Archive for the Psalm 119 category
Psalm 119 Teth
Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2008 at 1:10 PM by David Zavadil
65 ¶ <TETH> You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 67 ¶ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 68 ¶ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. 69 ¶ The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. 71 ¶ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 72 ¶ The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
65 ¶ <TETH> You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Have you ever considered how God has dealt with you? Have you received what you deserve from God? Has God been fair or unfair in your life? This passage begins with the Psalmist speaking to the way God deals with His people. “You have dealt well.” A more literal translation might be, “you have made things pleasant with your servant.”
In the previous passages we have seen the writer express that it is by the hand of God that he is kept from evil doers, by God he is protected from evil. Not wanting to take for granted the care and provision of the Lord, he writes that the Lord has done pleasant things for him. I wonder how many of us remember the good things God has done for us. What are some of the good things God has done for you?
Note that not only has God done pleasant things, but that He has done so with His servant. The writer is encouraging us, the people of God, not the unbeliever. It is also a reminder of our position in Christ. As a believer, I am never a man unto my own, I am a servant of the Most High God. In our society, our picture of slavery is one of pain and suffering. Our politically correct world does not want the loving and humane treatment of slaves to be portrayed, as if that will some how condone the slavery. Here we are reading of the proper treatment of servants. “You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD...” This treatment is done in accordance with the Word of God. God has promised to love and care for his people. Ex 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; De 7:6 ‘‘For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Mal 3:17 ‘‘They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
When ever we are treated well, a certain amount of boldness enters the relationship. When we can trust someone to treat us right, we feel we can trust them to do other things. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. How do we go about gaining knowledge and judgement? We read books, go to classes, watch videos and gain more knowledge. To gain both knowledge and judgement is hard without God's intervention. He has thanked God for dealing well with Him, now he builds on that. “ For what blessings can be more suitable to an ignorant sinner, than good judgment and knowledge; knowledge of ourselves, of our Saviour, of the way of obedience – and good judgement, to apply this knowledge to some valuable end?” (Bridges, Psalm 119) Bridges further writes, “These two parts of our intellectual furniture have a most important connexion and dependence upon each other. Knowledge is the speculative perception of general truth. Judgement is the practical application of it to the heart and conduct. No school, but the school of Christ – no teaching, but the teaching of the Spirit – can ever give this good judgement and knowledge.” The Puritan, Greenham was once asked to make judgment on a matter. He replied, “ Sir, neither am I able to speak, nor you to hear; for we have not prayed. I may, indeed, talk, and you may answer, as natural men: but we are not now prepared to confer as children of God.” (Greenham, Works) What better blessing can we ask of God than for knowledge and judgment?
67 ¶ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. Knowledge and judgment will cause us to think of ourselves and our condition. When we have much we find it easy to stray much. Note that the writer says, before I was afflicted. We all are afflicted with sin, from birth. David writes, Ps 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. In those days, before our sin is revealed to us, those days before coming to Christ, we struggle and stray. I do not believe it would be right to say, “In those days before I was afflicted with Christ.” Before we understand the state of our affliction with sin, we go astray. A more contemporary way of stating this phrase may be, “ Before I came to Christ, I sinned, but now I keep your word.”
68 ¶ You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. We can never be reminded too often about the goodness of God. Even in those times when our sin is being shown to us like a movie on a big screen tv we should be reminded of the goodness of God. There is nothing good in us apart from Christ and apart for Christ we can do no good. Goodness is the summation of all of God's attributes. When life is getting us down, God's goodness leads us to His word.
69 ¶ The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. The proud and arrogant will always think they are better than God's people. The struggle we too often face is trying to please the “insolent.” We think if we can make them happy, they will just get off our backs. The psalmist writes that our lives are to be different. Even though we are smeared, we are not to bow down and behave as they wish, instead, we are to turn to His Word. The insolent have hearts like fat, gooey and sickening, nothing they say brings any nourishment. God's word, on the other hand, brings life. Too often we are concerned with what others are saying, this passage speaks of our keeping and delighting in the Word of God. Our only concern should be with what God is saying , not what man is saying.
71 ¶ It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Earlier, the psalmist wrote that before he was afflicted he went astray. Here we read, that it was good. How can our affliction of sin be good? “None indeed but the Lord's scholars can know the benefit and this teaching.” (Bridges, Psalm 119) Often times, our best lessons are learned when we are our lowest. Some times it takes our failure to learn the right way to go. Some ask me how I learned to repair computers. My reply has been, “When you mess up enough computers, you learn what not to do.” Martin Luther once said, “ I never knew the meaning of God's word, until I came into affliction. I have always found it one of my best schoolmasters.” This verse calls us to daily examination. What are those areas in my life that have led to failure and sin? How can I overcome my sinfulness?
72 ¶ The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. This verse answers the previous questions. Where do we turn when in need of guidance and correction? The Word of God. Where do we run to find words of comfort and counsel? The Word of God. Where do we turn to find teaching about our Savior? The Word of God. There is nothing as great as God's Word properly applied. We can have a billion dollars, but it can not point us to eternity, it can not even purchase a moment of time. Only the Word of God can point to eternity. What can be of greater value than the truth of life in Christ?
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS)
Psalm 119 Heth
Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 6:04 PM by David Zavadil
57 ¶ <HETH> The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
58 ¶ I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 ¶ When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; 60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
61 ¶ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
62 ¶ At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 ¶ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 ¶ The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!(ESV)
We Americans like everything big. We go to a restaurant and try to figure out which dish will bring the most food. We like big houses, big cars, big pets, big everything. Yet, one thing that scares almost all of us to a person is a big God. The Psalmist calls our attention back to our view of God. 57. The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. These words are difficult in our modern English What does the writer mean by "my portion?" We might could paraphrase that first line as, "The Lord is all that I need." He is enough. We always seem to want more, but the Psalmist reminds us that in Christ we have all that we need. What does it mean to be content? We think it means having more, but the Scriptures teach us that contentment is found in all we need, it is found in God. Because I have all that I need in God, in Christ, I am going to keep your word. There is nothing else I need, so why live or do anything else but live for you Oh Lord?
"But a portion implies, not a source of ordinary pleasure, but of rest and satisfaction, such as leaves nothing else to be desired." Charles Bridges, Psalm 119
58 ¶ I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When we find the portion of the Lord, the sufficiency of God in our lives, we are driven to call out for his favor. Anytime we discover contentment, we cry out for more. The psalmist, finding that God fulfills all of his needs, cries out, "Lord show me favor." As God's word works in our lives, making us more like Him, we desire even more. The natural question that arises here is, "what is God's favor?"
Is not the favor of God, God himself? In Christ we find the true fulfillment of this promise. The grace and mercy found in Christ is all we could ever want. Like the Psalmist we are to seek God with all our heart. God has promised to be gracious to us, fulfilling this promise in Jesus Christ. "We 'joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we now receive atonement.' (Rom. 5:11) Mercy, however, is the source of that favour which we entreat; and the word is the warrant of our expectation - Be merciful unto us according to thy word." (Bridges, Psalm 119) Never forget, dear reader, the promise of mercy and grace is found throughout the Word of God. Our cry does not fall on deaf ears but lightens upon the God of the Word. He will fulfill His promises. Rest in those promises.
59 ¶ When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; Oh, if we would only rest on the Word of God. If only God were our constant thought. Most of us, however, think more of our stomachs that we do of God. The Psalmist teaches us what should happen when we turn our thoughts to ourselves. We should be driven back to the Word of God. "Multitudes live for the world - forget God and die! This is their history." (Bridges) Anytime we are dwelling upon self, we should be driven to Christ, for as we think of self we realize our need for Christ. He is both our starting place and our finish line.
60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. When we begin to see our lives for what they are, sinful lives in need of a savior, we shouldn't dally around, hoping one day we might find the answer to our condition. We are in such a need of a savior that we should run to Christ, not walk and wait. "If ever delays are dangerous, much more are they in this concern of eternity." (Bridges) We must not take our time in learning the Word of God. His Word must become a daily part of our lives. When we see who we are apart from Christ we must run with haste to the commands of God. They are the guide to carry us through the day.
61 ¶ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. The world bombards us with all kinds of influences every day. We have become so desensitized to sin that we too easily find ourselves ensnared in the very sin we condemn. What are we to do when facing the temptations of the world? First we need to remember the Word of God. I do not forget your law. Paul writes, 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. There is nothing we will face that God can't over take. Remember we can endure temptation. Second, we must flee the cords of the wicked. Put the sins of our youth behind us and live a life worthy of Christ. 1Ti 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 2Ti 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Turn to the Word to find the strength to flee sin and walk with Christ.
62 ¶ At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
63 ¶ I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
What a feeling of relief it is when we succeed in overcoming sin. When the Scriptures become central to our lives and we find our lives driven by the power of God in us, we are moved to praise. The psalmist is so moved that he awakens in the middle of the night to praise God. The question that arises is this, "Do you praise God when you find His Word powerfully at work in your life?" Our life should be a life of praise, we read that throughout the Bible.
You are never alone when you walk with God and are a man or woman of the Word. We are, as the psalmist writes, are "a companion of all who fear you." There is a unity of faith that is found in the unity of the Word. The uniqueness of the Christian faith is that no matter where you are in the world, the Bible is still the Bible. The language may be different, but the truths are still the same.
One of those truths is expressed in our final verse. The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; The love of God is all around us. Ps 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Since His love surrounds us, we can look to God for contentment, for His portion. The psalmist begins by pointing to God and ends this passage by pointing back to God. He is our portion, all that we need, because of this, we should rest in His Word.
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS)
Comments Restored
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 3:28 PM by David Zavadil
I have restored the comments on this blog. It is a new account so all of the previous comments, including the spam have been deleted. I plan on writing more and moderating the comments tighter. I pray that at some time this site will be used by people around the world for edification and growth.
Edited on: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:03 PMPosted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Locarb (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS), Puritans (RSS), Stupid Movie Quotes (RSS), The Church (RSS), TNT (RSS)
Comments Spammed
Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 6:27 PM by David Zavadil
My comments were spammed recently so I have eliminated them until I can find a better system.
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Books (RSS), Commentary (RSS), Family happenings (RSS), Fear of God (RSS), Just For Fun (RSS), Locarb (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Mortification (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS), Puritans (RSS), Stupid Movie Quotes (RSS), The Church (RSS), TNT (RSS)
Psalm 119 Zayin
Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 2:28 PM by David Zavadil
49 ¶ <ZAYIN> Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.
50 ¶ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
51 ¶ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.
52 ¶ When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
53 ¶ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
54 ¶ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
55 ¶ I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.
Zayin begins with the Psalmist reminding God of His hope giving promise. Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. As we study Scripture and seek to apply it to our lives, the Word of God should always be pointing us to the source of true hope, God. God is to be the focus of our lives, our object of hope. This verse serves to remind us that in the Word we find the teachings of hope. When we are downcast or persecuted, we can find in God's Word hope. God has promised us life, forgiveness, provision, care, healing, peace and an abundant life. We are challenged to remember these promises as we look for God at work in our lives. Charles Bridges, in his commentary on this psalm writes, "Faith trusts - now what the eyes sees, but what the word promises." For us to truly know the truths of our faith we must know the truths of the Word of God. Like the Psalmist, we should seek God's teaching and direction to help us understand God's Word.
All of us at some time will suffer affliction. We will know first hand of sickness or watch a loved one struggle. It is all around us and yet what do we do when affliction hits? The writer states, 50 ¶ This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The promises of God, as found in His Word are to be our source of comfort. In a world where doctors and scientists are considered among the intellectual elite we are called back to this ancient book to find comfort. Building upon verse 49, the Psalmist reminds us, the readers, that the promises of God, we are asking Him to bring to memory and that give us hope, will be the same promises that bring us comfort.
There is a thought that is essential for us to understand. We will find no hope nor comfort in the Scriptures if we do not know the God of the Scriptures. You note through out the Psalm that the writer speaks to a God he has a relationship with, not some far off God he can not access. To know the hope and comfort you read about, you have to know the God you read about. "But first the word becomes life - then comfort. And those only, who have felt the quickening power of the word, can realize its consolations. Be thankful, then, Reader, if , when dead in sins, it "quickened you"(James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23); and when sunk in trouble, once and again it has revived you." (ibid)
In verse 51 the author touches upon the most common form of affliction we, as Christians, face. 51 ¶ The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. Persecution, whether verbal or physical hurts. More, in my estimation, are caused great pain by the power of words than any other form of affliction. The truth, however, is that as a Christian you are opened up to derision. The most humbling phrase we can hear is, "I thought you were supposed to be a Christian." Bridges writes, " Faith in the doctrine of Christ, and conformity to the strict commandments of the gospel, must expose us to the taunts of the unbeliever and the worldling." If you are walking the Christian life, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, your life will be different for the world. People do not like different and react by deriding and taunting those who live that way. If our heart is set upon the God and His Word, the scorn of neighbors, the harsh words of coworkers the derision of the lost will drive us to the Word of God not away from the Word. The harsh treatment of others causes us to recall the merciful and gracious treatment of our Father in Heaven.
The Psalmist brings us back to the Word of comfort during times of affliction with these words.
52 ¶ When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.
53 ¶ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
54 ¶ Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
When the words and actions of others are pressing upon us we can find comfort in the Scriptures. At the same time, there should burn an anger within us against all that steals away from God and His Word. When put upon we will get angry, we will suffer hurt, we may even want to fight back. Though indignation comes, we are to remember the grace of the Father. Though convicted of crimes he didn't commit, tortured and nailed to a cross, Jesus did not lash back, he hated the sin, but sought their forgiveness and redemption. Despite my sinfulness and the pain I cause God, He forgives me and calls me to His Word. We may get angry with the wicked, but that is never to be an excuse to forsake the teachings of Scripture. I wonder what would happen if, instead of lashing out when hurt, we began to literally sing the songs of Scripture. God's Word is to be such a part of our life that daily instead of the song we hear on the radio, the words of Scripture are to be singing in our brain. What would happen if the next time someone made you angry you started singing a psalm to them?
I confess that when I get home at night, I usually just want to chill out, to sit and do nothing. To often that is just what I do. This passage teaches us that we are to think otherwise. 55 ¶ I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.
There are two final points I want to touch on from these verses. First, there is no time of day or night that is truly "ours" they are all the Lord's. During those times when we just want to rest and relax, to forget about everything, in those very times we are called to remember our Lord. Secondly, those times of keeping God's Word just serve to remind us of what a blessing the Scriptures are for us. Think about it for a moment. The Bible you hold in your hand is an intimate love letter written to you from the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The Almighty God loved you so much that He wanted to make sure that you had in your possession His instructions, that you might live to His glory all the days of your life. What greater blessing has fallen to us than the Word of God that leads to hope?
Posted in Bible Study (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS)
Psalm 119 Waw
Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 10:38 AM by David Zavadil
Originally posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
I have to apologize to those of you who have been following this study. I have been substitute teaching, while seeking a call and have had little time to sit down and write. I had hoped to maybe make use of my palm, but have not yet found the software that would allow me to write a post and add it to my site. At any rate, let me do this today, let me begin on this section and rather than trying to cover the whole passage, I will work on part and finish in the next couple of days. Fair enough? I pray so.
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;
Love. I think that if there is one thing every human wants to experience it is love. Not necessarily erotic love, but the fullness of love that overwhelms the life of the recipient. The Psalmist prays for that type of love. Charles Bridges writes, " A prayer of deep anxiety-large deisre-simple faith!" That it is!
The word translated love in the ESV is rendered mercies in the KJV and "unfailing love" in the NIV. The Hebrew word is chesed and carries a meaning that emcompasses the fullness of God's mercy and love. To experience the chesed of God is to experience the fullness of the character of God and is seen in His loving mercy to us. It is bound in and with his salvation, promised to us beginning in Genesis 3:15 and repeated throughout Scripture. In fact, the true mercies of God can not be seen apart from the salvation of God. To think of God's mercy, His full love, without contemplating His salvation is impossible. Bridges put it this way, "Therefore general notions of mercy without a distinct apprehension of salvation have their origin in presumption, not in warrented faith." Lord, let your mercies come upon us!
This mercy/salvation relationship raises a question. Why are we in such a need of the fullness of love displayed in God's saving mercy? ( Ok, I know none of us really talk like this, but it sounds nicer than,"Why do I need that stuff?") We first need to be saved from the wrath and punishment of a Holy God. The sinful acts of our first parents, Adam and Eve, left us all condemned as sinners. At birth we are already marked with a death sentence. The merciful salvation of God, frees us from this death sentence.
Not only are we condemned from birth, we are also under bondage to sin. Sin wars against us all of our lives, but through the saving mercy of our God, it has no victory. However, it is not a foe to be taken lightly. William Bridge, not the same man I quoted earlier, said, "If the guilt of sin is so great that nothing can satisfy it but the blood of Jesus; and the filth of sin is so great that nothing can fetch out the stain thereof but the blood of Jesus, how great, how heinous, how sinful must the evil of sin be." Apart from the mercy of God found in the salvation brought us through Jesus Christ, we could never overcome the bondage of sin. In the merciful salvation of Jesus Christ, we are made righteous through the effective work of Christ, not anything we have done or will do.
We also need to be saved from ourselves. I don't know about you, but I do know myself. If I am in charge, I will make a mess of things. I will begin by taking the easy path and then seek the one that will make me feel the best, and give me the most in return. Left to myself, I not only won't but can not seek the way of God. The mercies/love of God found in His salvation frees me from this bondage to self. I am no longer bound to mess things up but freed to live in grace and mercy, resting in the righteousness of Christ.
Every day we should begin as the Psalmist begins this passage. 41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise; Make this your prayer each day as you awake. We will next examine how this is carried out in our lives.
This completes my previous posts. I will begin next week with a new study from Psalm 119. I pray that this study will be edifying to all who read it.
Edited on: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:55 PMPosted in Bible Study (RSS), Ministry (RSS), Psalm 119 (RSS)