The goodness of God

 

Psalm 119: 65-72

 

October 22, 2022

 

Teth

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.

 

TETH - The goodness of God.

 

The importance of Scripture memory is not to impress, but to keep one from regressing in the flesh and not walking in the Spirit.  As a young man said in a class I was teaching, “The Word of God is not a spotlight for our path, it is candlelight to help with the next step.”  My understanding of what he said was it is not to light up the path but to have each of us depend on the written Word to guide our path.

 

I have yet to meet a follower of Christ with a different testimony than the Psalmist.  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. 

 

But I and many others have this testimony, and it is not something we are proud of; “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.  You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”  As we learn to study the Word for application, it comes alive, and we become truth seekers.

 

This quote has great meaning to each of us whose affection brought us to learn from the Witten Word.  “ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”  It matters not what brought on the affection, greed, and lust, you and I were set up, we read the word as a religious activity but it was not for application, it was not that light for our feet to keep us on the path God had for us.

 

What a great way to end this: TETH - The goodness of God.  Not one thing the world has to offer can come close to the goodness of our Lord.  The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

The Lord is my Portion

 

Psalm 119::57-64

 

October 20, 2022

 

Heth

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.  I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.   When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.   Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.   At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.  The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

 

The eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Heth, I looked for meaning in my Holman Study Bible, and then on the internet.  I took this from the internet; “the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Heth (or Cheth) stands for the chesed (loving-kindness) of the Lord. It's a concept often translated as “steadfast love” in the ESV.”

 

The Lord is my portion, He is all I need, what has the world to offer that compares to His loving kindness?  Once I grasp this truth in 1 John 2:17,” And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”  Scripture is very clear this life is like a mist, it is here today and gone tomorrow, but the Word of God abides forever.  The Psalmist is promising the Lord that he will obey the teaching of the Scriptures. What is meant by, “I entreat your favor with all my heart”?  Have you given thought to 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”   The Bible answer man had this insight, that often faces in the Old Testament means “presence.”  But unlike the Psalmist we have the Holy Spirit of God living in us, that is all who by faith and grace that God has given to put our lives in Jesus' hands.

 

“When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.   Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.” Maybe the Psalmist understood that his flesh was always looking to man, to wealth, to be in charge of his own life.  But what is wrong with those who go by the title Christian, have we no understanding of the evil one who not only lies but whom Jesus called the Father of lies?  A real dude and he loves to do all in his power to steal your faith in a God with whom he is well acquainted for he once enjoyed being one of the archangels.  But he was jealous of his Creator and what to be equal with God or even above God.  He led a revolt in heaven and was cast out and now he is about stealing, killing, and destroying.  As an observer of this world, I say he is getting his job done.  

 

Yes, we all have flesh, and they are all different, but the father of lies has your number and mine. He talks to us in a voice that sounds like ours and if not on guard we will buy into his lies.  Two, that work; did God really say, and you deserve better than you are getting?  Let me throw in a third, you are of no value to anyone, do your family and friends a big favor and kill yourself.  If any of those came in a voice you were not familiar with you would run for help, and that is why we need Jesus and His Word.  

 

If you have no understanding of your flesh, ask the Lord, to show you, for it is recorded in Galatians 5:17, NIV: For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Your promise gives me life.

 

Psalm 119:49-56

 

October 18, 2022

 

Zayin

 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.  The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.  When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.  Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.  Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.  I remember your name in the night, O Lord,  and keep your law.  This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

 

The Hebrew word Zayin:  God’s word gives us strength.

 

Not only this Psalmist but others in the Scriptures have cried out to God to remember His word or His promises.  Is God forgetful?  God gave this insight to Isaiah and it is recorded in Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”   God is all 

Knowing, King David gives us this insight in Psalm 139:1-4, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thoughts from afar.  You scrutinize my path and my lying down And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.  Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all.”  Yes, all-knowing and has never forgotten anything, but He loves His Children to ask about His promises, and that was what the Psalmist is doing.  For it is in those promises that we find our hope and when we read one pray it back to the Father. When I lay in that hospital bed, it was great to have visitors but it was those long nights, where I recalled the promises of my Father to me, that restored my hope.

 

“Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.”  Father, it is so easy to get self-righteous when I see evil all around, especially from those in leadership in our government.  But it fades very fast when you allow me to be reminded of my day without you in my life and even then I allowed my flesh to rule over Your Spirit.  These people are in great need of our prayers, for they are blind to Truth, Your Word is true.

 

“I remember your name in the night, O Lord,  and keep your law.  This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.”  My dear Father and God, my Creator, and Redeemer, I give thanks for my affliction for in it I’ve learned you are my only Source, my only hope, and my life.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Let your steadfast love come to me

 

Psalm 119:41-47

 

October 17, 2022

 

Waw

 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.  I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place,  for I have sought your precepts.   I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.  I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

 

As we look at these six verses, and the Hebrew word Waw I looked for some help, the Bible dictionary, and Vines, and then I went to the internet and found this, (note: it seemed to be in keeping with the other post on the internet.  The Dependable Word of God - Waw - Psalm 119:41-48

The letter waw is an image of a hook, a nail, or a peg. It symbolizes the hooks of silver fastened to posts that held the curtains of the tabernacle and other tents in place. The letter waw represents something you depend on, such as the Word of God. In these verses, the psalmist focuses on how he can trust God’s Word.

Anytime you set your heart on God’s authority over you and others, expect to be taunted, yes you will be mocked, and criticized but be loving and share the hope you have in Jesus Christ.  The Psalmist understood that God was his shelter and resource for living in victory, and understood it was not he that needed to fight, the battle was the Lord.

John's gospel in the 15 chapter and verses 4-5  give you and me our hope; “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

John is quoting Jesus, we are all guilty of not abiding in Christ, but your deeds no matter your intent had no eternal value, once we were doing the act in our ability, and not allowing God’s Spirit to do it all for us.

You and I may not have access to kings or even governors or mayors, but we do to neighbors friends, and family to share what Jesus has and is doing in our lives.  I’ve dropped the ball in this area more than most, and Jesus has and is blessing Jan and my life in amazing ways.  In a world that searching for truth, we met the origin of truth, for Jesus has said, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6

 

We have the bread of life in a dying world, and God has called us His messenger.  We have a story to share with our friends, family, and neighbors.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

 

Psalm 119: 25-32

 

October 13, 2022

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Daleth

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!   When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!  Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.  My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!  Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!  I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.  I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!  I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! 

 

What a great  image of a man without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!”  When I came into Christ and He into me, I knew He had all I needed and I was bankrupt.  As I grew I shared my wants and needs with Jesus, and these verses sound a lot like what happened over time.

“When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” 

 

Life is about making choices, each day we choose many times what we will see, hear, and do.  In Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever^[ you want.“  Bill Gillham, heard a speaker say; “Your problem is that you don’t know what your problem is.  You think your problem is your problem, but it’s not.  And that’s your main problem.”  Bill shared the two ways for Christians to walk in this world: According to the flesh, and in the Spirit.  Each day we look to God's plan for us or we follow the desires of the world and go with the flesh.  So that choice depends on your abilities to meet your needs apart from Christ or allowing Jesus to live His life through you.

 

We find the Psalmist making a choice in these words; “Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!  I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.”  

 

We see a man who has made a choice to walk with God, but that does not mean it is not still a battle, each day.  In verse 32, he is asking God to enlarge his heart.  “I will run in the way of your commandments when you  enlarge my heart!”  Each of us needs our hearts enlarged to the guideline of our Creator and Lord, have you ask, with the desire to do as He said in the Bible.  One must never forget that Christ's life is not difficult it is impossible.  Only Jesus Christ has ever lived that life, and He is the only one who can live it today, and that is what He wants to do in you.  John 15:5 makes that clear, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  

As one who is a follower of Christ, have you tried to live the Christ life, without the Spirit's leadership, sure you have and so have I, it is not pretty.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

Psalm 119:17-24

 

October 12, 2022

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

 

Gimel

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.  Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.  I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!  My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.  You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.  Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.   Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.  Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

 

Before we jump into the Psalmist insights, let us explore the word Gimel, the third in the Hebrew Alphabet.  I looked this up on the internet, to see the meaning of the word; God’s Growing Garden. The Psalmist is pleading with God to get rid of the bugs and weeds in his life.  As a person who enjoys the art of gardening, the bugs and weeds are a continual battle, and the enemy of your soul has put many of them in our lives to derail us from following God’s written Word.  In my ESV Study Bible, the word Gimel is titled Deal generously and to give careful consideration to the Word of God. 

 

I know of no one who is a follower of Jesus that desires anything but to be dealt with generously, do you?   But I can testify that for years as a young convert of the Lord, I did not see myself as His servant.  I believe it was based on the Baptist religion, so to keep out of trouble with God, I must have time in the morning to read a Psalm and a Proverbs.  And I did, but it ended with that and I was on to work.  It was rare that it changed my day, for it was not about applying but a rule to keep out of trouble.  It was religion, and that has little to do with building trust in the Word of God.  It sure won’t keep the weeds and bugs out of your life.  

 

When one reads the Scriptures, one needs to ask God to open their eyes to His truth, to open our eyes to the fake news that is designed to build fear into our lives or to make us trust in men, and not in God.  

 

Each day we read about someone being killed, in an accident, or by some evil person with a gun or knife, often they are young, and often it is done by someone who they do not know. Could there be many both in and out of the Church, who have no understanding of this verse?  I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!    James 4:14, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”   It has everything to do with our relationship for none of us have any understanding of what tomorrow will bring.     

 

It is clear as we observe the actions of the people who go by the title Christian that this is not their heart's desire; Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.  Major Ian Thomas told me as a young believer in Christ, that the Church in America (the USA) was more of a Commercial Church, many show up on Sunday morning, but it is hard to find them about God's business during the week.  The reason he made the statement was Jan and I had just returned from England, and I was telling him how dead the Church was there.  He said Young man, the Church in England is very small, but it is also very strong, not like the Church in the USA.  Once again I understood the concept of foot-in-mouth disease.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

 

Psalm 119: 9-16

 

October 11, 2022

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

 

Beth

How can a young man keep his way pure?  By guarding it according to your word.  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!   I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!  With my lips, I declare all the rules of your mouth.   Through your testimonies, I delight as much as in all riches.   I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.  I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

 

What is the name Beth mean in Psalm 119, and in Hebrew?  Beth; Become pure-recount God’s Word with your mouth.  The Psalmist begins with a question; How can a young man keep his way pure?  My life would have been so different if that had been my desire.  When a man who is young builds God’s Word into his life and ponders and applies it to their life, with a deep desire to obey and store up God’s authority over them, it brings about obedience.  That works for all men, young and old, and all people both young and old.

 

So why a young man, that is a great question; could it be that God’s plan is for the man to be head of his family, not to be the boss, but to lead his family in Worship, in prayer, and to be the provider?

 

He will put God’s Word into his memory and apply it as a guideline of his value. Give much thought to this verse;  “ In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.”  Having our values in the right place brings about contentment.

 

While we are giving thoughts to these eight verses, ensure you give this verse your full attention.  “With my lips, I declare all the rules of your mouth.”  Because the Word of God is living and sharper than a two-edged sword, the man or person who has storied it up will also allow it to come out in their conversation.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

 

Psalm 119:1-8

 

October 10, 2022

 

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!  Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,  who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!  You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.  Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!  Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.  I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous rules.    I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

 

Words mean things, and often in the Scriptures we have words foreign to an uneducated person like myself, so shall we look at two words.  First is the word Aleph, in Jewish mysticism, represents the oneness of God.  ALEF is the 1st letter which represents God the Father. It is sometimes written as ALEPH and does not always take the vowel (ALUPH) meaning MASTER.  It is also the 1st letter of the Hebrew word EMET meaning TRUTH.  (Taken from the internet)  The second word, I have an understanding of but in that it is not used often outside the Church, let us explore its meaning; Precepts.  The word precepts, taken from the dictionary a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.  The Bible Dictionary; The definition of a precept is a guiding principle or rule that is used to control, influence, or regulate conduct. An example of a precept is a commandment found in the Ten Commandments.

Psalm 119 begins in this manner, Blessed are those whose way is blameless, he is not referring to perfection, nor a sinless life, the Psalmist is implying who is doing their best to follow God’s precepts.  Scripture states, Romans 3:21-24, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Where one eye is fixed, has everything to do with what their heart will long for.  So my fellow followers of Christ fix your eyes on Jesus, talk with Him, and listen to his directions. If you are not spending time in His written Word, you will fix your eyes on the world's little gods, who cannot give you peace or anything God has promised His Children.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

God has not Chaged and He Keeps His Promises

 The Jewish People and the Promise made to Abram, and God is a promise Keeper.

 

If you have a Bible look at the Book of Beginning, Genesis 12:2-3, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” That is a promise God made to Abram before God changed his name to Abraham.  I am a student of the Scripture and as such, I wanted to see how the Jewish people and Israel have blessed the world.  My hope is that some of the college young people who are calling for the destruction of Israel would see how God’s chosen people have blessed the world. If you Google the following sight, you will see a small glimpse of God’s promise to Israel.  And how it has benefited the World.

 My prayer is that young and old understand that God’s has not changed and that being an enemy of God’s chosen, can only bring about harm to you and the ones you love.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

My prayer is that we all learn that God desires us to live at peace with all people, it has been my experience that peace is found in and only in Christ.

 

List of Israeli inventions and discoveries

Wikipedia