AMETHYST
APPLICATION
PSALM
119:1-8
א
(Alef)
119:1
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Susan: Many
translators substitute the word “happy” for blessed, but it is more than that.
There is a connotation of wholeness and being in God’s favor.
Susie: Undefiled
is translated as “blameless,” “pure,” “perfect,” and having “integrity.” The
idea is someone who is, to the best of his or her ability, living in obedience
to the word of God.
Susan: “The
law” in this Psalm is not limited to the Ten Commandments, the Levitical
teachings, or even the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The
Psalmist is referring to the broader meaning of the Hebrew word “Torah” which
is every word of God. For those of us living on this side of the cross, I
believe this would include the teachings of the New Testament as well.
Susie: Note
the similarities between the first few verses of Psalm 119 and the passage
below from Psalm 1:
Psalm
1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But
his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and
night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm
119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Susie: The
concept of wholehearted commitment or devotion appears six times in Psalm 119, (vv.
2, 10, 34, 58, 69, 145). We will highlight the words in red each time.
Susan: The “testimonies”
would encompass the entire word of God that testifies to His righteousness,
love, and grace.
Susie: Half-hearted
obedience is not acceptable to a holy, righteous God. Our music teacher at the
Christian school where I taught told the children (and had them repeat it),
“True obedience is immediate, complete, and without complaining.” We must
follow Him from the heart, not just as an intellectual assent. We need to put
our hearts into the study of the Scripture rather than just a cursory skimming
of a chapter a day.
Jeremiah
29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all
your heart.
Philippians
2:14-16a (NIV) Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,
“children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you
will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of
life.
Psalm
119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Susan: Iniquity
is premeditated sin, methodically planned out or plotted. This is not an
“uh-oh, I messed up” sin but an intentional breaking of God’s rules.
Susie: Rather
than see how much he can get away with, the person who would be blessed seeks
to walk in the direction and manner that God highlights in His word. In recent
years, the WWJD (What would Jesus Do?) bracelets were popular reminders of this
truth, although it is not so much what He
would do as what He would have us
to do. However, we are to follow His example:
1
Peter 2:21 (NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Psalm
119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
The
American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828
DILIGENTLY,
adverb With steady application and care; with industry or assiduity; not
carelessly; not negligently.
Deuteronomy
6:7 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God.
Susan: We
should keep God’s commandments consistently with impassioned zeal.
Susie: Again,
this is the concept of completely rather than half-way. The Psalmist drives
this idea home in several different verses.
Psalm
119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
Susie: Often
in this Psalm, the writer switches from statement of truth to humble prayer. May
our prayer be that the Holy Spirit will direct us in the paths of obedience and
adherence to the whole counsel of God.
Susan: May
our desire be to understand and exemplify Jesus’s pattern for living.
Psalm
119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy
commandments.
Psalm
119:6 (MSG) Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your
counsel.
Psalm
119:6 (VOICE) Then I would feel no shame when I fix my eyes upon Your commands.
Susie: When I
live according to God’s word and diligently obey what the Lord teaches, I will
have no cause for embarrassment or shame when I compare my life to what His
word says.
Psalm
119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned
thy righteous judgments.
Susan: When I
ponder and absorb the word of God, it evokes the joyful fruit of worhsip from
my lips.
Susie: Studying
the word of God brings one to the conclusion that He is just and merciful and,
therefore, worthy of our praise.
Psalm
119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Susan: It is
the Psalmist’s intention to obey God’s word; but without the Lord, he does not
have the capacity to do that which he desires.
Susie: And we
are no different than the Psalmist. We must make a determination of our will to
live according to God’s word, but apart from God’s grace in giving us the Holy
Spirit, we are incapable of obedience and service.
John
15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Points
to Ponder:
· Obedience
to God’s law results in blessing
· Obedience
must be wholehearted
· We
must live according to God’s ways
· When
we follow God’s word, there is no shame
· Learning
God’s word causes us to praise Him
· We can
only obey God by the power of His Holy Spirit within us
Reflection
Question: How diligently am I studying God’s word and applying it
daily?
No comments:
Post a Comment