God Speaks
Mem
97 Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers,
for I am always thinking of your laws.
100 I am even wiser than my elders,
for I have kept your commandments.
101 I have refused to walk on any evil path,
so that I may remain obedient to your word.
102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations,
for you have taught me well.
103 How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
104 Your commandments give me understanding;
no wonder I hate every false way of life.
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
107 I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
108 Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
109 My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
110 The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
111 Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
112 I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.
Samekh
113 I hate those with divided loyalties,
but I love your instructions.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my source of hope.
115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,
for I intend to obey the commands of my God.
116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed.
117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.
They are only fooling themselves.
119 You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;
no wonder I love to obey your laws!
120 I tremble in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your regulations.
Ayin
121 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,
for I have done what is just and right.
122 Please guarantee a blessing for me.
Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!
123 My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
124 I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.
125 Give discernment to me, your servant;
then I will understand your laws.
126 Lord, it is time for you to act,
for these evil people have violated your instructions.
127 Truly, I love your commands
more than gold, even the finest gold.
128 Each of your commandments is right.
That is why I hate every false way.
Pe
129 Your laws are wonderful.
No wonder I obey them!
130 The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
131 I pant with expectation,
longing for your commands.
132 Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
133 Guide my steps by your word,
so I will not be overcome by evil.
134 Ransom me from the oppression of evil people;
then I can obey your commandments.
135 Look upon me with love;
teach me your decrees.
136 Rivers of tears gush from my eyes
because people disobey your instructions.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Psalm 119:97-104, 105-112, 113-120, 121-128, and 129-136:
1. What does this stanza of Psalm 119 tell me about God?
2. What does this stanza of 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.
Psalm 119:97-104
1. God gave His word to people so that we can overcome enemies, gain insight about life, and be understanding.
2. People who wish to be wise should study the words of God.
Psalm 119:105-112
1. God guides and teaches people through His words.
2. People can find guidance and great treasure in God’s word.
Psalm 119:113-120
1. God sustains and rescues those who turn to Him for help.
2. People who turn away from God are only fooling themselves.
Psalm 119:121-128
1. God guarantees to bless and give discernment to His servants.
2. Some people strain to see God’s promises fulfilled, while others arrogantly oppress their fellow human beings.
Psalm 119:129-136
1. God shows mercy, guides, and ransoms those who obey His commands.
2. People are meant to find God’s laws wonderful and to obey them.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Psalm 119:97-104, 105-112, 113-120, 121-128, and 129-136?
Mem
97. O LORD God, may We the People love Your instructions! May we think about them all day long.
98. Your commands make us wiser than our enemies; may they be our constant guide.
99. Yes, may We the People have more insight than our [elitist] “teachers,” for we are always thinking of Your laws.
100. We the People are even wiser than our elders [globalist leaders], for we [those who fear You] have strived to keep Your commandments.
101. May We the People refuse to walk on any evil path, so that we may remain obedient to Your word.
102. May We the People not turn away from [or ignore] Your regulations, for You have taught US well.
103. May We the People say, “How sweet Your words taste to US; they are sweeter than honey.”
104. Your commandments give US understanding; no wonder We the People hate every false way of life.
Nun
105. Your word is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path.
106. We the People promised it in the past, may we promise it again: We the People will obey the LORD God’s righteous regulations.
107. Many of US have suffered much, O LORD; restore our lives again as You promised.
108. LORD, accept our offering of praise and teach US Your regulations.
109. Our lives constantly hang in the balance, but don’t let US stop obeying Your instructions.
110. The wicked have set their traps for US, but may We the People determine not to turn from Your commandments.
111. May it be true: Your laws are our treasure; they are our heart’s delight.
112. May We the People be determined to keep Your decrees to the very end.
Samekh
113. May We the People hate those with divided loyalties, but may we love Your instructions.
114. You, O LORD, are our refuge and our shield; Your word is our [only] source of hope.
115. Get out of our lives, you evil-minded people, for We the People intend to obey the commands of our God.
116. LORD, sustain US as You promised, that We the People may live [in freedom to follow You]! Don’t let our hope be crushed.
117. Sustain US, and We the People will be rescued; then we will meditate continually on Your decrees.
118. But You, LORD, have rejected all who [intentionally] stray from Your decrees. They are only fooling themselves.
119. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder We the People love to obey Your laws!
120. May We the People tremble in fear of [displeasing] You; may we stand in awe of Your regulations.
Ayin
121. Don’t leave US to the mercy of our enemies when We the People have done what is just and right.
122. Please guarantee a blessing for US. Don’t let the arrogant oppress US!
123. Our eyes strain to see Your rescue, to see the truth of Your promise fulfilled.
124. May We the People proclaim, “We are Your servants.” Deal with US in unfailing love and teach US Your decrees.
125. Give discernment to US, Your servants; then We the People will understand Your laws.
126. LORD, it is time for You to act, for these evil people have violated Your instructions.
127. Truly, [You are turning many of] We the People to love Your commands more than gold, even the finest gold.
128. Each of Your commandments is right. That is why We the People hate every false way.
Pe
129. Your laws are wonderful. No wonder We the People are being drawn to obey them!
130. The teaching of Your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.
131. May We the People pant with expectation, longing for Your commands.
132. Come and show US Your mercy, as You do for all who love Your name.
133. Guide our steps by Your word, so We the People will not be overcome by evil.
134. Ransom US from the oppression of evil people; then We the People can obey Your commands.
135. O LORD, look upon US with love; teach US Your decrees.
136. Rivers of tears gush from our eyes because people disobey Your instructions.
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 119:97-104, 105-112, 113-120, 121-128, and 129-136?
- I will be kind to a friend but refuse to walk with them on an evil path.
- I will look into what the Bible has to say about the topic of the next decision I have to make. I will let it light my path.
- I will politely but firmly part company with evil-minded people.
- I will serve God by serving other people. I will look for a way to give someone a hand up rather than a handout.
- I will check my motives and actions to make sure that I am not being a hypocrite. I will obey God’s word.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.