Psalm 119:65-72 (Teth)
You have done many good things for me, LORD
just as you have promised.
I believe in your commands;
now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
but now I closely follow your word.
You are good and only do good;
teach me your principles.
Arrogant people have made up lies about me.
but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
Their hearts are dull and stupid,
but I delight in your law.
The suffering you sent was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your principles.
Your law is more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver. (NLT)
When we are troubled by the world, our jobs or others, it is good to say to God, “You have done great things for me.” When we are harassed, it is best to recognize that all good things come from the Love of God for us. As we live day to day, we have the assurance that God is faithful to His Promises. As we struggle, renew yourselves with the the knowledge that Christ keeps on doing great things in our lives. When things look the bleakest, God has His purpose for us.
Even in the times of inconvenience, we can witness to the greatness of God. I live in a Mobile Homes Estates Park and just going to the trash receptacle can be an opportunity to witness of God’s Good News for mankind.
But knowing of God’s law and His Love is not enough. We need to understand Good’s good judgment and be knowledgeable of His will in our lives. We need to grasp the whole of His word as it pertains to our lives. Paul prayed that knowledge and wisdom be given to the Hebrews increasing daily (Heb 5:14) becoming more mature in the word and no longer bottle fed. Of course I am putting my words into the text, but I want you to grasp that we can’t rely in just what we were first taught but must grow in the word so that we can understand God’s will in the fullest. To have a discerning understanding of scriptures is to have a better command of the law of God as we live.
Psalm 25:8-9, 11 reads:
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
…
For your name’s sake, O LORD.
pardon my guilt, for it is great.(ESV)
“Bring me back that I may be restored,” cried Jeremiah. We sometimes get ourselves in a jam, making mistakes after mistake, yet we have an advocate in Jesus who mediates for us with the Father. When we do stray from the Word, we put ourselves ahead of God and we need to come back to restoration with the Father. The writer of Hebrews quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 when saying: “..and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives’.” (Heb 12:5-6 NAS). Yet even as we deserve to be punished, God is quick to forgive and remembers no more our transgression once we confess them and repent of our stupidity. We learn through God’s forgiving heart that He is good, that all that He provides for us is for our good and that it is in His Good Favor that we are able to repent and come back into His will.
David cries out, (Psalm 86:5) “O Lord, you are so good so ready to forgive.” So that whenever we slip and fall back into the weakness of the flesh, He is GOOD. He does not hold us accountable any more but we must strive always to do what is right before the Lord, Our God. We must not take it for granted that his forgiveness is forthcoming. The repentant heart is forgiven, not the callous heart. So we cry out to God to teach us His ways that we do not become ensnared in the wickedness of the world. As His redeemed, it should be easier to recognize the snares of the word, but they come wrapped in pretty packages.
When attacked for our faith, when people slander, mock us and demean us, we are to stand on the truth of our faith and our love of God’s will. We are to trust that the words of our hearts have meaning and that the law of God’s Love has merit. We are to trust God. If we are challenged in our belief, re-examine the scriptures, meditate on them and pray for the wisdom of God to direct our minds. Ask Christ to entreat the Holy Spirit to reveal the will of the Father for us. Study, meditate, pray and most important Trust in God. Don’t let the lies of man deceive us. Run from the lies of evil men who distort scripture for their profit. Turn your ears away from the folly that the world send to you to confuse and beguile you with false promises.
Oh yes, there are men who with good intentions, lead us astray. They have motives hidden in their hearts that they do not know are harbored there. But if you seek the truth of God in all things, you can be aware of the foolish and vain follies and refute them. Paul warns us about those who convict us by the Law yet do not have the love of God. The Law is to protect us from our weakness of flesh. The Law is to guide us in our unrighteousness. The Law is Holy because it comes from the Father. The Law does not bind us, but frees us to love the Father in fullness.
The enemies of the Law will use the Law to distort the love of God for us into something vengeful and spiteful. But God’s Law is for good. The enemies of the Truth send lies that tickle our lust, pride and jealousies so that we will be distracted form the truth of God. They distort the word for their own fancies, their own glory and their own self-righteousness. They do not know God and God does not know them. They speak for themselves and not Christ.
When the prophet says, “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thought.” (Isa 55:6-7 ESV) he is speaking to those who distorted the law or who abandoned it for the profit of the flesh. He spoke of the leaders of the people, both religious and public, who defiled the temple and the people.
In 2 Chr 30:6-9 (TJB), Hezekiah, the godly king, sends word to the people of Israel and Judea, and to Ephraim and Manasseh the orders to return to the Law, ending with: “If you come back sincerely to Yahweh, your brothers and your sons will win favor with their conquerors and return to this land, for Yahweh your God is gracious and merciful. If you come back to him, he will not turn his face from you.” Those who distort the law or reject it entirely are like those of the Promised Land who left the world and the law for their own desires and justified their worldly ways. Their hearts where as “unfeeling as fat”,having no regard for their fellowman nor the Love of the LORD.
But, if you return to the Love of God, return to his lovingkindness, you will find delight in the law and not a burden. You will desire his law as a part of your life, inseperatable as mind is from your body. You will have the mind of Righteousness. then you will say from the public place that the Law of God is good and is your heart. Having returned to his will. you can rejoice in the fact that you were afflicted with the trails of abuse from others, because it made you strong in the word. When we are faced with the trials and troubles and turn to scripture and God for answers, we are made stronger. The saying that what does not kill you makes you stronger is true with the Word in your life. I saw a saying in a truck the other day that said “Pain kills weakness” and it made me think of how when I was persecuted and was able to defend myself with the Word of God, although it was painful to go through the ordeal, it did made me stronger, my weakness was conquered. I fought for my belief.
God’s Word is better than all the wealth in the world. It feeds my soul, enriches my heart and provides me with comfort in troubled times. Being obedient to God is better than all the gold and silver in the world.
Print This Post Filed under Psalm thoughts |Similar Posts:
Leave a Reply