Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me. The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law. I remember your ordinances of old, Yahweh, and have comforted myself. Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs, in the house where I live. I have remembered your name, Yahweh, in the night, and I obey your law. This is my way, that I keep your precepts.      Psalm 119:49-56 (WEB)
The person who wrote this psalm gives me a couple of straightforward words to consider. First, the passage says that in the tough times (afflictions) that God’s comfort has been His promises. Do I know God’s promises? Do I read them and think about them? Do I read them enough to commit them to memory? When times are tough – wouldn’t it be good to have done some pro-active work? There are many books out there about God’s promises. Some of us have a Bible with a list of His promises in an appendix. Some of us have been wise and we have spent time with God’s Word, not just memorizing but taking His promises into our hearts.
The second word that the psalm writer says is that he practices what he has read – he obeys God’s commands, His will, His way of doing things. He says he walks the talk. How do I know what God’s will is? How do I know His way of doing things? I find out the answers to those questions through study, prayer, and fellowship with fellow believers. Then when a question comes up and I am not sure what to do – I keep asking and looking closer at God.
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.â€Â                    Matthew 22:37-40 (WEB)
Jesus is my example. He says that all Law and His words to the prophets come from His first two commands: Love God totally and love my neighbor as myself. God’s answer and direction to any situation is going to be able to be ‘hung’ off these first two commands. If I can’t hang the answer that I believe I am hearing on those two laws then I need to rethink the solution. God is consistent and faithful. If answers seems out of focus or unclear, maybe there is a ‘wait’ involved. More often than not, I am ready to jump ahead of God’s timing!
God is there all the time ready to guide and direct me every day and in every thing. He is my comforter and teacher. Reading all of Psalm 119 would be a good way to spend some good time this weekend and learn something new.
