God Speaks
Tsadhe
137 O Lord, you are righteous,
and your regulations are fair.
138 Your laws are perfect
and completely trustworthy.
139 I am overwhelmed with indignation,
for my enemies have disregarded your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
that is why I love them so much.
141 I am insignificant and despised,
but I don’t forget your commandments.
142 Your justice is eternal,
and your instructions are perfectly true.
143 As pressure and stress bear down on me,
I find joy in your commands.
144 Your laws are always right;
help me to understand them so I may live.
Qoph
145 I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord!
I will obey your decrees.
146 I cry out to you; rescue me,
that I may obey your laws.
147 I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
148 I stay awake through the night,
thinking about your promise.
149 In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry;
let me be revived by following your regulations.
150 Lawless people are coming to attack me;
they live far from your instructions.
151 But you are near, O Lord,
and all your commands are true.
152 I have known from my earliest days
that your laws will last forever.
Resh
153 Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten your instructions.
154 Argue my case; take my side!
Protect my life as you promised.
155 The wicked are far from rescue,
for they do not bother with your decrees.
156 Lord, how great is your mercy;
let me be revived by following your regulations.
157 Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your laws.
158 Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart,
because they care nothing for your word.
159 See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
160 The very essence of your words is truth;
all your just regulations will stand forever.
Shin
161 Powerful people harass me without cause,
but my heart trembles only at your word.
162 I rejoice in your word
like one who discovers a great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor all falsehood,
but I love your instructions.
164 I will praise you seven times a day
because all your regulations are just.
165 Those who love your instructions have great peace
and do not stumble.
166 I long for your rescue, Lord,
so I have obeyed your commands.
167 I have obeyed your laws,
for I love them very much.
168 Yes, I obey your commandments and laws
because you know everything I do.
Taw
169 O Lord, listen to my cry;
give me the discerning mind you promised.
170 Listen to my prayer;
rescue me as you promised.
171 Let praise flow from my lips,
for you have taught me your decrees.
172 Let my tongue sing about your word,
for all your commands are right.
173 Give me a helping hand,
for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
174 O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
and your instructions are my delight.
175 Let me live so I can praise you,
and may your regulations help me.
176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
come and find me,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Psalm 119:137-144, 145-152, 153-160, 161-168, and 169-176:
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 119:137-144
1. God is righteous and worthy of trust. He keeps His promises.
2. People are prone to indignation, anger, injustice, and anxiety.
Psalm 119:145-152
1. The LORD God is sovereign over all but listens to the prayers of those who cry out to Him.
2. People need to be rescued (from sin, self, Satan, society, and situations).
Psalm 119:153-160
1. God (Jesus) is the believer’s advocate or defender.
2. People often persecute and trouble each other.
Psalm 119:161-168
1. God has given people His words so that they can understand (at least to an extent) and obey Him.
2. People who love His word praise the LORD.
Psalm 119:169-176
1. God is an attentive teacher to those who delight in His instructions.
2. People often wander away from God by forgetting His commands.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Psalm 119: 137-144, 145-152, 153-160, 161-168, and 169-176?
Tsadhe
137. O LORD, You are righteous; Your regulations are fair.
138. Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.
139. May We the People be overwhelmed with indignation, for our enemies have disregarded Your words.
140. Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why We the People [will come to] love them so much.
141. We the People are [considered] insignificant and despised, but [may] we forget not Your commandments.
142. Your justice is eternal, and Your instructions are perfectly true.
143. As pressure and stress bear down on US, [may] We the People find joy in Your commands.
144. Your laws are always right; help US to understand them so that We the People may live.
Qoph
145. May we pray with all our hearts; answer US, LORD! Then We the People will obey Your decrees.
146. We the People cry out to You; rescue US, that we may obey Your laws.
147. May We the People rise early, before the sun is up; may we cry out for help and put our hope in Your words.
148. May [many] stay awake through the night, thinking of Your promise.
149. In Your faithful love, O LORD, hear our cry; let US be revived by following Your regulations.
150. Lawless people are coming to attack US; they live far from Your instructions.
151. But You are near, O LORD, and all Your commands are true.
152. We the People have known from our earliest days that Your laws will last forever.
Resh
153. Look upon our suffering and rescue US, even though We the People have forgotten Your instructions.
154. [Lord Jesus, on the basis of Your life, death, and resurrection] argue our case; take our side! Protect the lives of We the People [even though we don’t deserve it. Not for our sakes, but for the sake of Your great name and to show that You keep Your promises.]
155. The wicked are far from rescue, for they do not bother with Your decrees.
156. LORD, how great is Your mercy; let US be revived by following Your regulations.
157. Many persecute and trouble US, yet may We the People not be swerved from following Your regulations.
158. Seeing these traitors makes US sick at heart, because they care nothing for Your word.
159. Draw We the People to love Your commandments, LORD. Give US new life because of Your unfailing love.
160. The very essence of Your words is truth; all Your just regulations will stand forever.
Shin
161. Powerful people harass US without cause but may our hearts tremble only at Your word.
162. May We the People rejoice in Your word like one who discovers a great treasure.
163. May we hate and abhor all falsehood but may We the People love Your instructions.
164. Then We the People will praise You seven times a day because all Your regulations are just.
165. Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble [and are not easily offended].
166. We the People long for Your rescue, LORD; help US to obey Your commands.
167. May We the People obey Your laws because we love You so much.
168. Yes, may We the People obey Your commandments and laws because You know everything we do.
Taw
169. O LORD, listen to our cry; give US the discerning mind You promised.
170. Listen to our prayer; rescue US as You promised.
171. Let praise flow from our lips, for You have taught US Your decrees.
172. May our tongues sing about Your word, for all Your commands are right.
173. Give US a helping hand, for We the People have chosen to follow your commandments.
174. O LORD, We the People have longed for Your rescue, and Your instructions have become our delight.
175. Let US live so We the People can praise You, and may Your regulations help us.
176. We the People have wandered away like lost sheep; come and find US, for we have forgotten Your commands.
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 119:137-144, 145-152, 153-160, 161-168, and 169-176?
- I will read the Bible (both Original and New Testaments) to become familiar with God’s word’s and commands.
- I will keep a daily journal and note when I have obeyed or disobeyed God’s commands.
- I will ask the LORD to show me how He wants to use me to comfort someone or relieve their suffering.
- I will thank the LORD for the peace He has given me when I have followed His instructions and how it has kept me out of trouble.
- I will remember the LORD’s commands and His compassion and cry out to Him for help and rescue when I have wandered away (either intentionally or unintentionally).
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.