Daily Meditations

Psalm 119:128 Right v Wrong This is a difficult verse. In a way, it describes a kind of spiritual set of Balance Scales. On the one hand are the precepts of the Lord that are right. On the other hand, are the wrong paths that we take in our lives. On the one hand are things that the author loves, and on the other hand are the things that he hates. It follows that it is almost impossible to keep these opposites in balance, one side or the other is going to be dominant. The more we love the precepts of the Lord, the more we will hate going astray from Him. The more we go astray, the more we will despise His laws. As we saw in verse 126, the Apostle Paul clearly describes this process in Romans 1:18-32, where society or a nation despises the Lord and His commands and the more it does so, the further into sin it falls.  So, how are the scales of right and wrong working out for us right now? Can we say that we consider that every precept of the Lord is right? Are we prepared to humbly a...

Psalm 119:127 Better than gold! Come on! Let’s be honest. Who would not like a nugget of pure gold? That’s what has cost many men their lives – the ones who have gone prospecting at different sites across the world over the years – and still do! The author went further in verse 72,  “The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”  In other places he also talks about the commands and laws of the Lord being his portion and his heritage.  In other words, everything about the Word of the Lord God is of more value to him than any of the riches and wealth of this world.  We all know the instructions of Jesus about not laying up treasures on earth but building up a treasure bank in heaven where our investments never spoil or devalue. (Matthew 6:19-21) Sadly, churches have not grasped this simple command, and our villages, towns and cities are scattered with elaborate buildings that were costly to build and to maintain. The ...

Psalm 119:126 Time for the Lord to act? Phew! Have we ever prayed these words to the Lord? The writer of this verse could have been thinking about his own situation which, as we have seen, was pretty dire. He might also have been surveying the state of the nation or even the world and his words here are a cry from the heart, “Lord, look at the mess things are in. Look at the way the world is treating you. Look at the rebellion and disobedience all around me. Lord, it is time for you to act, I cannot resolve this alone, Your Law is being broken on every hand. Please, Lord, do something!” There are, undoubtedly, many Christians whose heads are in the sand and who are content for things to just jog along as they have always done. Many tell me that they do not watch the News or read a newspaper or listen to what is going on because they find it all too depressing. This is neither the time nor place to start listing all the problems that are facing our world or even our local communities. W...

Psalm 119:125 I am Your servant Before we can go any further, we need to understand what it means to be a servant of the Lord for we may be guilty of thinking that this a demeaning position. In Biblical terms, servants were loyal, dependable and always seeking new ways to please their master. It is a position that requires humility, a readiness to act as God commands and it carries no wages or financial reward. Those who were God’s servants in Old Testament times were those who worshipped Him and carried out His Will, often in important leadership roles. Does true servanthood go unnoticed? Not according to Isaiah 42 which begins with these words,  “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.”  So, genuine servants of the Lord are chosen, supported and bring delight to their Master and that CV applied most of all, of course, to Yeshua. Hallelujah! Having been appointed and taken up the post it follows that any diligent servant will want to do his / he...

Psalm 119:124 Be assured, we are loved There’s a suggestion here that the author thinks he has had a raw deal from God! I mean, if God is loving, gracious, faithful and righteous, then surely the troubles that have continued to mount up should go away! That is why He pleads,  “Deal with Your servant according to Your love.”  In other words, “I can’t see much evidence of love at work here, in truth it feels like You are angry and have deserted me.”  In deliberating over this we face a dilemma, either the Lord God does deliberately withhold His help and provision from some people or, the victims themselves are grumbling unjustly and the Lord has more than met their needs, they just don’t see it! Personally, I don’t think that we can expect an earthly life of ease, free from troubles, where no storms rage and all problems disappear as soon as they arise. How can God save us from our troubles if we never experience them in the first place? Presumably, the bigger question is n...

Psalm 119:123 Failing eyes We need to ask here, what makes eyes fail? Obviously, old age and failing strength are a cause of failing eyesight but these are not the only causes. In the Scriptures, failing eyesight is seen as a symptom of overwhelming grief and calamitous suffering which means we cannot see clearly, we are focussed only on what is happening to us, right now. Another psychological cause of eye failure is the inner ache caused by longings unsatisfied or hope deferred; when such troubles overwhelm some people, they are incapable of seeing anything else clearly.  The psalm-writer has constantly referred to his own inner anguish, his physical sickness and also the unrelenting assaults of his antagonists. It is from this pit of despair that he has tenaciously clung to God’s Word as the only familiar source of comfort, truth and support. Nothing and no one else can be trusted. But now he blames his failing eyesight on two things! Two things that he has been searching for, t...