Saturday 25th January
Read Psalm 119:113-120
“Samekh
113 I hate double-minded people,
but I love your law.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
115 Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I shall live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.
117 Uphold me, and I shall be delivered;
I shall always have regard for your decrees.
118 You reject all who stray from your decrees,
for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;
therefore I love your statutes.
120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your laws.” (NIVUK)
Why am I inclined to ignore the map and choose my own path? v113-120.
I hate double minded people is an interesting starting point, what was the prompt to cause this comment, was this about the psalmist himself or others? Maybe it is motivated by the psalmist’s recognition that he doesn’t always follow through on his oath of the previous stanza? In the context of law, it seems to imply double standards, knowing about God’s law (instructions) but being unwilling to listen and apply? How often in our life journey is this true of us? The psalmist seems to recognise that listening to/ focus on God’s word/commands will protect and bring hope. That hope will sustain (promise) in times of the challenge by evil and will bring deliverance. Then it seems the psalmist returns to thinking about the ‘double- minded’, those who ‘stray from God’s decrees’; they are deluded in their choice and the outcome is to be ‘discarded’ (death?). Reflection on this brings the psalmist to recognise what God says should bring him to fear/awe (my flesh trembles). Is this my realisation and response?
Geoff Hinch
