DEVOTIONAL ON PSALM 20:2

CEF International Headquarters, Warrenton, MO

"May He send you help from the sanctuary

And strengthen you from Zion."

Psalm 20:2, NKJV

What are my three favorite Psalms? Would you count me an infidel if the 23rd Psalm isn't that high? Believe it or not, it's 6th place? The top three consist of, in order, Psalms 84, 67, and 20. (For the curious, 4th and 5th, respectively, are 27 and 119.)

Today, I'm focusing on Psalm 20. Why do I place it so high? Is it verse 7, which says "Some trust in chariots and some in horses," and some paraphrase, "Some trust in Cadillacs and some in Porshes?" No, it's the first five verses.

Alex Darnall, worship leader at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis, was doing a devotional series on the Psalms and commented on the 20th that it's in context of the King addressing his army. I didn't think of that, and it sounds good. But I looked at it as a great Psalm to pray for others, particularly the first 5 verses.

When I looked at this Psalm a couple of days ago, I felt I needed the prayer from verse 2 for me personally.

PRAYER: Lord, I need Your help; please send me help from Your Sanctuary in heaven. I need Your strength; please strengthen me from Zion. And Lord, please let me know of any brothers and sisters in You that need encouragement and need me to pray this Psalm for them.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 36 OF 48: PSALM 119:153-160

Child Evangelism Fellowship Headquarters, Warrenton, MO

153   Consider my affliction and deliver me,
        For I do not forget Your law.
154   Plead my cause and redeem me;
        Revive me according to Your word.
155   Salvation is far from the wicked,
        For they do not seek Your statutes.
156   Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD;
        Revive me according to Your judgments.
157   Many are my persecutors and my enemies,
        Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies.
158   I see the treacherous, and am disgusted,
        Because they do not keep Your word.
159   Consider how I love Your precepts;
        Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.
160   The entirety of Your word is truth,
        And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
                Psalm 119:153-160, New King James Version

As you'd expect me to say, I absolutely love this section. Allow me to give two reasons.

1. The emphasis on revival. Yes, you probably noticed several appeals in this Psalm to "Revive me according to Your Word or something similar. Verses 33-40 have two. This section has three. Verse 154 asks God to revive us according to His Word; verse 156 asks for revival according to God's judgments (or justice), and verse 159 asks for Him to revive us according to His lovingkindness. We all need to be revived in all three.
2. I also love the concluding verse. What do you think it means to say "The entirety of Your word is truth?" I think it means that the entirety of God's Word is truth. That means Genesis to Revelation. It goes on to add that His righteous judgments endures forever. Now, how long is forever?  Yet I hear people who think our culture knows more than God. :'( I have one friend who believes in the four Gospels, period. Should I take his word or God's Word that all Scripture is truth and endures forever?
   

 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 35 OF 48 - PSALM 119:129-136

Cool Creek Park, Westfield, Indiana

 

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
   Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
   It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
   For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
   As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
   And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
   That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
   And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
   Because men do not keep Your law.
       Psalm 119:129-136, New King James Version

Once again, another good Psalm, and one I want to focus on one part: the last verse. Do rivers of water run down from your eyes because men don't keep God's Law?

Think about this. How much entertainment reflects men not keeping God's Law? How much has us cheering those who don't keep God's Law? How often are we laughing at disobedience? How often does it grieve us?

Let's look at where we get our information. Is it unbiased? Or does it reflect a heart that does not keep God's Law? Are they sympathetic to those of faith, or do they look at traditional values (aka keeping God's Law) as backward at best and a danger at worst?

What about our relationships? When there is disobedience to God's Word, are we grieved? Or do we shrug our shoulders? Do we tag along when they're going places we as God's Law-keepers have no business?

Do rivers of water run down from our eyes because people don't keep God's Law? Do we believe what Psalm 12:8 says: "The wicked prowl on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men."

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 34 OF 48: PSALM 119:121-128

Garfield Park Conservatory, Indianapolis

 

121     I have done justice and righteousness;
         Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122   Be surety for Your servant for good;
         Do not let the proud oppress me.
123  My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation
         And Your righteous word.
124  Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy,
         And teach me Your statutes.
125   I am Your servant; Give me understanding,
         That I may know Your testimonies.
126  It is time for You to act, O Lord,
         For they have regarded Your law as void.
127  Therefore I love Your commandments
         More than gold, yes, than fine gold!
128  Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things
         I consider to be right; I hate every false way.
                    Psalm 119:121-128, New King James Version
 

My favorite verse in this Psalm is back in verse 63: "I have become a companion of those who fear You, who keep Your precepts." In close second place is verse 126 - "It is time for You to act, O Lord, For they have regarded Your law as void." There are a lot of verses that I think are appropriate for the day we live in, and this is one of them.

Another verse that impacts me is verse 128. If we consider God's Word to be right, we won't be tolerant of any false way. Rather, we will desire to do God's will, and will want to surround ourselves with those like minded. 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 33 OF 48 - PSALM 119:113-120

 

Eskenazi Hospital, Indianapolis

113     I hate the double-minded,
         But I love Your law.
114     You are my hiding place and my shield;
         I hope in Your word.
115     Depart from me, you evildoers,
         For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116     Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
         And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117     Hold me up, and I shall be safe,
         And I shall observe Your statutes continually.
118     You reject all those who stray from Your statutes,
         For their deceit is falsehood.
119     You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross;
         Therefore I love Your testimonies.
120     My flesh trembles for fear of You,
         And I am afraid of Your judgments.
                Psalm 119:113-120, New King James Version

Another great section from Psalm 119. I smile whenever I see the remark to the evildoers (v. 115). Note the Psalmist tells them to get lost because he'll keep God's commandments. Shouldn't we have that attitude to today's society?

I do find this section interesting. Besides that jab at the wicked, you have a lot of statements of confidence (v. 113-114), requests for God to keep him safe (v. 117), and a conclusion of being in fear of God and afraid of His judgments. Another different approach from today's norm, huh?

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 32 OF 48: PSALM 119:57-64

 

Christ Church Cathederal with nativity scene, Indianapolis

57     You are my portion, O LORD;
          I have said that I would keep Your words.
58     I entreated Your favor with my whole heart;
          Be merciful to me according to Your word.
59     I thought about my ways,
          And turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60     I made haste, and did not delay
          To keep Your commandments.
61      The cords of the wicked have bound me,
          But I have not forgotten Your law.
62     At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
          Because of Your righteous judgments.
63     I am a companion of all who fear You,
          And of those who keep Your precepts.
64    The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy;
          Teach me Your statutes.
                                Psalm 119:57-64, New King James Version

Isn't this a wonderful section of Scripture? This is my favorite in this Psalm. One verse in particular is the reason why - verse 63. I love being a companion of other Christians!

Do I hear an "Amen"?

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 31 OF 48 - PSALM 119:33-40

Cool Creek Park and Nature Center, Westfield, IN

33     Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
            And I shall keep it to the end.
34     Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
            Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35     Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
            For I delight in it.
36     Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
            And not to covetousness.
37     Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
            And revive me in Your way.
38     Establish Your word to Your servant,
            Who is devoted to fearing You.
39     Turn away my reproach which I dread,
            For Your judgments are good.
40     Behold, I long for Your precepts;
            Revive me in Your righteousness.
                            Psalm 119:33-40, New King James Version

Did you have parents who made you eat liver and spinach? Okay, it's hard to see hands over the internet, but I'm sure there are some. How many of you had parents that made you eat hot fudge sundaes? I don't see any hands now, because I'm sure you didn't need your parents having to encourage you to eat that delicious ice cream.

Now, take that thought into verse 35. The Psalmist is asking God to make him walk in the path of His commandments because the psalmist loves it! Like those wonderful sundaes, a true Christian loves keeping God's word and obeying Him. Yet there are times we live in a way that makes it appear we view following God's commands to be like eating liver. (I'll drop spinach, because I learned I loved it if you mixed bacon and onions with it, and I love spinach salad.) Do you have that experience?

Next verse. I can name a career that is focused on creating covetousness. Can you say "advertising?" It's great to have our heart leaning not toward desiring things we don't have (and more often than not don't need) but to the Word of God. That's one think I like about regularly reviewing memorized Bible passages.

I've always liked verse 37, asking God to turn our eyes from worthless things. Is there anything you can think of as worthless that we're tempted to look at? How about the entertainment we enjoy? Some of it is sinful like pornography. Some of it isn't evil but isn't good either. It may help us relax, but some of it (e.g. sports) can become an idol and take us away from what God has called us to do.

Finally, are we devoted to loving God? Do we long for His precepts?

 

 
 

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 30 OF 48 - PSALM 119:25-32

Post Road, Indianapolis, across from Fort Ben State Park

 25   My soul clings to the dust;
      Revive me according to Your word.
26   I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
      Teach me Your statutes.
27   Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
      So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.
28   My soul melts from heaviness;
      Strengthen me according to Your word.
29   Remove from me the way of lying,
      And grant me Your law graciously.
30   I have chosen the way of truth;
      Your judgments I have laid before me.
31   I cling to Your testimonies;
      O Lord, do not put me to shame!
32   I will run the course of Your commandments,
      For You shall enlarge my heart.
                    Psalm 119:25-32, New King James Version

Three points I want to make with this section.

1. First, a confession that I relate to the Psalmist's mindset in verses 25 and 28. How about you?
2. I love verse 26, and I find it an invitation, a promise, and a challenge. An invitation to tell God what's on our minds and our plans. A promise that He'll answer us. A challenge to ask God to show us His statutes. Do you think that prayer will be answered?
3. I love the two sides of the coin verses 29 and 30 show. The first could be said to be the Calvinist verse, asking God to remove the path of lying and to grant us His law graciously. The second is the Arminian counterpart, stating that we chose the way of truth and that we willingly are setting God's judgments before us.

What does this Psalm segment say to you?

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 29 OF 48 - PSALM 119:17-24

Log Church, Turkey Run State Park, Marshall, IN

 17     Deal bountifully with Your servant,
        That I may live and keep Your word.
18     Open my eyes, that I may see
        Wondrous things from Your law.
19     I am a stranger in the earth;
        Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20  My soul breaks with longing
        For Your judgments at all times.
21     You rebuke the proud--the cursed,
        Who stray from Your commandments.
22   Remove from me reproach and contempt,
        For I have kept Your testimonies.
23  Princes also sit and speak against me,
        But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24  Your testimonies also are my delight
       And my counselors.
                    Psalm 119:17-24, New King James Version

Isn't verse 18 a wonderful prayer to say before you do your Bible reading?

How about verse 19? Do you feel like a stranger on earth? If so, good for you, and you need to as a result grow more familiar with God's word. If you're a Christian who doesn't feel like a stranger on this depraved planet, then something's wrong!

You notice who's called "the cursed?" Yep, the proud. God doesn't think much of pride, does he? Pride is at the root of all rebellion against God, the source of all our disobedience.

Finally, is God's testimony our delight and our counselor? Or are we trusting in princes who sit and speak against God's people?

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 28 OF 48 - PSALAM 119:9-16

Living Word Bible Church, Indianapolis, IN

9  How can a young man cleanse his way?
   By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You;
   Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
  That I might not sin against You!
12 Blessed are You, O LORD!
  Teach me Your statutes!
13 With my lips I have declared
  All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
  As much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on Your precepts,
  And contemplate Your ways.
16 I will delight myself in Your statutes;
  I will not forget Your word.
            Psalm 119:9-16, New King James Version

Protestants rightly stand for Sola Scriptura. After all, the alternative to basing everything on God's word is trusting the word of man instead. However, we often forget why we stand for Scripture, which is because it transforms lives. This segment gives several examples of this. Verse 9 says its how a young man can cleanse his way. The well-known 11th verse points out it keeps us from sin. And the next verse talks about the joy it provides.

Verse 10 is an excellent prayer. It suggests that we seek him with our whole heart, and ask Him to keep us from wandering from His commandments. I find it easy to wander. We don't often take a running leap away from the truth, but rather wander a step or two away at a time before we're way off.

Verse 13 mentions meditating on God's Word. When you read the word "meditation," don't think of the Eastern mystical approach of emptying one's mind. On the contrary, Biblical meditation involves filling your mind with Scripture. 

I've done a lot of Scripture memorization. When my mind tends to drift, I start reviewing Bible passages I've memorized. That definitely makes a better day.

 

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 27 OF 48 - PSALM 119:1-8

Castleton United Methodist Church, Indianapolis

1     Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
      Who walk in the law of the Lord!
2    Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
      Who seek Him with the whole heart!
3    They also do no iniquity;
      They walk in His ways.
4    You have commanded us
      To keep Your precepts diligently.
5    Oh, that my ways were directed
      To keep Your statutes!
6    Then I would not be ashamed,
      When I look into all Your commandments.
7    I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
     When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8   I will keep Your statutes;
    Oh, do not forsake me utterly!
                    Psalm 119:1-8, New King James Version
 

Yes, we've made it to Psalm 119! You're probably aware that it consists of 176 verses and is divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each. I wouldn't be surprised if you also know that in the Hebrew, each verse of each section starts with the same Hebrew letter. For example, this is the first segment, and the verses all start with aleph, the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Finally, you are likely to be aware that almost every verse is talking about the Word of God, the Scripture, what would be called The Holy Bible.

I find this introductory stanza interesting. The first three verses are talking about the righteous and their relationship with God and His word. Verse four focuses on God and His expectation from us. From verse 5, the Psalmist then moves into the first person and deals with his experiences and his interaction with Scripture and their Originator.

The beginning of this Psalm sounds like it's talking about not merely the righteous but the perfect, that they commit no iniquity. Again, the fourth verse mentions God commands us to keep His precepts diligently. 

Does that sound like your experience? What? You mean I'm not the only one who would answer "Nowhere close?" That it, you're saying we relate more to verse 5, where the Psalmist says, "Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes?"

By the way, did you notice how often the word "keep" is used in this stanza? If you didn't, the answer is four: in verses 2, 4, 5, and 8. 

Final two things to remember. One is that if we do keep God's word, we'll be unashamed (verse 6). The other is that there will be joy in keeping His Word (verse 7).