It was simply that I had a liking for rough, wild country…the high-up and the far-out. For I had a love for the wind in the long grass blowing, or the smell of woodsmoke down some rocky draw.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From the Broken Hills)
“This is my practice: I obey Your precepts.”
–Psalm 119:56 (HCSB)
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If you spend much time reading Psalm 119 there are two things that you cannot get away from: promises and prayers. There are the promises the psalmist made to God and the promises of God to man. The psalm is very personal and its entirety is actually a prayer but there are also petitions throughout the psalm. Perhaps you have had a “precious promises box” or have put promises of God on the wall in your house. We read them, admire them, look at them, but do we make use of them? In this journey it is up to us to determine to trust the promises of God and enjoy His blessings.
Richard Sibbes wrote, “When we hear any promise in the Word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are His bond. He loves it when we wrestle with Him by His promises.” We appropriate the promises of God by faith, and when we pray it should be grounded in His promises.
vs 49 — Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope. (NLT)
vs 50 — This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. (ESV)
When we rely and have faith in God’s word we can rise above our troubles. The word of God, sealed to the heart, infuses sensible relief; it brings comfort. This term “comfort” literally means “to cheer up, to invigorate, to cause to breathe and rest, and to smile while in pain.” The Word of God brings comfort to the weary man and the weary soul.
There is something about music. It is all around us–the good, the bad, the ugly, and the really ugly. Steven Lawson says, “So strong is the Word that it puts a permanent song in the heart.” We must also consider that the psalms were sung by the people. Those who sang this psalm were truly placing God’s Word in their heart.
vs 54 — Your statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. (NASB)
Your statues are the theme of my song during my earthly life. (HCSB)
Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage. (NLT)
Do you sing as you go through the day? If not out loud, within your mind and soul? Songs support the exercise of faith and patience; they help lift the spirit and testify to the goodness of God who provides even in the bad times. There is much truth in what that preacher of old, Charles Bridges, said, “It is dull, wearisome, to be a pilgrim without a song.” He stated further, “It is important to remember that our cheerful song is connected with a pilgrim-spirit.” Do you recall the song of your youth? “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing…”
vs 57 — The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. (NASB)
God is faith; His word is true. He is unchanging, every-present, all-knowing, and almighty. George Stevens said, “To keep the commands of Jesus is the duty of love. To keep His sayings is the life of love. To keep His words is the joy of love.” Can we say as the psalmist, because He is our portion I will promise to obey His words? Augustine cried out, “Lord, give me Yourself!” Is that what we want? Do we practice prayer as the psalmist writes?
vs 58 — I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word. (NKJV)
— I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. (NIV)
Possession of God encourages us to practice prayer. We pray when we are in pain and need relief. We pray for we need His constant mercy. We pray because we can do nothing other than to cry out for God. We pray because we want to seek Him and dwell in His presence. “To seek God’s face is to know His favor.” (David Chapman)
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.”
–R. Kelso Carter
–Psalm 119:56 (HCSB)
———————————
If you spend much time reading Psalm 119 there are two things that you cannot get away from: promises and prayers. There are the promises the psalmist made to God and the promises of God to man. The psalm is very personal and its entirety is actually a prayer but there are also petitions throughout the psalm. Perhaps you have had a “precious promises box” or have put promises of God on the wall in your house. We read them, admire them, look at them, but do we make use of them? In this journey it is up to us to determine to trust the promises of God and enjoy His blessings.
Richard Sibbes wrote, “When we hear any promise in the Word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are His bond. He loves it when we wrestle with Him by His promises.” We appropriate the promises of God by faith, and when we pray it should be grounded in His promises.
vs 49 — Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope. (NLT)
vs 50 — This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. (ESV)
When we rely and have faith in God’s word we can rise above our troubles. The word of God, sealed to the heart, infuses sensible relief; it brings comfort. This term “comfort” literally means “to cheer up, to invigorate, to cause to breathe and rest, and to smile while in pain.” The Word of God brings comfort to the weary man and the weary soul.
There is something about music. It is all around us–the good, the bad, the ugly, and the really ugly. Steven Lawson says, “So strong is the Word that it puts a permanent song in the heart.” We must also consider that the psalms were sung by the people. Those who sang this psalm were truly placing God’s Word in their heart.
vs 54 — Your statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. (NASB)
Your statues are the theme of my song during my earthly life. (HCSB)
Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage. (NLT)
Do you sing as you go through the day? If not out loud, within your mind and soul? Songs support the exercise of faith and patience; they help lift the spirit and testify to the goodness of God who provides even in the bad times. There is much truth in what that preacher of old, Charles Bridges, said, “It is dull, wearisome, to be a pilgrim without a song.” He stated further, “It is important to remember that our cheerful song is connected with a pilgrim-spirit.” Do you recall the song of your youth? “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing…”
vs 57 — The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. (NASB)
God is faith; His word is true. He is unchanging, every-present, all-knowing, and almighty. George Stevens said, “To keep the commands of Jesus is the duty of love. To keep His sayings is the life of love. To keep His words is the joy of love.” Can we say as the psalmist, because He is our portion I will promise to obey His words? Augustine cried out, “Lord, give me Yourself!” Is that what we want? Do we practice prayer as the psalmist writes?
vs 58 — I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word. (NKJV)
— I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. (NIV)
Possession of God encourages us to practice prayer. We pray when we are in pain and need relief. We pray for we need His constant mercy. We pray because we can do nothing other than to cry out for God. We pray because we want to seek Him and dwell in His presence. “To seek God’s face is to know His favor.” (David Chapman)
“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.”
–R. Kelso Carter