Saturday 18th January
Read Psalm 119:57-64
“Heth
57 You are my portion, Lord;
I have promised to obey your words.
58 I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.
60 I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.
63 I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.
64 The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.” (NIVUK)
I need to be actively involved in choosing the right path. v57-64.
Having become aware of the wisdom of obedience (last stanza) and promised to do so in ‘seeking God’s face’ the psalmist also recognises that God is his provider (my portion), gracious in His promise to protect and provide. The terms ‘sought’, ‘considered’ and ‘turned’ emphasise that the psalmist is very active in looking for God’s direction and instruction and responsiveness is also apparent in ‘hasten and not delay’. An immediate response is to see that we can’t just sit back and soak up the instructions, they need to be acted on and there is no progress on the journey unless we do so. The ‘turned my steps to your statutes’ somehow captures the idea of a repentant heart, seeking to retrace steps to the right path? So, the psalmist decides (affirms again) that no matter how difficult it might be to respond and turn back (even when bound by the wicked with ropes) he will do just that. It will require him to remember that God’s words are righteous (even when he wakes up in the middle of the night with doubts) and to be thankful that God’s words are for his good. If he remembers, then those of like mind (those who also follow God’s directions, his travelling companions) will be the ones he ‘hangs out with’ and in doing so the love of God will be apparent! Does this last idea capture something of God’s love expressed on earth through His people? The psalmist affirms yes this is wonderful, keep teaching me Lord.
Geoff Hinch
