Psalm 119:84

84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me? (ESV)

It is interesting that David pairs the idea of his own mortality with his desire for justice. And indeed, we shall not know the true, full measure of God’s justice until we come into His presence.

Psalm 119:85

85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law. (ESV)

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown explain “pits” as “plots for my destruction.” The ESV uses the term “pitfalls” here, the NCV “pits to trap me.” Those who try to trap us are, as the psalmist says, not in accorance with God’s law. If they were, they would not try to trap us!

Psalm 119:86

86 All your commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me! (ESV)

Here the psalmist again shows a contrast, this time between the faithfulness of God’s commandments, the persecution of the ungodly. He rightfully cries to God for help, and with appropriate boldness, as well – he knows God’s commandments are faithful.

Psalm 119:87

87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts. (ESV)

Even in the face of death, David does not forsake God’s law.

Psalm 119:88

88 In your steadfast love give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. (ESV)

He asks God for revival, for strength, through His mercy. And for what end? So that David may keep God’s word and not sin against Him. Oh, that this would be our prayer as well! Amen.

Mark Dever at Together for the Gospel has some excellent insights into common mistakes with evangelism. He’s apparently writing a book on the subject, and I can’t wait…

One part of clarity sometimes missed by earnest evangelists, however, is the willingness to offend. Clarity with the claims of Christ certainly will include the translation of the Gospel into words that our hearer understands, but it doesn’t necessarily mean translating it into words that our hearer will like. Too often advocates of relevant evangelism verge over into being advocates of irrelevant non-evangelism. A gospel which in no way offends the sinner has not been understood.

How many of us are willing to offend with our evangelism? Dr. Dever is not advocating intentional offense, or offense that is caused for our own pride or pleasure. Rather, he’s talking about realizing that the message of the gospel, that we are all sinners, is by its very nature offensive. If sharing the gospel doesn’t produce some small indignation, then you’re probably not sharing the full message. Think about it. The gospel says “You are a sinner. You can’t get into heaven. No way. You can’t do it. There is no way. You are completely helpless. Only God’s grace can do it for you. Oh, and you don’t do it with God’s grace… God’s grace does it for you. It’s not a tool for you to use. It’s purely His. So as you say that sinner’s prayer, keep that in mind. It’s not you. It’s Him. Cast your eyes on Him. Cast your sin upon His cross. Not yours.” Are you getting the point? If not, then I’m not doing it right…

(Side note – at some point, I am going to have read Mark Driscoll’s book. I can only imagine how he shares the gospel…)

Psalm 119:73

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. (ESV)

This is a pattern we see time and again in the psalm… A praise of God, followed by a supplication. How is “Your hands have made me and fashioned me” a praise? Because it is an acknowledgment of some truth about God. All praises are really just acknowledging something true about God, aren’t they? “God is great!” This simply acknowledges his greatness. “God is holy!” “God is just!” “Hallowed be thy name.” These all are simply statements of absolute truth about God. As is this statement. God’s hands have made us and fashioned us. This is an especially uncommon and controversial praise of God in today’s world, but that does not diminish the truth of it. He has made us with His hands and fashioned us. He is worthy of our praise. Let us ask Him for understanding then, that we may learn His commandments.

Psalm 119:74

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word. (ESV)

Again, David returns to the idea of the community of believers. The universal church. Don’t we, as believers, rejoice when we recognize a fellow saint? Aren’t we glad when we see our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ?

Psalm 119:75

75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. (ESV)

Again, a praise. His judgments are right. Not that we believe they’re right. They simply are. This is the praise of the truth of God.

In faithfulness He has afflicted us. This, too, is a praise. David has previously recognized the result of affliction and suffering – a drawing closer to God. (See here, verses 67 and 71 in particular.) God knows this, too, and therefore in His faithfulness, He afflicts us, knowing that it will draw us closer to Him. Even afflictions and sufferings serve His ultimate good purposes for His elect – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Psalm 119:76

76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant. (ESV)

We must rely on His mercy and His kindness for our comfort. We will not find it in wordly things. We will not find it in “self-help.” Only through the love of God can we truly find comfort – just as He as promised in His word to us, His servants.

Psalm 119:77

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight. (ESV)

Without God’s mercy, would we live? Not at all! We are naturally enemies of God, dead in our sins. We would not live in our bodies, and we would not have eternal life, without His tender mercies. We delight in His law, because this is where we learn of His mercies. Praise Him!

Psalm 119:78

78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. (ESV)

David laments the wrong treatment he has received. We all do. We know that friends, neighbors, family who don’t know the love of Christ don’t understand. So they spread lies about us. They are proud, and feel they are better than us. We are not better than them, we just have the love of God. Not because of anything in us. Nothing in us is deserving of His mercy. But He has granted it to us anyway. Let us take comfort in His precepts. Let us pray for the proud, like David, that they might be ashamed – not because we want them to feel bad, but because we want them to realize their error as God draws them closer to Himself.

Psalm 119:79

79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies. (ESV)

“Let those who fear You…” This doesn’t mean “afraid of” like “fear” does today. It means those who hold God properly in awe, respect, reverence, and honor. Let them turn to us, gather them to us, Lord, so that we may enjoy fellowship with them! Let us enjoy the love of Christ’s body here on earth.

Psalm 119:80

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame! (ESV)

Let us not be ashamed. Let us stand one day before Christ’s judgment, boldly approaching the throne of grace, and say that we are blameless in God’s statutes, because of the righteousness of Christ which God, in His mercy, has imputed to us. Praise God! Amen.

Psalm 119:65

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word. (ESV)

David doesn’t say that God has dwelt richly with him, that God has rewarded him, that God has punished him. He says that God has dwelt well with him, according to His word. God always treats us fairly, justly, mercifully, lovingly, righteously. All according to His word. There is no conflict between His love and His justice. There is no conflict between His righteousness and His mercy. They are perfect. And in perfect accordance to His word.

Psalm 119:66

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments. (ESV)

David asks for wisdom, as should we. David asks for “judgment and knowledge.” The two of these combined equal discernment. Discernment is not often taught in today’s churches. People are too afraid of appearing “divisive,” even though Christ was divisive. Paul’s warnings against division were not directed to all division, but division caused by wrong teaching, teaching contrary to the Gospel or to scripture. We should pray for discernment. We should pray that we can “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.) For we believe His commandments.

Psalm 119:67

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word. (ESV)

We tend to cling to God more closely when we are suffering hardship, and David was no exception. He strayed from God’s word before he was “afflicted,” but now that he has seen hard times, he keeps God’s word. Oh that it would not take difficulty to make us learn this truth!

Psalm 119:68

68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes. (ESV)

A simple statement, a simple prayer. But a profound one. God is good. God does good. Teach us your statutes. It reminds me of the simple meal blessing “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for this food.” Not all that different. Sometimes the greatest truths are the least profound. Karl Barth once summed up all of his theology as “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Psalm 119:69

69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; (ESV)

Let’s face it. We will be persecuted. We will be scorned. We will be looked down upon. We’ve been told this for thousands of years. David told us. Christ told us. Paul told us. It will happen. But let us keep His precepts. Let us not falter.

Psalm 119:70

70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law. (ESV)

“Their heart is as fat as grease.” The Believer’s Bible Commentary uses the term “wallow,” as in “Let the worldly wallow in luxury and pleasure.” This is pretty intriguing imagery, considering what we know today about grease and the effect is has on the heart.

But let us delight in His law. Not “read it.” Not “study it.” Not “spend time in the word daily.” Though these are all excellent tasks. But we are called beyond that to delight in God’s law. John Piper is on to something…

Psalm 119:71

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes. (ESV)

Again, David recognizes that his affliction has helped him to desire God’s law. He recognizes the state that suffering brings – a need for God. It reminds us of our dependence on Him.

Psalm 119:72

72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (ESV)

There are a lot of parallels between Psalm 119 and Psalm 19. This line reminds me of Psalm 19:9-10:

Do we look at God’s word as finer than gold? Worth more than earthly riches? God, teach us your statutes, that we may treasure them thus, Amen.

Psalm 119:57

57 The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words. (ESV)

“‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’” cries Jeremiah (Lamentations 3:24) And we cry with him, after God our portion. The term “portion” refers to the inheritance and allotment to the Levites, who had no share of the land of Canaan when it was divided: “And the Lord said to Aaron, ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.’” (Numbers 18:20) This was not a bad thing for the Levites – this was a tremendous blessing to them, as it is to us also!

Psalm 119:58

58 I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise. (ESV)

We entreat His favor, and we ask that He shows mercy. What kind of mercy? The mercy according to His word! It is not our expectation of mercy. It is not our definition of mercy. It is His – revealed to us through His word. That is also the promise of His word – that He will be merciful according to His promises.

Psalm 119:59

59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies; (ESV)

The idea of repentance is often painted, quite correctly as a “turning away” from sin, and by definition, toward God. Here David uses the same analogy. “I thought about my ways,” he says, contemplating his own life, his own sin. And what does he do in reaction to those thoughts? He turns his feet toward the Lord’s testimonies. What a great way to think about repentance, physically turning our feet, and hence the direction of our life, toward His testimonies and Him!

Psalm 119:60

60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments. (ESV)

How many of us have “said the prayer” and did not follow through with obedience to Christ? How many of us, unlike the psalmist, did not make haste, but instead did delay to keep His commandments? Is this faith? No! Our faith must be trust in Him, and He rightfully demands obedience – He is Lord. We do not “make him Lord” – He already is, and has been for a looong time…

Psalm 119:61

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law. (ESV)

Do we keep His commandments even in the face of adversity? Do we keep His law even when we are oppressed, repressed, persecuted? I look at my own life, and my own hesitation to share the Gospel. I hesitate to share the truth. I hesitate to point out error. I know I don’t even begin to measure up.

Psalm 119:62

62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules. (ESV)

When I get up in the middle of the night, I am lucky if I even remember getting up. David remembers to pause and give thanks to the Lord for His righteous judgments. It is easy to feel woefully inadequate against the example of David, isn’t it? This is why I keep the Philippians verse in the banner of this site. The full passage is:

It is easy to get caught up in feeling like we’re not good enough. I feel that way a lot. I am comforted only by the realization of one simple fact – I am not good enough. That sounds like it should be depressing, but caught up in that idea is this: No one is good enough. Paul was not good enough. He had not already attained, he had not already perfected. But he pressed on. Let us press on alongside him, toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

Psalm 119:63

63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts. (ESV)

The word “church” does not appear in the Old Testament. But the idea does occasionally shine through, such as here – David calls all those who fear God his companions. Like him, we call those who fear God our companions, those who keep His precepts.

Psalm 119:64

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes! (ESV)

The earth is indeed full of His mercy. John MacArthur commented that “the fact that a sinner draws another breath is a sign of God’s grace on the world.” Think about that. The earth, even in its fallen state, is still full of God’s mercy. It keeps rotating. The sun keeps shining. The flood waters do not engulf the planet, as He promised. Even though the whole world groans with the curse, His mercy sustains it. And what is our proper response? To keep His words… To turn our feet to His testimonies… To keep His commandments… To not forget His law… To keep his precepts… And to learn His statutes. Teach us Your statutes, Lord. Amen.

Psalm 119:49

49 Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope. (ESV)

One thing that we are reminded of constantly through Psalm 119 (as we should be), is that our salvation and hope is based upon the promise of God to His people, found in His holy word.

Psalm 119:50

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life. (ESV)

His word should be our comfort. Too often I myself worry about things that I shouldn’t, and don’t take comfort in it.

Psalm 119:51

51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law. (ESV)

Read any news source for a week, and you are likely to read of some story holding Christianity in derision, especially with regard to God’s law. A quick search for simply the term “Bible” on CNN.com produced a news story headlined “Sunday school teacher dumped for being female.” Other news sources indicate that the story is, at the very least, one-sided. Not surprising at all.

Psalm 119:52

52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O Lord. (ESV)

Again, His word should be our comfort. Despite the derision, despite anything else we may face in life, we should comfort ourselves with the memory of His judgments.

Psalm 119:53

53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law. (ESV)

Hm, see the commentary on v. 53. Seriously, though, our pastor preached today on John 8 and talked about how we ought to feel joy in God’s word, which I do, but at the same time, I am completely heartbroken by the epidemic of false teaching that permeates professed Christianity today, not to mention the world outside the “church.”

I see the books, the blogs, the articles, and I see how they are in clear contradiction or denial of scripture, and yet they continue. Why? Because we are afraid to speak up. “Tolerance” is the byword of postmodern culture. Tolerance of everything except a claim to any exclusive truth, such as “No one comes to the Father except through [Christ].”

“Division” is the only recognized sin in the “church,” today, despite His words in Luke 12:51 – “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

“But Paul told us to avoid division,” we are told. Yes, note his words well in Romans 16:17 – “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” Note those words well. Division does not “flow both ways.” Division does not come from naming false teaching, or even from naming false teachers, but from the false teaching itself.

Beloved, it is not love to allow the lost to continue in their error… As Spurgeon wrote:

It is no proof of tenderness to shut one’s eyes to the awful doom of the ungodly. Compassion is far better shown in trying to save sinners than in trying to make things pleasant all round. Oh that we were all more distressed as we think of the portion of the ungodly in the lake of fire! The popular plan is to shut your eyes and forget all about it, or pretend to doubt it; but this is not the way of the faithful servant of God.

Psalm 119:54

54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning. (ESV)

Is there anything sweeter than a hymn or song of praise based on the Word itself? Remember Paul’s words to the church at Colosse: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16.) No “Jesus or my girlfriend” songs in Paul’s hymnal…

Psalm 119:55

55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law. (ESV)

It is easy (or easier, at least) to remember His name in the light of day, when others can see us, and when we think He can see us. But what about in the night? What about in the darkness when we think (wrongly, of course) that even He cannot see? Do we keep His law then?

Psalm 119:56

56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts. (ESV)

If we keep God’s precepts, shall we not have our reward? Isn’t that a reward in itself? Amen!

Psalm 119:41

41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise; (ESV)

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Salvation comes through hearing the word of God. No one is ever saved without hearing the Gospel of Christ.

Psalm 119:42

42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word. (ESV)

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Have an answer for everyone who questions or reproaches you for your faith, and make that answer stick from the Bible. I was reading a story in a book by J. Vernon McGee of a young man, a skeptic, who was questioning an old woman about her faith. He kept coming up with questions: “Yes, but…” And she kept coming up with answers: “Well, the Bible says…” And eventually, this young man realized, that it wasn’t the old woman who was answering him, it was the word of God!

Psalm 119:43

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules. (ESV)

Time and again, scripture tells us of the importance of constantly being in the word of God, and of constantly meditating on it. A personal favorite is Joshua 1:8 – “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Just this morning, our pastor, preaching through the Gospel of John, addressed this same point with John 8:31 – “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

Psalm 119:44

44 I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever, (ESV)

God demands obedience. It is a simple fact. There is no such thing as saving faith that is not obedient and submissive to the commandments of our Lord.

Psalm 119:45

45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts. (ESV)

Praise God! I am constantly amazed at the ways that the Spirit speaks to us. I hadn’t looked ahead to this verse when I pulled John 8:31 (and my pastor’s sermon) into the discussion of v. 43. And yet, we have the exact same idea expressed by Christ in the very next verse from His beloved disciple’s Gospel: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
So many people try to make a contrast between the Old and New Testaments of our Lord, but how many times do we run across things like this that tell us directly, that the message is the same between the two! Not only is Christ predicted by the Old Testament, His glorious truths are as well.
We shall walk in the liberty of Christ, and seek his precepts. We walk in Christ, because we desire to be obedient.

Psalm 119:46

46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame, (ESV)

I’m adding this one to my personal set of memory verses… How often do we fear man, and not speak God’s word? How often do we fail in the command to make disciples of all the nations, because we are afraid of… rejection? Scorn? Anger? The simple unknown?
Let us instead be like David, and speak of His testimonies before kings, and not be ashamed. God, please grant us the courage to know in our heart that evangelism is not of us, but is merely the tool You use to Your glory!

Psalm 119:47

47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love. (ESV)

Do we delight in God’s commandments? Do we delight in God’s word? All of it? Even the parts that convict us? We should. We should love His word for that exact reason. When we read something (like v 46 for example…) that convicts us of our sins we should fall to our knees and cry “Thank You, heavenly Father! Thank You for making it plain to me! Thank You for showing me the way out of my sin!” We feel that gratitude (I hope) for the sacrifice of Christ, why not for the evidence of our depravity? Both the word and the Word point to the way clear for our sin. Let us rejoice in both!

Psalm 119:48

48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes. (ESV)

What does it mean to life up our hands to His commandments? Simply this – to let the works of our hands glorify Him and obey His commandments. Don’t let sin remain in your bodily members. Lift up your hands, instead, to Him. Show your hands abiding in His word, while you meditate on His statutes – you need both the renewing of your mind and the fruit of your works to be truly acting in faith.

Amen.