Psalm 119 HETH

"You are my portion, Lord;

    I have promised to obey your words.            

I have sought your face with all my heart;           

   be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways

    and have turned my steps to your statutes. 

I will hasten and not delay

    to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes,

    I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks

    for your righteous laws

I am a friend to all who fear you,

    to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, Lord;

    teach me your decrees."

                        -Psalm 119:57-64

This eighth section of the psalms deals with the eternal promises that come from the mouth of God. Let's start at the beginning. Reading through 2 commentaries on this passage, I was able to gather to important meanings from these verses. "You are my portion, O Lord. I have said that I would keep your words"- (vs 57, NKJV). Jennifer Odom commented on this verse that the word portion is translated out as "inheritance". When we decide to make God our portion, we are putting Him in the place of authority over our lives in the same way people would turn to riches and wealth, and prestige. Odom then went on to say that King David understood that as long as he had God as the first and foremost in his life, he had all he needed. Everything that God blessed him with was simply extra and nothing compared to the fullness that God the Father brings to our lives.The second half of this verse is almost a call to action between ourselves and God. Glenda Faye Mathes describes this as the psalmist telling God that he will keep his promises as God is gracious and loving enough to keep his. That is a bold statement to make, because even as faithful Christians, there are days when we stumble and miss the mark a little in regards to God's commands, but God in his loving mercy will never fail us. Since the beginning of time, God has been weaving our journey to find ourselves back in his loving arms. 

" I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies. I made haste and did not delay to keep your commandments."- (vs 59-60, NKJV) I like these verses because David acknowledges that even being as close to the Father as any other man in history,(almost), he still admits that he makes mistakes. What sets him apart as a man after God's own heart, though, is that he doesn't stay in the shame of his sin. He turns himself back to the Father and does so quickly, so to not lose another single moment in the presence of God. Even when we mess up, no matter how far we think we have fallen, God is always right behind us just waiting for us to turn around and ask forgiveness. He is not holding us at arms length, making sure we do a list of things to earn our forgiveness. The moment we decide to repent of our sins, He will always be right there waiting. I think back to the story of the Prodigal Son. The son of a wealthy man forced his father to give him his inheritance while he was still young and he went out and squandered it. After taking a lowly job of feeding slops to pigs, he came to his senses and decided to return to his father's household. On his journey home, he prepared the speech of forgiveness he would present to his Father, but before the first word of the apology escaped his lips, his father embraced him with the biggest hug imaginable, and the son was welcomed back into the home. In the same way, God wants all of his children to come back to Him, no matter what they have done, or how far they had backslidden. 

"The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy; teach me your statutes"- (vs 64 NKJV) 

"The earth, O Lord, is full of your Everlasting Love; teach me your statutes"- (vs 64 ESV)

This last verse of the passage is powerful. The psalmist is saying, without any question or doubt, that the earth itself reveals the love and mercy of the Father. David is so attuned to the Father, that he goes about everyday throughout all of creation and continues to see God's handiwork in everything around him. Just as we find more things we enjoyed about a dear friend of ours, we should, in the same manner, continue to find more things that attract us to the grace and mercy that comes from God. It is easy to see God in all things because we have grown accustomed to looking for Him. God is easy to find when his children are diligently seeking him. He does not hide from his creation or his created, but wants us all to know him deeply with everything that is in us.

Adam Semple- A Young Man on a journey through the Psalms.     
 

Psalms 119 ZAYIN

"Remember you word to my servant,

    for you have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this:

    Your promise preserves my life.

The arrogant mock me unmercifully,

    but I don't turn from your law.

I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, 

    and I find comfort in them.

Indignation grrips me because of the wicked,

    who have forsaken your law.

Your decrees are the theme of my song

    wherever I lodge.

In the night, Lord, I remember your name,

    that I may keep your law.

This has been my practice:

    I obey your precepts."

                                        Psalms 119:49-56

 The seventh section of this chapter, ZAYIN, represents the need and desire to keep the word of God rooted inside of our hearts, minds and spirits. The word in Hebrew is translated as a weapon, or more adequately, a sword, better known as the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. It is in this section of verses that we see the importance of taking up our spiritual warfare against the attacks of the enemy. "Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this:" "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge." Looking at these verses, I'm picturing a mighty battle cry going out from the deepest parts of our being as we use the word of God which has been hidden in our hearts, to fight back against the enemy's flaming arrows that try to knock us down. This word, Zayin, is the same word in Ephesians chapter 6, where Paul is telling the church of Ephesus how to protect ourselves from the Devil by putting on the full armor of God. Without a spiritual sword, the pieces of our armor only serve to defend shots fired from enemy lines, but when our uniform is completed with a weapon for warfare, we are then equipped to go on the offense and fight back. It brings me back to the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. Satan tried every tactic he knew to trick Jesus into falling at his feet. The Devil was defeated because against every lie and trick thrown his way, Jesus fought back not with fists and strength in body, but by the knowledge and the power of the inspired word of God which equipped him with the only weapon that holds any power on this earth, outside of God himself. 

    

    The Hebrew word for Zayin has another meaning as well, that being one of nourishment. In the same way that a sword is useless if we don't practice how to wield and use it, a body is weak if it is not filled with the right nutrients. Imagine trying to go into battle after feasting out on a dessert buffet, with foods full of sugar and artificial flavorings that only serve to satisfy a craving, but do more harm than good to the body. We would go into the battle, and after the sugar high wore off, we would feel sluggish and not be at our best. Just like our bodies need healthy foods to function properly, we need to fill our spirits with all that God has given to us to prepare our bodies, so that when the enemy attacks, we will be strengthened and ready to stand our ground. Fully surrendered to the truth of God's word, leaving no room for the enemy to take any ground within ourselves. 

    As Christians, the enemy is prepared to attacks each of us, ad bring us to a place of defeat. Thankfully for us, God has already given us everything we will every need to protect our souls from eternal destruction by sending us the Holy Spirit and the inspired word that is our Sword, but only if we pick it up and practice how to use it. I pray that as you read this, you hearts burn with a desire to dig into God's word and let it fill every crevice of your once empty soul. Don't let the enemy have any part of your holy temple, which is your body. For once he has entered your heart, he will build a stronghold not easily broken, in order that he will in turn break you and pull another soul down in the pits of Hell where he will soon take up residence after the triumphant return of Christ. 

Adam Semple- A Young Man on A Journey Through the Psalms.

Psalm 119 WAW

" May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,
     your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
     for I trust in your word.
Never take your word of truth out of my mouth,
     for I have put my hope in your laws.
I will always obey your law,
     for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
     for I have sought out your precepts.
I will speak of your statutes before kings
     and I will not be put to shame,
For I delight in your commands
     because I love them.
I reach out for your commands, which I love,
     that I may meditate on your decrees."
                                                                  vs. 41-48

When we take the time to break down the scriptures, we can see patterns and concepts repeated time and time again. This section of the psalm is no different. Again, we see that David has put his full trust and hope in the Lord and in his commands and precepts. Let's look at verse 42. "then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word". Think back to the story of Jesus in the desert being tempted by the devil for the 40 day wilderness season. Jesus did not withstand the devil's remark with a legion of angels or a two-edged sword. He silenced the enemy's taunts with nothing but scripture. On 3 separate occasions, Satan gives his remark, and Jesus rebukes his statement by quoting promises of God to the people of Israel back in the devil's face. In the same manner, this is what we as Christians should have the same mindset. If Jesus did not have the word steadfast in his heart, when the time came to defend his faith, he might have fallen short and fallen into the devil's trap. Because he not only knew the word, but had a deep relationship with the one who inspired the scriptures, he was able to pull from his spiritual armory and defend the attacks of the enemy. Imagine with me, if every person who calls themselves a Christian knew the bible so intimately that at a moment's notice, they could defend their faith, or even help someone in need going through a troubling time. How much more would the gates of Hell shake with fear on a daily basis? What would that do for our churches? Our Homes? Our Lives? Now, I want to make something clear. The pharisees back in the days of Jesus were Levites and priests in the Temple. They knew the scripture backward and forward, but they were judgmental, hypocrites who were more about enforcing a wrong that had been committed instead of showing the love of the Father to the people. How could this be? They had all the knowledge of the word. Shouldn't they have been the perfect example of a Christian? The problem was not the head knowledge they possessed, but the heart relationship that was somehow missed in their studies. You may be asking yourself, how do I know all the scriptures and not become legalistic? Good question. Here is the simplest answer I can give. Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; then a desire to know his word will come. Not to become perfect people, to to grow deeper in our relationship with the Father. Have you ever read a passage in scripture at just the right moment n your life that it refreshed and refueled your weary soul? Knowing and reading the scriptures then becomes this releasing of shame and breaking of shackles that have pulled us down. We find ourselves in excited anticipation every time we go to open our bibles, because with every new day, God's living word teaches and shows us all the amazing promises and stories of times before when God showed up for his people who needed Him.

God gave us his word not only as a guidebook to live a godly life, but as a chance to look back on the history of God's people and the understanding that if God did it for them, he can do it for us just the same. God is a good of the past, present and the future, and he wants to see his children go through life free of shame and shackles that confine us to a prison of the mind. God has given us the key to unlock the doors, we simply need to reach out and grab hold of everything God is trying to teach us.

Adam Semple- a Young Man on a journey through the Psalms.

Psalm 119 HE

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
    that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
    and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
    for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfill your promise to your servant,
    so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
    for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
    In your righteousness preserve my life.
                                                                  - Psalm 119:33-40



God's laws and commands have been clearly laid out for us as almost as long as Israel has been a nation. Even though some of them don't apply to our lives today,( animal sacrifices and putting lamb's blood over our doorpost), we are still expected as believers to follow and learn the standards God has set aside for us. For most of us, whenever we hear the words "rules and regulations", we become a little critical of following them," because if I'm already saved, why do I need to follow so many rules. Church ain't nothing but a strict law code that I don't have time to follow." We need to take a different approach to how we follow the guidelines set in place. We can easily see throughout the entirety of this psalm so far, David is making a conscious decision to not only know and understand God's commands, but to follow after them with delight and to jump all in in order to do so.
I'm going to be honest here, that is not always easy, not by a long shot. But if we go through life on the simple path; yes we will make it to the other side, but we will have remained the same throughout the journey. There would be no stretching us out of our comfort and complacency, and we would still be as babies in the faith, even though God has called us to be Mighty Warriors sent out to break down the gates of hell. When we take the easy road, Satan doesn't fear us because comfort is not going to remove one bar from his prison. We need to follow the path of David, ask God to show us his commands and give us his understanding to carry them out, then storm the walls of the enemy that has trapped and pull down too many Christians and non-Christians into its fiery grasp.

I want to be so connected to the will of the Father in my life that when I rise to do something for the Kingdom of God, Satan takes notice and shutters in fear. I want God to move in my life, not for my glory or to build myself up, but because we were designed with a purpose to take back what the enemy has held captive for far too long.

Who's with me?

Adam Semple- A Young Man on a Journey through the Psalms

Psalm 119 DALETH

"I am laid low in the dust;
  preserve my life according to your word.
I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
  teach me your decrees.
Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
  that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.
My soul is weary with sorrow;
  strengthen me according to your word.
Keep me from deceitful ways;
  be gracious to me and teach me your law.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
  I have set my heart on your laws.
I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;
  do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands,
  For you have broadened my understanding."- Psalm 119:25-32



We see in the psalms a very similar pattern, Praise and thanksgiving to God. There is another occurrence that appears throughout the book as well. David, or the current psalmist, tends to write his psalm out of desperation and despair. To say that all the Psalms are out of hardship would be an exaggeration, but I have found that this is true for most. This should encourage us as Christians tremendously. All throughout the book, the psalmist is between a rock and a hard place and the only hope he has for a better tomorrow is the promises and commands that have come from the Father.
Let's jump right in. " I am laid low in the dust, preserve my life according to your word." David is saying he that he is essential at death's door, and on his own strength, he will not be able to pull through, and get himself out of this slump. So what does David do? David does what he has seen tested time and time again, he asks God to give him the strength to rise up and continue to do his duties.
"I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds." David is giving us an example on what we need to be doing as followers of God: we need to know his decrees, and allow the Lord to take them from our head knowledge, to our heart truth. God has laid out a full plan to living the life he intends for us. It is our job to let the Holy Spirit reveal to us what we need to know, when we need to know it. Don't let this confuse you into thinking we must know every lay and command and always meet the requirements that come with them. What I am saying is that as we allow the Lord to work and move in our hearts, we will begin to live out the commands naturally because we will be so focused on living for God and nothing else. In this set of verses, David asks God to teach him his ways and laws several times, 3 times specifically. We should not take this lightly. The psalmist would not feel the need to bring home this point if it was not important for us to hear, so lets open our hearts and minds to hear and receive everything God has placed in front of us.
King David, one of the greatest heroes of the bible,(my personal opinion), understood that in order to be not just a good man, but a great king, he had to rely on God to show him how to understand his commands and follow them wholeheartedly. Even in times of trouble or sorrow or pain, we must do the same. God hears our prayers, and he comes down to us with a comforting spirit that assures us of every promise spoken over our hearts and lives.

Let's walk every day, right behind the Father, so that we may observe and follow the things that are important to God.

Adam Semple- A Young Man on a Journey through Psalms 119.
 

Psalm 119-GIMEL

"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 who 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."

The word Gimel in the Hebrew is defined as the "justified repayment", or the giving of reward and punishment.

In this section of the psalm, David is asking God to deal with any issue inside of him that is stopping him from living and keeping God's word. At the start of this passage, we see the words " Deal Bountifully" with your servant- this comes from the Greek word Gamal meaning to ripen; to recompense. David wants God to make his heart perfect for harvesting. As any farmer would know, to get any kind of good harvest, you cannot do it in a single afternoon and expect a plentiful return. Even though David is not a farmer, he understands the obstacles that come with wanting a good, full harvest. He knows that when he us asking God to deal with his heart, it will take time. He also knows that in order to remove the bugs and pestilence from his "garden" will require a daily inspecting of his mind and spirit. Lori Waugh compares this passage to growing pumpkins, "In Mid to late June, the ground is prepared, the seeds are planted and the ground is watered. By August and September, the vines begin to bloom, with tiny pumpkins beginning to develop. The excitement, however, begins to fade with the squash bugs begin to take over the vines, causing the vines to shrivel and die, making our labor nothing more than wasted time....It can be a real pain to try and get rid of the bugs, because they are easily hidden from view, and we must spend every day searching for and removing them from the crop. Then there are the weeds. If we leave the crop without tending to it, even for a few days, the weeds are to much to control. It is a daily struggle that needs continuous labor on our part to get rid of."-  Lori Waugh-http://comefillyourcup.com/2017/02/23/psalm-119-gimel/

In the same way a pumpkin gardener has to remove the bugs and weeds from her crop, we as Christians must daily inspect the hidden places of our lives and ask God to remove the reproach and contempt that tries to sneak in and destroy the work that God has begun in us.

David understood the time constraint that would come when he asked God to "deal bountifully with Your servant". But he also recognized that not only were God's words and commands good, David describes them as " MY delight and MY counselors" {emphasis mine}. He enjoyed having God show him "the wondrous thing from his law" and we should embrace this same spirit of humility that comes form God dealing with our own hearts.

As we begin this new year, lets us speak this prayer of David over our spirits and allow God to work in us and through us so that at the end of the "season", our harvest will be bountiful and prosperous because we trusted God to plant the seeds in our garden that flourished into the things he desired for our lives.

Adam Semple- A Young Man on a  journey through the Psalms