Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

“Happy All Hallowed Eve – The Night Before All Saints Day!” Psalm 119:113-120 113 I hate double-minded people, but I love your law. 114 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. 115 Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! 116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. 117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees. 118 You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing. 119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes. 120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws. Reflection: One of the blessings of having the bible as your “due North” is that it gives you a source for decision making. It gives you a confidence in making decision based on what you believe God’s Word would lead you to do. As Dallas Willard

Psalm 119:105-112 Nun 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. 106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 107 I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word. 108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. 109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. 110 The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. 111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. 112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. Reflection: In David’s acrostic praise psalm to the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, today we see the well- known verse, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path.” Amy Grant sang a song called “Thy Word” in the 70’s and 80’s, which became very popular on the contemporary music scene. In a world we often have GPS to guide to

Psalm 119:97-104 Mem 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. 102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Reflection: We see David’s love, his delight in the Law. The understanding it gives him makes him wiser than the elders. He uses the metaphor that God’s words are like honey and sweet to the taste. He uses the term “meditate” twice. To meditate is the chew on and digest like a good steak. Often we treat the bible like “fast food”, we

Psalm 119:89-96 89 Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. 91 Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. 92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. 94 Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. 95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. 96 To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless. Reflection: We see David’s trust in God’s word, which he knows is eternal and unchangeable. He realizes God’s faithfulness will continue through all generations, and in spite of his circumstances God will ultimately deliver him. When we see what David has been through, we realize how much trust he has in God and His unfailing love. He knows that

Psalm 119:81-88 Kaph 81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” 83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? 85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law. 86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. 87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth Reflection: David again writes of his longing for God’s salvation and deliverance from his present trials. He says, “My soul faints longing for God’s salvation”. Salvation was a word for deliverance or victory over one’s enemies. In waiting on God, David takes solace and hope in God’s Word, whic

Psalm 119:73-80 Yodh 73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. 74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. 75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. 77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. 78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. 79 May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes. 80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. Reflection: David realized since He was created by God and formed in His hands, that He was God’s representative. In the Law he saw God’s design for how he should live his life. Even when His life took many twists and turns often not as

Psalm 119:65-72 Teth 65 Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Reflection: David cries out to the Lord to continue to teach him the way of knowledge and good judgment. He vows to trust God even when things around him are going south. People are dragging his name through the mud, but he vows faithfulness to God first before trying to win approval from all the people. He even accepts God’s disciplin

Psalm 119:57-64 Heth 57 You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words. 58 I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. 60 I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. 61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. 62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. 63 I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. 64 The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees. Reflection: The psalmist reflects on God’s provision in his life through the Word, even when life has dealt him severe blows. I.e. “Though the wicked bind me with ropes.” You can see the psalmist has hidden God’s Law in His heart. The Law was all that King David had, and would have represented to Him the Bible as we know it today. This would include the great storie

Psalm 119:49-56 Zayi n 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. 52 I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. 53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. 54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. 55 In the night, Lord, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. 56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. Reflection: The psalmist clings to God’s Word despite his current suffering. God’s Word gives him hope that in spite of current conditions, he will not only survive but thrive. He finds comfort in knowing that there is something greater than himself that is holding all things together. Though he would like to take matters into his own hand, he trusts that God will remember him and uph

Psalm 119 Daleth 25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. 26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees. 27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. 28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. 29 Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. Reflection: We see in this acrostic psalm which now moves to the third Hebrew letter “Daleth” some of the low points in David’s life. But we see in this psalm his resolution to rely on God’s word for the answers to life’s toughest problems. In short, He trusted that God’s Word would keep him on the right path and

Psalm 119:17-24 Gimel 17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. Reflection: We now get to the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet “Gimel” (Aleph, Beth, Gimel…) We had a song in my Hebrew class in seminary that helped us memorize the Hebrew alphabet, please don’t make me sing it again! Again we see the psalmist singing of how God’s Word is a delight to him. Notice the relationship between God’s goodness and obedience. This is t