Help Me!

“All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!” Psalm 119.86 There is much to be learned from the prayers recorded in Scripture. We can be greatly helped by simply reading, meditating on, and making these prayers our own. That is certainly true of the last two words of this verse. “Help me!” What a pure and …

Watchfulness

“The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.” Psalm 119.85 Watchfulness. It’s one of the most under-valued disciplines of the Christian life. We must guard ourselves against the traps and snares of the world, against the deceptive dangers of sin and temptation. In this verse, the psalmist laments the traps set for him …

When Despair Deepens

“How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?” Psalm 119.84 As the psalmist sinks further into his dismay, he sinks further into his dependence on the Lord for vindication. He expressed this dependence in the previous stanza (78), and he deepens that expression here. He’s unsure how much longer he can make it win …

Wine Skins and the Word

“For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.” Psalm 119.83 The historic, cultural understanding of the psalmist in this verse is explained well by Spurgeon: “This skins used for containing wine, when emptied, were hung up in a tent, and when the place reeked with smoke the skins grew black and …

Hope for Tired Eyes

“My eyes long for your promise; I ask, ‘When will you comfort me?” Psalm 119.82 Here we have a clear display of the psalmist’s weariness. He’s living in a dark world, facing persecution and attacks. He is weary. His eyes are tired from looking for the promises of God. He wonders how long he will have to wait. Still, though …

Hope for the Weary Soul

“My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.” Psalm 119.81 As the psalmist continues through this inspired epic about God’s word, it’s as though he’s beholding a rare jewel. Each stanza highlights one aspect of Scripture, as though the jeweler is describing each facet of a rare gem. With this verse, he opens a new stanza with …

Service Preview – Sunday, January 20th

Last week we looked at Christ’s faithfulness amidst an unjust trial in contrast with Peter’s unfaithfulness. In light of this passage we considered what this meant for us, asking “Am I like Peter, blending in?” If you missed this message, you can still listen by clicking here. In anticipation of our next gathering, Eric prepares us with these words: “As …

Protection in Affliction

“May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!” Psalm 119.80 This verse brings this tenth stanza full circle. He opened this section (73) by acknowledging that God created him, thus knows him better than he even knows himself. This truth led him to plead with God to give him understanding of divine …

Helping Others See God

“Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.” Psalm 119.79 As the psalmist continues through this chiastic stanza, he reminds us of his words in verse 74. There, he pointed out that his hope in Scripture attracted those who fear the Lord to himself. Here, he fills out that concept with his intention to …

Trusting God for Justice

“Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.” Psalm 119.78 Earlier in this stanza, the author sees the faithfulness and righteousness of God at work in his affliction (75). In this verse, the psalmist, knowing that God is the ultimate source of his trials, prays …