Showing posts with label keeping Commandments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping Commandments. Show all posts

Sunday, September 3, 2023

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, August 20, 2023

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?