PSALM 119:57-64 HACKMANITE – HABITUAL OBEDIENCE AND THANKSGIVING

HACKMANITE – HABITUAL OBEDIENCE AND THANKSGIVING

PSALM 119:57-64

ח (Het)

Psalm 119:57 Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Susie: Each of the tribes of Israel had an inheritance, a portion of the Promised Land. The psalmist was not necessarily a descendent of Aaron who would not have his own portion, but He is saying the Lord is all he needs to sustain him.

Numbers 18:20 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

Susan: The psalmist considers his relationship with the Lord the pinnacle of sufficiency. God is his sustenance, and life is found in His words. Therefore, he treasures and follows them, observing them with all diligence.

John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Psalm 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Susie: Once again, the psalmist approaches the Lord wholeheartedly. He pleads for the mercy he has read about in the scriptures. He humbly acknowledges his need for God’s forbearance and forgiveness.

Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Susan: After the psalmist took a close look at himself in the mirror of God’s word, he made a swift U-turn in his behavior toward the Lord and His word.

Susie: He turned away from any sin or error and corrected his course to be on the path God had shown him.

Susan: He corrected any course or action that moved him away from God’s righteous path.

Psalm 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Susan: He was expedient in making the required changes.

Susie: He did not procrastinate saying, “I’ll change this in a couple of days. I’m too busy right now.” He began obeying as soon as he saw the need to shape up.

Psalm 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psalm 119:61 (VOICE) The wicked have entangled me in their nets, but I have not forgotten Your teaching.

Susan: With tenacious resolve, the psalmist held fast to the word of God.

Susie: Because he had hidden the word in his heart (Psalm 119:11), no one could take it from him by threat or by force.

Susan: The psalmist had made God’s word the very fabric of his being.

Psalm 119:9 (AMP) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Susan: People are in the bars partying at midnight, offering their praise for the pleasures of this world. But the psalmist roused himself from sleep at midnight to offer praise and thanksgiving to his Lord.

Susie: Many times in Israel’s history, God had judged those who opposed His people. Perhaps He had brought justice against those who ensnared this psalmist. God’s righteous judgment was a reason to shake off sleep and spend time in praise.

Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Susan: The psalmist made a conscious, deliberate decision to spend time with others who loved and showed reverence for the Lord.

Susie: In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he warned about hanging out with the wrong crowd:

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Susie: The psalmist is making a point to do just the opposite. He is surrounding himself with people who obey the Lord and encourage him to stay on the right path.

Susan: The psalmist is building for himself a foundation of good morals by the company that he keeps. Jesus pointed out that those He considered to be family were the ones who obeyed the word of the God:

Luke 8:21And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Susie: Fellow believers or “familyship” (Susan’s word) help us to follow Jesus more closely and support us in prayer during times of distress. The Complete Jewish Bible refers to this as the “Messianic Community”:

Acts 12:5 (CJB) So Kefa (Peter) was being held under watch in prison, but intense prayer was being made to God on his behalf by the Messianic community.

Psalm 119:64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Susie: God’s mercy, lovingkindness, extends to all people in a general way. The Lord sends sunlight and rain necessary for life to both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).

Susan: However, His saving grace is reserved for those He has chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). These are the ones who will ultimately place their trust in Jesus or in the case of the psalmist, in God’s promise. The psalmist appealed to the mercy, the goodness and kindness of the Lord, asking Him to bathe him, saturate him in His principles and presence.

Points to Ponder:

·     The Lord is all we need

·     When we examine ourselves, we see how we need to redirect our lives

·     Obeying God’s commandments keeps us on His path

·     God’s word inspires praise

·     We should surround ourselves with good company, those who obey God

·     In His mercy, God instructs us

Reflection Question: The psalmist made a habit of studying God’s word and praising the Lord, even getting back out of bed at midnight to spend time with Him. Are you habitually in the word of God? Are you making the effort to internalize and even memorize scripture? Are you taking time to praise and thank God on a regular basis? Set aside time each day to immerse yourself in Bible study, prayer, and praise. Then you will see that God’s words bring renewed vigor to your life. 

PSALM 119:49-56 GARNET GRACE

GARNET GRACE

PSALM 119:49-56

ז (Zayin)

Psalm 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:49 (CJB)      Remember your promise to your servant, through which you have given me hope.

Susan: Since scripture does not say who the earthly author of this psalm is, we do not know if he was referring to a specific promise or to the covenant established with Abraham and Sarah.

Susie: The psalmist built his hope on the promise of God who is always faithful to keep His word. This hope was an anticipation that God would bring the promise He made to fruition.

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Susan: The promises of God gave him security in the midst of the trials. God’s truth revitalized him, giving him the strength that he needed to persevere in whatever he was going through. He trusted that the Lord was walking through the difficulties with him, and they were certain to make it to the other side together.

Psalm 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

Susie: The psalmist was being ridiculed, possibly because he was in difficulty—physical illness or some other trial—and seemingly forsaken by his God. However, he did not let their taunts take root in him. Rather, he clung to the word of God and continued to obey the Lord’s instructions. He was determined to walk God’s way despite their scorn.

Susan: The psalmist continued his tenacious, unwavering pursuit of God despite whatever form the opposition took. The word and the psalmist’s relationship to God was his arsenal, the weaponry that kept him secure.

Psalm 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

Susie: He knew the history of Israel and remembered the times the Lord had pronounced judgement on those who opposed His people. He knew God to be a fair and righteous judge which brought him comfort when wicked men reviled him.

Susan: The men taunting him may have done so strictly because he was a child of God.

Psalm 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Psalm 119:53 (AMPC) Burning indignation, terror, and sadness seize upon me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.

Susie: The psalmist was indignant, disdainful toward the actions of those who totally turned their backs on God’s instructions. These are not people who merely sin as we all do but those who purposely, continually, completely oppose all that God has commanded.

Susan: The psalmist rejected the defectors, those who were aware of God’s commands but chose to abandon them totally.

Susie: He is at the same time filled with righteous rage toward them and sorrow because he knows their end is destruction.

Psalm 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Susie: Susan is letting me take this one since I’m the one with a degree in Music Education, LOL. One of the best ways to memorize anything, especially scripture, is to sing it. As the psalmist journeyed through life, he set the word of God to music and sang it in order to remember the Law and to keep it ever in his mind.

Susan: David continually kept praise in his mouth while taunts and accusations swirled all around him like poisonous darts.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Susie: This is true of the author of Psalm 71 as well:

Psalm 71:13-14 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

Susie: Paul and Silas knew the comfort and power that singing about the Lord brought and sang even while imprisoned:

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Psalm 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

Susan: While the psalmist is about to drift off to slumberland, the Lord is able to run a tickertape of His word through his mind   because he has internalized God’s word in his heart during his waking hours.

Susie: Another psalm expresses this idea of God’s word playing in the mind even as one is about to go to sleep:

Psalm 63:5-7 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice..

Psalm 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

Psalm 119:56 (CSB) This is my practice: I obey your precepts.

Susan: The psalmist has made obedience to God’s word his way of life. Scripture is his instruction manual for living God’s way.

Susie: The psalmist makes a conscientious effort to walk in the way and will of the Lord daily.

Points to Ponder:

·     We can place our hope on God’s promises found in the Bible

·     Scripture comforts us

·     We must remain true to God’s word even when ridiculed for it

·     We should sing God’s word to praise Him and remember His instructions

·     As we internalize scripture, the Lord can bring it to mind even in the middle of the night

Reflection Question: The psalmist made a practice of singing the word of God. You may have more scripture memorized than you realize such as:

·     “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4)

·     “He who began a good work in me. . .” (Philippians 1:9)

·     “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1)

·     “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)

You may be able to list others. Sing them regularly as you do housework. Pay attention to which songs on the radio, your IPod, or in your worship services are direct quotes from the Bible. Memorize those songs. By doing so, you will be internalizing God’s word; and you will be blessed. This will help you to regularly reflect on God’s grace. 

PSALM 119:41-48 FIRE OPAL FREEDOM

FIRE OPAL FREEDOM

PSALM 119:41-48

ו (Vav)

Psalm 119:41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

Susie: Another theme that is repeated in Psalm 119 is that of God’s merciful, gracious salvation which He promises based not on our ability to perfectly keep the law but on His lovingkindness to those He has chosen. We will type the words related to this theme in purple.

Psalm 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

Psalm 119:42 (CJB) then I will have an answer for those who taunt me; for I trust in your word.

Susan: Because the Lord is pouring His faithful love into the psalmist and fulfilling His promise to save him, the psalmist has assurance in His word. God’s promises are true and certain, and He keeps them. The Bible, God’s word, is artillery for the psalmist against those who hurl insults and taunts.

Susie: The psalmist is secure in the word of the Lord and, therefore, has a response for any who mock his belief and trust in God. We are to be prepared to respond to those who do not understand our faith as well. The ability to do so is found in having a working knowledge of the Bible.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Susan: When we answer our critics, it must be done with humility and love toward them and reverence for the Almighty.

Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

Susan: The psalmist wants his mouth to be filled with God’s word which is truth.

Susie: The word of God gives us hope, and we need to share that hope with others by speaking the truth, God’s word, to them.

Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Susan: It is not just pastors, missionaries, and others in full-time ministry who are to speak the word of God. They are to prepare the entire congregation to minister the truth of the Gospel to the world:

Ephesians 4:11-12 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ

Psalm 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

Treasury of Scripture at

http://biblehub.com/psalms/119-44.htm

so shall. The language of this verse is very emphatic. Perfect obedience will constitute a large proportion of heavenly happiness to all eternity; and the nearer we approach to it on earth, the more we anticipate the felicity of heaven.

Susan: The psalmist has a deep desire to be consistent in his obedience to the word of God.

Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

Psalm 119:45 (CSB)     I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts.

Susan: Understanding and following the precepts, the principles, of God’s word frees a person from the constraint of the world. Then a person is able to operate from a place of grace and gratitude rather than in slavery to sin.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary

The service of sin is slavery; the service of God is liberty.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Susan: To know the truth is to know God’s word, but it is more. Jesus says He is the Truth. We are to know Him intimately in order to be set free from sin and welcomed into the familyship of God.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 8:36 (NIV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Susie: However, we are not to use our freedom to engage in worldly behavior. We are freed from serving sin in order to serve the Lord and the body of Christ, His church.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Psalm 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Susie: The psalmist tells the Lord that he will boldly proclaim the word of God before those in authority, even kings. He is not ashamed of his trust in God.

Matthew 10:18-20 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Psalm 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

Susan: Commandments in this Psalm is referring to all of Scripture, the whole counsel of God. He finds complete elation in saturating himself in the law of God. By being totally immersed in God’s word, he has found supreme satisfaction.

Psalm 1:1-2 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.

Psalm 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Susie: The psalmist lifts his hands in praise of the commandments which is ultimately praising the Lord for them. He has learned to love God’s word as it has set him free to fully love God. His desire is to dwell on God’s word. Not only to read it but to mull it over in his mind, internalizing what he learns, and applying it to his daily life.

Points to Ponder:

·     The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to draw us to salvation

·     The word will help us answer those who question our trust in Jesus

·     Knowing the word leads to obedience

·     God’s word frees us from sin and fits us for service

·     We can boldly share the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit in us

·     We need to praise God for the Bible

·     We need to meditate on God’s word

Reflection Question:

Non-believers sometimes see Christianity as limiting or constraining. They cannot see themselves following “all those rules.” However, in Christ, we experience true freedom. Living within God’s boundaries is the safest place to be. I remember a cartoon in which a man is about to jump a fence because he doesn’t like boundaries. However, what he cannot see is that the other side of the fence is a sheer drop to death! God’s boundaries are for our good and our peace. God’s word frees us!

PSALM 119:33-40 EMERALD EDUCATION

EMERALD EDUCATION

PSALM 119:33-40

ה (Heh)

Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Susie: The psalmist desires the Lord Himself to educate him in following His instructions.

Susan: He desires to understand and be enabled, with precise accuracy, to live out the principles God sets forth in His word.

Susie: He promises to make living according to God’s ways his lifelong pursuit.

Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Susie: In order to fully keep God’s law, the psalmist realizes he needs the Lord to give him fuller understanding of it.

Susan: To observe the law—to follow the commandments that God set forth in His word—with his whole heart means with his entire being. He will keep God’s law with the same intensity that he loves God.

Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Susie: When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus replied:

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Susie: Jesus linked obedience to the Lord with love for the Lord:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Susan: He asked the Lord to direct him, to guide him, to lead him in the way of righteous, holy living. The psalmist knew the Lord is the ultimate life coach, the one life coach worthy to be followed. As Creator, He knows what is best for the way He divinely designed us.

Susie: The psalmist had the wisdom to know that being right with God would bring joy. Obedience results in peace and contentment.

Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

Susie: The Lord initiates the relationship with a person. The psalmist submits to having the Lord direct his desires. God is the one that draws us to desire His way over our own:

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Susan: The psalmist desires to shape his heart, to mold him as the potter molds the clay.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Susan: Take a moment to listen to a great old hymn sung by Jim Reeves; may it be your heartfelt prayer.

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&p=Have+Thine+Own+Way%2C+Lord#id=2&vid=dfaa3b0e24cbf8d5b9fc740057ca2be1&action=view

Susie: By turning to the Lord’s ways, the psalmist will be turning away from desiring worldly pleasures. He asked the Lord to keep him from coveting what others have. In other words, he does not want to be tempted to gain things shadily. Instead, he wants to be content with what God has provided.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Susan: The psalmist wants to guard against any appetites filling the space reserved for God and God alone.

Psalm 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Susan: The psalmist implored the Lord to turn his focus to his relationship with God.

Susie: Any other pursuits—idols, fame, fortune—are worthless, useless, vain.

Susan: The psalmist asked the Lord to reinfuse His relationship with Him with vitality and vigor. All other pursuits pale in comparison. His relationship with God has inestimable value. 

Psalm 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Psalm 119:38 (AMPC) Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You.

Susan: The psalmist prayed the Lord would cause his roots to go deep down, holding firm to God’s covenant promise. He had reverent resolve to pursue God through the actualization of His word in his life.

Susie: The promise of blessing was for those who recognized the Lord as the One True God, had reverent fear of Him, trusted Him, and worshipped Him. The psalmist is identifying himself as that type of person.

Psalm 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

Susie:  Some commentators view this as a plea to not let him disgrace himself by straying from God’s ways. 

Susan: He does not want to embarrass himself by dishonoring God.

Psalm 119:39 (CJB) Avert the disgrace which I dread, for your rulings are good.

Susie: Other commentators believe he is asking to be shielded from criticism or scorn from other people because he is living according to God’s word.

Susan: The psalmist is asking God to insulate him from ridicule due to his trust in the Lord and obedience to His word.

Psalm 119:39 (TPT) Defend me from the criticism I face for keeping your beautiful words.

Psalm 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Susie: The psalmist had a hunger for the word of God. It was his deep desire to know God’s ways and to know God Himself.

Susan: For the psalmist, the word of God was his most necessary food which strengthened him in righteousness. He craved a right relationship first with God and then with others.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Points to Ponder:

·     The Lord is our teacher

·     The Holy Spirit enables us to understand God’s word

·     The Lord will redirect the person who is yielded to Him

·     The word of God instructs us in righteousness

Reflection Question:

Can you sing “Have Thine Own Way” wholeheartedly, meaning it from the core of your being? Ask the Lord to bring you to that point of being yielded to him, of desiring Him to have “absolute sway” over your life.