Friday 17th January
Read Psalm 119:49-56
“Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
your promise preserves my life.
51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully,
but I do not turn from your law.
52 I remember, Lord, your ancient laws,
and I find comfort in them.
53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.
54 Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge.
55 In the night, Lord, I remember your name,
that I may keep your law.
56 This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts.” (NIVUK)
God’s ‘map’ has been around forever and can be trusted. V49-56.
The psalmist has been meditating on God’s directions and comes to the point of asking God not to forget him (remember) because there is hope in God’s goodness; His character gives hope. Often in mediating on God’s word we head off in unexpected directions and that’s what, at first appearances at least, has happened here. It seems that the psalmist is downhearted, if not a little depressed because of suffering (brought about by opposition of the unmerciful/unrelenting taunts of the arrogant) but he recognises that his life is preserved (stays on track) because God keeps His promises and that he needs to ‘hang in’, following the directions given. He is not to be led astray by those offering alternative easier shortcuts. Why, because those guidelines (law) have been around forever, and they have been proven to be correct in providing comfort for those struggling to know the right direction to take and to persist when the road is rough and steep. The psalmist recognises that, the guidelines have been there forever and have been the basis of his joy (song) wherever he has been on his journey. He recognises that it is true that even in the ‘small hours of the night’ when everything seems black and there are no stars to be seen, if he remembers God’s character it makes him realise that following the directions given (been my practice) have got him safely to this point of the journey. It’s wise to continue to follow carefully (obey) the directions God has given!
Geoff Hinch
