Psalm 119:161-176: Seven Times a Day I Praise You

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 161-176).

Praise Without Ceasing

Other than the very first line, this stanza is the brightest of the psalm. The psalmist rejoices, praises, hopes, loves, endures. But it is the first line that really sets the stage for the rest of it.

Princes persecute me without cause…
Psalm 119:161a (ESV)

The psalmist has been faithful to the Lord. The psalmist has loved God and loved God’s Word. The psalmist has walked with God. For 160 verses, the psalmist has demonstrated his faith and trust. Yet, the enemies still persecute. And what powerful enemies they are. Princes.

At some point, we might expect the psalmist to give up. But he doesn’t. He says it this way even after all this time:

Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.
Psalm 119:164 (ESV).

Morning, noon, evening, midnight and more, he praises God. His day is full of praising not because his day is easy, pleasurable, convenient, enjoyable. His day is full of praising God because God’s Word is righteous. Not just His Word, his rules. That is, His decrees, His judgments, His rulings. In God’s judgments, the princes have been able to keep on persecuting without repercussion. God has yet to bring justice into the psalmist’s life condemning those who would rather the psalmist be condemned. Yet, the psalmist trusts God’s judgments and keeps on praising.

What a response. It parallels Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (ESV).

I don’t know what you’re going through. I don’t know what you wish God would have already handled, dealt with, judged. I don’t know the Lord’s time table. However, I know His judgments and decrees are the right ones. If He hasn’t brought the justice yet, it is only because it has not yet been the best time to do so. Praise the Lord! Praise Him again and again. Rejoice in Him. Be thankful He has the strength, the courage, the love to act at the very best time even while He is sad over our pain and struggle. And remember, our trials actually grow us to perfection (see James 1:2-4).

What’s going on in your world today? What can you find to praise God for? Find something and praise Him. He deserves it. You need it.

Praise the Lord!

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 161-176).

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119 prompt or improve your praise of God?

Psalm 119:65-80: Those Who Fear You Will See Me and Rejoice

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 65-80).

The Other Side of the Coin

Last week, in HETH, we learned we need to become friends with those who fear the Lord:

I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
Psalm 119:63 (ESV)

In YODH, we flip the coin. The psalmist not only talks about which friends we should choose, but talks about the kind of person we need to be to attract the kind of friends we need.

Those who fear you shall see men and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word (vs. 74).

Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies (vs. 79).

Our psalmist wanted to be the kind of person God-fearers would be excited about. Sadly, some Christians today seem to have a very different perspective. They think the goal is for insolent, rebellious sinners to look at us and rejoice. Now, don’t get me wrong. We are to love all people. We should live the gospel in a way that all people are attracted to it. But we need to know we will not ever make the gospel cool to the worldly-minded. I’m sure there will be exceptions, but in general, the worldly will not look at us and rejoice. They will mock, belittle, disparage, persecute, ignore, reject. And, frankly, if the worldly-minded look at us and rejoice, we’re very likely doing it wrong.

However, when we pursue the word as this psalmist does, God-fearers will rejoice over us and with us. We will be an encouragement to them as they are to us. In the face of the affliction we endure, we’ll need that encouragement.

I have to ask myself a question. If a God-fearer saw me today, would that God-fearer rejoice? If not, what needs to change?

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 65-80).

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119:65-80 prompt or improve your trust in God?

The City that Kills the Prophets

Today’s reading is Matthew 23.

Jesus throws down the gauntlet. In some of the previous parables, we recognized Jesus was hinting at the coming destruction of Jerusalem. However, now He simply states it.

The scribes and Pharisees liked to claim they wouldn’t have killed the prophets alongside their ancestors. However, that is exactly what they would have done because it is exactly what they are about to do. Be aware, Jesus has actually set Himself up in this chapter to take the role of prophet. When He declares a sevenfold woe on the scribes and Pharisees (eightfold in some translations), He is taking up the prophet mantle. Pronouncing woes on the people when they sinned was a characteristic of the prophets (see Isaiah 5; Jeremiah 13:27; 23:1; Ezekiel 13:3, 18; 16:23; 24:6, 9; Hosea 7:13; 9:12; Amos 5:18; 6:1, 4; Habakkuk 2; Zephaniah 2:5; 3:1; Zechariah 11:17). In other words, Jesus is forecasting His own death, just as He did in those recent parables.

When Jerusalem killed Jesus, they were going to show themselves worthy of being judged for all the righteous blood ever shed from Abel (Genesis 4) to Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24).

Jesus had come to gather Jerusalem under His wings like a mother hen. However, Jerusalem was unwilling. We need to know this. Jesus has come to gather us under His wings. Will our house be left to us desolate or will we surrender to Him?

The choice, once again, is yours.

Next week’s reading is Matthew 24.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. How could we become guilty of stoning prophets and killing God’s wise ones today? (even if we don’t literally kill anyone)
3. Why do you think the people from Cain all the way to the Pharisees and scribes killed God’s chosen ones?
4. Considering this, if we decide to surrender to God, what must we prepare for from those who don’t? How can we be prepared?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?