God Speaks
Aleph
1 Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!
Beth
9 How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.
Gimel
17 Be good to your servant,
that I may live and obey your word.
18 Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.
19 I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don’t hide your commands from me!
20 I am always overwhelmed
with a desire for your regulations.
21 You rebuke the arrogant;
those who wander from your commands are cursed.
22 Don’t let them scorn and insult me,
for I have obeyed your laws.
23 Even princes sit and speak against me,
but I will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your laws please me;
they give me wise advice.
Daleth
25 I lie in the dust;
revive me by your word.
26 I told you my plans, and you answered.
Now teach me your decrees.
27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 I weep with sorrow;
encourage me by your word.
29 Keep me from lying to myself;
give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
30 I have chosen to be faithful;
I have determined to live by your regulations.
31 I cling to your laws.
Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will pursue your commands,
for you expand my understanding.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: “[Psalm 119] is a Hebrew acrostic poem; there are twenty-two stanzas, one for each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within each stanza begins with the Hebrew letter named in its heading.”– Footnote on page 567 in The One Year Pray for America Bible (NLT) published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois, 2019.
Consider the following questions regarding Psalm 119:1-8, 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32:
1. What do these verses from Psalm 119 tell me about God?
2. What do these verses from Psalm 119 tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Verses 1-8
1. The LORD God wants people to be joyful, happy, or blessed. He, as any good father, knows that the best way for us to achieve that is for us to follow His instructions.
2. As people follow the LORD God’s commands consistently, we will avoid being ashamed. We should compare ourselves with His standards (not our own) or with other people.
Verses 9-16
1. The LORD God wants people to find Him. They are the ones who are lost, not Him.
2. People need to learn God’s laws so that we can avoid breaking them (sinning).
Verses 17-24
1. God is good and rebukes arrogance and evil behavior.
2. People need to have their eyes open to see God’s wonderful truths.
Verses 25-32
1. God teaches, revives, and encourages people who follow His ways.
2. People are to be humble, to not lie to themselves (or anyone else) and to cling to the LORD’s laws.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Psalm 119:1-8, 9-16, 17-24, and 25-32?
[Although this blog is meant to address timeless issues, this and subsequent entries are being written mere days before the 2022 midterm elections in the USA. This author will form the prayers based on Psalm 119 with a view of the LORD God calling people to follow His instructions as laid out in this beautiful psalm. All of Psalm 119 has been “prayer-a-phrased” to pray for We the People of the United States of America. Sections will be presented each day this week, but the whole adapted psalm can be found on the resources page of this blog. Praythruthebible.com’s regular OT, WL, NT pattern will resume on Monday, November 14.]
PSALM 119
Aleph
1. LORD God, please cause We the People of the United States of America to be joyful because we are people of integrity, who follow Your instructions, O LORD.
2. May We the People be joyful because we obey Your laws and search for You with all our hearts.
3. May We the People no longer compromise with evil. May we walk only in Your paths.
4. You have charged US to keep Your commandments carefully. Holy Spirit of God, work in our hearts so that we will be able to do this.
5. Oh, that our actions would consistently reflect Your decrees!
6. Then We the People will not be ashamed when we compare our lives with Your commands.
7. As We the People learn [and lean on] Your righteous regulations, we will thank You by living as we should.
8. As We the People determine to obey Your decrees (but falter and fail), please don’t give up on us!
Beth
9. May We the People of all ages return to purity (and truth) and stay pure by obeying Your word.
10. May We the People try hard to find You–don’t let US wander from Your commands.
11. May We the People hide Your word in our hearts (the control center of our being) that we might not sin against (or offend) You.
12. May We the People praise You, O LORD; teach us Your decrees.
13. May We the People recite aloud [in public] all the regulations You have given us.
14. May We the People rejoice in Your laws as much as in riches.
15. May We the People study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways.
16. May We the People delight in Your decrees and not forget Your word.
Gimel
17. Please bring good to Your servants, that We the People may live and obey Your word.
18. Open our eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions.
19. We the People are [only temporary residents] on this earth. Don’t hide Your commands from US!
20. May We the People always be overwhelmed with a desire for Your regulations.
21. You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from Your commands are cursed.
22. Don’t let them scorn and insult [those are trying to] obey Your laws.
23. Even [people in positions of authority or power] sit and speak against [those who seek to follow You], but [these righteous ones] will continue to meditate on Your decrees.
24. May Your laws please US; they give US wise advice.
Daleth
25. We the People lie [broken] in the dust; revive US by Your word.
26. May We the People tell You our plans, please answer US. Now teach US Your decrees.
27. Help US understand the meaning of Your commandments, and We the People will meditate on Your wonderful deeds.
28. We the People weep with sorrow [over what is happening in our beloved nation]; encourage US by Your word.
29. Keep US from lying to ourselves [and each other]; give US the privilege of knowing [and living out] Your instructions.
30. May We the People choose to be faithful; may we be determined to live by Your regulations.
31. May We the People cling to Your laws. LORD, don’t let US be put to shame!
32. May We the People pursue Your commands, for You expand our understanding.
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Psalm 119:1-8, 9-16, 17-24, 25-32
- I will ask the Lord to show me where I have compromised with evil, to forgive me, and to help me to change.
- I will memorize the Ten Commandments so that I can recite them aloud when appropriate.
- I will downsize my possessions so that I am living more like a person who is only on earth temporarily.
- I will list and think about at least ten wonderful deeds God has done in my life.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.