Taw June 21, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, deliverance, God, praise, psalms
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:169-176.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would deliver them from their trials – thereby fulfilling His promises to them
- prays that He would enable them to praise Him
- prays that they would be able to obey His commandments
- declares that they love His commandments.
Thoughts: The psalmist has highlighted the salience of God’s commandments throughout this psalm. Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point in his commentary on verse 169:
He desires spiritual light and understanding as it is promised in God’s Word, as it proceeds from God’s Word, and as it produces obedience to God’s Word. He pleads as though he had not understanding whatever of his own, and asks to have it given to him…To understand spiritual things is the gift of God.
Now that I have completed my mini-stroll through this psalm, I have a deeper appreciation of it. Before I began this mini-stroll, I knew that this psalm focused on God’s commandments. Now I know that the psalmist’s passion for His regulations was, in some sense, fueled by their persecutors – especially their failure to obey those precepts. As modern-day believers, does persecution enable us to embrace His precepts? If we are not being persecuted, does the sinfulness of non-believers compel us to embrace holiness? Perhaps we need to pray that God would stoke our zeal for His precepts – even if that means that we need to be tested…
Sin and Shin June 20, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: blessings, commandments, God, obedience, psalms
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:161-168.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist declares:
- their passion for God’s commandments
- that they obey His commandments
- that those who obey His commandments are blessed.
Thoughts: In verse 164, the psalmist asserts, “Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.” Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point:
Frequently he lifted up his heart in thanksgiving to God for his divine teaching in the Word, and for his divine actions in providence. With his voice he extolled the righteousness of the Judge of all the earth. As often as ever he thought of God’s ways, a song leaped to his lips…Do we praise God seven times a day? Do we praise him once in seven days?
Lately I have been pondering the somewhat-related topic of praising God while I am at work. Now I know that during work hours, I need to focus on my assigned tasks; thus, my mind is usually occupied by technical matters. Yet there are moments during work hours where I can think about God. Lately I have used those moments to thank Him for my current position (as many have lost their jobs during these difficult times). In light of this passage, I wonder: will He also enable me to ponder His commandments during those moments? Would Spurgeon have exhorted us to praise Him “seven times a day” if he were alive today? Can we simply praise His goodness during work hours – or do we also need to praise His commandments at those times?
Resh June 20, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: blessings, commandments, God, obedience, psalms
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:153-160.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would deliver them from their trials – thereby fulfilling His promises to those who obey His commandments
- declares their contempt for those who do not obey His commandments, since He will not bless those transgressors
- declares the permanence of His commandments.
Thoughts: In verses 154, 156, and 159, the psalmist prays that God would “preserve my life.” Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point in his commentary on verse 159:
He prays again the third time using the same words…What he wanted was revival, restoration, renewal; therefore he pleaded for more life. O thou who didst quicken me when I was dead, quicken me again that I may not return to the dead! Quicken me that I may outlive the blows of my enemies, the faintness of my faith, and the swooning of my sorrow.
I believe that we should ponder the significance of the phrase “preserve my life.” When we are in the midst of a trial, we may pray that God would fulfill His promises to us by delivering us from that trial. Indeed, we hold fast to His promises – and assume that their fulfillment implies the preservation of our physical existence. Yet what if that assumption is flawed? As finite human beings, can we actually grasp the application of His promises to our spiritual existence? Our human nature naturally hinders our understanding of that deeper application; thus, I wonder if the psalmist was actually pondering their physical existence in this passage.
Qoph June 14, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, God, permanent, psalms, trust
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:145-152.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would succor them – thereby enabling them to obey His commandments
- prays that He would fulfill His promises to them
- asserts that their passion for His commandments exceeds their need for rest
- asserts their confidence in the veracity and permanence of His commandments.
Thoughts: In verse 146, the psalmist declares that if God succors them, then they will obey His commandments. Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point:
This was his great object in desiring salvation, that he might be able to continue in a blameless life of obedience to God, that he might be able to believe the witness of God, and also to become himself a witness for God. It is a great thing when people seek salvation for so high an end. He did not ask to be delivered that he might sin with impunity; his cry was to be delivered from sin itself.
I would add a caveat to Spurgeon’s praise of the psalmist’s declaration in this verse: based on my experience, at least some believers will make similar vows to God in the midst of trials – and then fail to fulfill those vows after He delivers them from those trials (I should note that I am guilty of failures in this regard). Perhaps we should display humility in the midst of our trials by acknowledging our inherent inability to “keep your statutes.” Moreover, we should pray that He would grant us the strength and wisdom to obey Him even when we are not suffering…
Tsadhe June 13, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: blessings, commandments, God, persecution, psalms
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:137-144.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- declares that God – and His commandments – are righteous
- declares their passion for His commandments – even in the midst of persecution
- rejoices in the blessings that they have received via His commandments and promises
- prays that He would enable them to live wisely.
Thoughts: In verse 139, the psalmist decries the strength-sapping wickedness of their persecutors. Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point:
His zeal was like a fire burning within his soul. The sight of man’s forgetfulness of God acted as a fierce blast to excite the fire to a more vehement flame, and it blazed until it was ready to consume him…These people had gone so far in iniquity that they not only violated and neglected the commands of God, but they appeared actually to have forgotten them.
The psalmist has asserted their zeal for God’s commandments throughout this psalm; moreover, their zeal has been whetted by those who flout those precepts. In light of this passage, perhaps we should ponder our zeal for His precepts. Are we genuinely zealous for His commandments? If not, what is the state of our relationship with Him? Perhaps we have been inured to sin – even the sins of those who openly oppose Him. Also, if we become more zealous for His precepts, can we still love those who flout them? We know the phrase “hate the sin, love the sinner,” yet it is difficult to strike that balance…
Pe June 7, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, God, obedience, psalms, zeal
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:129-136.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- declares the sublimity of God’s commandments
- declares their zeal for His commandments – while others flout them
- prays that He would deliver them from their persecutors – thereby 1) fulfilling His promises to them and 2) enabling them to obey His commandments.
Thoughts: In verse 131, the psalmist states that they “…pant, longing for your commands.” Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point:
Like a stag that has been hunted in the chase, and is hard pressed, and therefore pants for breath, so did the psalmist pant for the entrance of God’s Word into his soul. Nothing else could content him. All that the world could yield him left him still panting.
I must admit that while I know God’s commandments (i.e. the core Old Testament principles that are reinforced in the New Testament), I do not literally – or even figuratively – “pant” for them. Thus, I am curious: how would the psalmist apply their zeal to life in the 21st century? If a believer does not constantly ponder His precepts, are they displaying the proper level of zeal? How can we be zealous for His regulations in the workplace? Can we fulfill our obligations at work while maintaining our zeal for His commandments? One thought is that we can carve out some time for brief prayers during our time at work…
Ayin June 6, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, deliverance, God, psalms, zeal
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:121-128.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would deliver them from their persecutors – since they obey His commandments
- prays that God would grant them a deeper understanding of His commandments
- proclaims their zeal for His commandments.
Thoughts: In verses 127 and 128, the psalmist proclaims their zeal for God’s commandments. Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point in his commentary on verse 127:
So far from being swayed by the example of evil people, so as to join them in slighting the Scriptures, he was the rather led into a more vehement love of them. As he saw the commandments slighted by the ungodly, his heart was in sympathy with God, and he felt a burning affection for his holy precepts…The psalmist could not boast that he always kept the commands, but he could declare that he loved them.
I was challenged by the psalmist’s assertion that they “…love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.” Admittedly I love God’s precepts in the abstract, as I know that He is good; thus, His precepts must be good. Yet when I am confronted by precepts such as “love your enemies” and “do not judge,” I wonder: do I truly love the precepts that highlight my faults? I know that those precepts are good – yet I still harbor ill will towards other believers who may (or may not) have slighted me. I pray that God would continue to work in me so that I would not wallow in those sins.
Samekh May 31, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, God, promise, psalms, wicked
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:113-120.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would fulfill His promises to them by succoring them – as they are surrounded by the wicked
- asserts that they place their confidence in His commandments
- asserts that He punishes those who do not place their confidence in His commandments
- declares their passion for (and veneration of) His commandments.
Thoughts: In verses 118 and 119, the psalmist asserts that God will “reject” and “discard” the “wicked of the earth.” Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point in his commentary on verse 119:
They looked like precious metal, they were intimately mixed up with it, they were laid up in the same heap, but the Lord is a refiner, and every day he removes some of the wicked from among his people, either by making a shameful discovery of their hypocrisy or by consuming them from off the earth. As the metal is the better for losing its alloy, so is the church better for having the wicked removed.
These verses highlight God’s zeal for His purity – and the purity of His people. As believers, we know that we cannot perfectly obey His commandments. Yet what distinguishes us from the “wicked of the earth?” While I believe that I do trust in His commandments, I know that I struggle to 1) truly love my enemies and 2) avoid judging others. While I sense that God delights in my awareness of my failings in these two areas, I wrestle with my imperfections. It would certainly be better for me to perfectly obey both of those precepts. Perhaps I need to be more attuned to His ability to bear fruit through my struggles…
Nun May 30, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: blessings, commandments, enlightened, God, psalms
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:105-112.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist:
- prays that God would continue to instruct them in His commandments
- prays that He would bless them by fulfilling His promises to them – as they are being persecuted
- declares that His commandments enable them to live righteously – even in the midst of persecution
- declares their resolve to adhere to His commandments.
Thoughts: Verses 105 and 112 appear in “Thy Word”. A quick Google search reveals that this song was written by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. I hope to meet them at some point and and learn how they composed those memorable lyrics. How did those verses inspire them at that time? Did they consider weaving the other verses of “Nun” into that song? On a related note, as modern-day believers, how do these verses impact our thoughts, words and deeds? How is the Bible actually “a lamp for my feet, a light on my path?” When we overcome the temptation to sin, do we cite specific passages of Scripture – or are we simply motivated by a nebulous feeling that sin is wrong? I must admit that I tend towards the latter; I believe that God is calling me to improve in this regard, as that would enable me to be more Christlike.
Mem May 25, 2020
Posted by flashbuzzer in Books, Christianity.Tags: commandments, God, obedience, psalms, wisdom
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Here are my thoughts on Psalm 119:97-104.
Summary: In this passage, the psalmist declares that:
- they have obtained surpassing wisdom by meditating on God’s commandments
- they resolutely obey His commandments – as those precepts are priceless.
Thoughts: In verses 98-100, the psalmist rejoices in the surpassing wisdom that they have derived from God’s commandments. Spurgeon offers some thoughts on this point in his commentary on verse 99:
Our teachers are not always to be trusted. If our teachers should be in all things sound and safe, they will be glad for us to excel them, and they will be ever ready to own that the teaching of the Lord is better than any teaching which they can give us. Disciples of Christ who sit as his feet are often better skilled in divine things than doctors of divinity.
Admittedly, when I first strolled through this passage, I was troubled by the psalmist’s remarks, and I thought, “why were they so arrogant and puffed up about their wisdom?” After pondering this point, I now think we should focus on the excellence of the wisdom that the psalmist extols here. Instead of assuming that they were slighting their “teachers” and the “elders,” perhaps we should respect those “teachers” and “elders” – thereby compelling us to show even greater respect to God’s commandments. Indeed, if we can even begin to fathom the sublimity of His precepts, we will have made progress in our walk with Him.
Ringing In 