Friday 31st January
Read Psalm 119:161-168
“Sin and Shin
161 Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart trembles at your word.
162 I rejoice in your promise
like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and detest falsehood
but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous laws.
165 Great peace have those who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,
and I follow your commands.
167 I obey your statutes,
for I love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,
for all my ways are known to you.” (NIVUK)
Your instructions are reliable giving stability and peace, you know me well! v161-168.
It seems that the thinking about a tough world/path continues as the psalmist considers the unjust and hard hearts of rulers (governments?); injustice is implied in ‘persecute without cause’. But the psalmist is more motivated (‘tremble”) to listen to the Lord’s directions than to worry about the injustice of rulers; why, because God’s word brings rejoicing as the he affirms that hearing His promises is like finding something of great value. Consequently, the psalmist says, seven times a day (a perfect number in the spiritual sense) he gives thanks and praise for God’s law as love for God’s words brings peace (of heart?) and a stability, a capacity to deal with pressures and injustice of life where nothing rocks the boat! The psalmist then says, I am waiting to be released from this world of injustice (seeking salvation) and while I wait, I will follow and obey your words. Why would I do that, because I am very aware of my situation, ‘all my ways are known to you’ so I can trust you to get me to the end of the journey and be with you forever.
Geoff Hinch
