Psalm 119: 65-72
“You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep your word. You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
As you begin reading, it’s apparent that God does not change, He is the same today as he was yesterday, God’s spoken word is based on truth. We see that the Psalmist is sharing that God always will deal according to His word, He does not change, and His word is unchangeable. He asks the Lord to teach him to have good judgment and knowledge, so that he would hold to God’s teaching and commandments.
Why is the Psalmist so willing to obey God’s precepts and statues; and the simple answer is bought lessons? In his past he tried do it his way, but God allowed affliction as the results of his disobedience. The psalmist acknowledges his moral weaknesses and now understands God’s discipline has been a good thing.
It has become clear to me that many in the church have twisted the truth to say what they want. They will call you names like dogmatic because you refuse to accept the worlds terms and teaching. The psalmist was encountering many false accusations, but he places a high value on what God says. “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
Do you put that kind of value on the precepts and statutes of God’s word, are you willing to trust God over all others? You should not be to quick to answer that question, but my prayer is that you and I will come to the same answer as Job 13:15a, “Though he slay me, I will hope in him,” or as we read in John’s gospel chapter 6:68-69. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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