KUNZITE
KEYS
PSALM
119:81-88
כ
(Kaf)
Psalm
119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation:
but I hope in thy word.
Susie: The
psalmist may have been referring to a physical salvation from the threats of
his enemies. However, this can apply to the desperation of being held captive
by our sins as well. Either way, he is at a point of exhaustion because he
cannot handle things in his own strength.
Susan: He
reminds himself that his strength lies in the power and promises of Yahweh’s
word. Even though he is totally spent, he is determined to hold fast to the
truth found in the scriptures.
Psalm
119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Susan: The
psalmist is trying to get his perception in line with God’s word, trying to
make sense of the senseless abuse his enemies hurl at him.
Susie: He is
experiencing spiritual eye-strain. He knows God’s word, knows God is trustworthy,
knows God sees his plight. However, it seems like the Lord is taking His time
in responding to the psalmist’s need.
Susan: This
is an example that God’s timetable is not human in nature but supernatural.
Susie: If God
seems to be withholding comfort, it is still for the eventual good of His
child. I love reading Psalms because the human writers do not sugar-coat their
situations or their emotions.
Susan: At the
times when we feel like a piece of swiss cheese, that the winds of life are
blowing completely through us, God may be building something in us, conforming
us to the character of Christ. His comfort will come to us in His perfect
timing and for His purpose to be perfected in us.
Psalm
119:83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy
statutes.
Susie: When
modern readers see the word “bottle,” they may envision something made of
glass. However, this would have been a wineskin made from animal hide that
would dry out and shrivel up in a hot smoky place.
Susan: The
psalmist felt like a grape that had become a raisin, all the juice evaporating
leaving a shriveled shell. He felt wrung out, completely limp and lifeless
because of the tormenting actions of his enemies.
Susie: Even
though he is completely spent, he remembers and clings to the truth of God’s
word. He knows the Lord keeps His covenant with His people.
Susan: Even
though, in his humanity, he was feeling abandon, the writer of Psalm 119 knows
that the word of God is his life’s preservation. Therefore, he holds fast to
it.
Psalm
119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on
them that persecute me?
Susie: The
psalmist cries out to God asking how much longer he has, how much longer must
he endure.
Susan: He
wonders how much longer he must remain in this state of being persecuted and
whether or not he will enjoy deliverance in his lifetime. His strength is
essentially gone; and he feels that unless God comes through for him soon, he
will leave earth to be with God. He does not know whether God will deliver him
here or take him out of the problem and all the way Home.
Psalm
119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Susie: Those
who oppose him are crafty in trying to ensnare him. Whether literally or
figuratively, it is if they have dug a pit, covered in weak branches, and
waited for him to fall in.
Susan: They
use deceit and all manner of evil to bring him down. They work behind his back
spreading lies rather than confronting him face to face.
Susie: All
types of deceit are contrary to God’s precepts, and actual open pits that an
animal or person might fall into were specifically forbidden in God’s word.
Exodus
21:33-34 33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not
cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; The owner of the pit shall make it
good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
Psalm
119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help
thou me.
Susan: The
psalmist maintains his confidence in the fact that all of God’s precepts are
true and trustworthy. People were maligning his character by bringing false accusations
against him.
Susie: As
stated throughout this psalm, he is living according to God’s statutes and
asking the Lord to help him do so. Therefore, he feels certain he can trust the
Lord to help him.
Susan: He
trusts in God to be his everything, his fortress, his safe place, his defense.
He pleads with he Lord to come to his aid before he faces destruction.
Psalm
119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Susan: His
enemies had almost succeeded in their mission of extinguishing him, removing
him from the earth. Even in the midst of the horrific battle, he remained
faithful to God’s teaching. Obedience is not dependent upon the circumstances.
He obeys in the bad times as well as the good.
Susie: He
holds tightly to the Lord and His word and remains confident in the trial.
Another psalm expresses this well:
Psalm
62:1-2 (NIV) Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be
shaken.
Susan: The
psalmist knew the truth that the only way to be triumphant, victorious, is to
hold on to God through His word.
Psalm
119:88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy
mouth.
Susan: For
the psalmist, his relationship with God is paramount, it is his priority to the
nth degree. God does not always take you out of a situation, but He will see
you through.
Susie: The
psalmist has expressed feeling near death in this passage but ends this stanza
asking the Lord to “quicken” him, to revive him, to resuscitate him, according
to His “lovingkindness,” His merciful and gracious love.
Susan: The
psalmist desires to go on living in order to bring glory to the Lord by living
according to God’s word.
Points
to Ponder:
· We can
find hope in God’s word
· We
need to remember (memorize) God’s word
· God’s
word is trustworthy
· Do not
forsake (give up on) God’s word
· God
revives us
· We
must keep (obey) God’s word
Reflection
Question: Do you have “key” verses memorized or written down that you
turn to in times of need? Some Bibles have suggested key verses, and there are
numerous gift books for this purpose. However, we recommend developing your own
key, meaningful verses. You may want to write them out on a notecard to carry
with you until you can commit them to memory. Here is a short list of some of
ours:
· 1 John
1:9 – When I have sinned
· 1
Corinthians 10:13 – When I am tempted
· Psalm
23 – For comfort
· John
10:27-29 – Held in His hand
· Romans
8:37 – I am a conqueror
· Romans
8:38-39 – Nothing can separate me from God’s love
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