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 2 OF 48 - PSALM 4

 

Dogwood Park, Cookeville, TN

1   Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have relieved me in my distress;
    Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
2  How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame?
    How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood?

Selah

3  But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
    The Lord will hear when I call to Him.
4  Be angry, and do not sin.
    Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.

Selah

5  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
    And put your trust in the Lord.
6  There are many who say, "Who will show us any good?"
    Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7  You have put gladness in my heart,
    More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8  I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
    For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:1-8, NKJV

Allow me to start with verse 2. Doesn't that sound like today? Don't people today love worthlessness and seek falsehood? I'll be honest - I'd rather listen to the news that's biased for my point of view than the news that's biased against it, admitting I may not always like hearing the truth. 

Verse 3 is an encouragement... that is, if I'm endeavoring to live a godly life. It brings joy to me to know that God has a purpose for me. It humbles me that God would choose me. (Especially for a person who, when they're choosing players for their sports team, can figure out which team I'm going to be on by figuring who gets the last pick. And the reality, God has no reason to be more impressed with me than my peers were with my athletic abilities (or lack thereof).

You're probably familiar with verse 4, "Be angry and do not sin," which is quoted by Paul in Ephesians 4:26. You note it doesn't say anger is a sin? There are times we will be angry - we're wired that way. But what do we do about that anger? We do need to remember James 1:20 - that the wrath of man will not accomplish the purposes of God.  

There are times I relate to verse 6: "There are many who say, 'Who will show us any good?'" There are times I get discouraged, and at points it's where I am not sure things will ever get better. But I need to realize that God is in control of all things.