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...

Psalm 119:122 Well-being Commentators have suggested that this is the only verse out of the 176 in the Psalm that does not have a direct, or indirect, reference to the Word of God! The writer’s zeal for God’s laws and His truth is the only theme of Psalm 119, it shines out of every sentence, except this one! Even v121 mentions God’s righteousness and justice and that these have been adhered to by the psalmist. Note that the very in vogue expression “well-being” is used here in the Psalm, I wonder how many people are aware of this! Modern definitions cite “well-being” to be a dimension in which we define how satisfied we are with our lives, our sense that what we do in life is worthwhile, our day-to-day emotional experiences (happiness and anxiety) and our wider mental well-being. In other words, we are talking about quality of life.  Apparently, there are 5 principles of well-being, these are connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give. Isn’t it amazing to discover...

Psalm 119:121 Righteousness and justice We have progressed now as far as the 16 th  letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, it is “Ayin”. The word means “eye” or to see and by extension, to understand and obey. Ayin also represents the primeval lights, this is the light of God mentioned in Genesis 1: 3 when He said,  “Let there be light.”  This light is far more profound and illuminating than the light from the sun and the stars and it is only the spiritual eye that can see it! Interestingly, Jewish tradition taught that the body has two eyes that connect to the brain, the two eyes represent the choices that we make, we choose either to use the good eye or the evil eye and that choice determines which way our mind and our body will react. It looks like the psalmist had used his good eye on a regular basis for he can claim,  “I have done what is righteous and just.”  His actions are borne out of his reading of God’s Word and his keeping of the Law.  Righteousness and...

Psalm 119:120 A proper fear of God It’s probable that not many of us have trembled in fear of the Lord. After all, don’t most sermons paint Him as a God of love, a sovereign benefactor who dearly cares for His children and who is only there to guard and guide them? Whist that is so true, when we turn back the pages of history, we find that a number of those who closely interacted with this God were overwhelmed with terror in His presence. Moses hid his face at the burning bush because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:6.) Isaiah thought he was ruined when he saw the Lord high and lifted up, in the Temple. (Isaiah 6:5.) Even the disciples, Peter, James and John, fell facedown to the ground and were terrified at the transfiguration of Jesus. (Matthew 17:6.) In other words, a close encounter with the Lord is not necessarily a heart-warming, cosy experience! Should we be afraid in the presence of Almighty God? Yes, we should. When we look at His splendour, His holiness and His beauty...

Psalm 119:119 Discarding the dross It couldn’t be put more simply, could it? The Lord destroys the wicked, therefore, says the writer, I will love His laws! We could stop there, but let’s explore this verse a little bit more. Firstly, what is dross? When iron ore and other metals are heated in furnaces the core substance melts but, more often than not, a solid scum is formed on the surface of the molten mixture, and this is removed to improve the quality of the metal. In other words, the dross is worthless and is thrown away. Our writer labels all wicked men and women together and declares that this will be their lot, they will be separated out by the smelting process and discarded. The images of hell fires and future judgement burn in our minds and send a shudder down our spines. The wicked are those who rebel against God, who despise His moral laws and who live their lives with no recognition of His creation, His sovereign power and love, and the wonder of His salvation. The writer o...

Psalm 119:118 Watch out for delusions! This verse is a tough one because it suggests that there are those who once followed the Lord’s decrees, but they have strayed and are now rejected by Him! The “decrees” of the Lord are His engraved statutes, for most of us symbolised best by the Ten Commandments. So, the suggestion is that there are those who once willingly and fervently followed these commands of God, but they have now strayed away from them. It’s actually easier than we might think, the early days of our faith journey were new and exciting, there was much to learn and a faith relationship with the Lord God opened up so many possibilities. But time has passed and keeping the Sabbath is not as joyful and fulfilling as it used to be! There have been a lot of adulterous thoughts of late and the prospect of promotion and climbing the career ladder beckons although the journey will be very time-consuming. The last thing we think about during the busy hours of the day, is keeping the ...

Psalm 119:117 Uphold me These words from Isaiah 46:4 are beautiful and they expand on today’s theme.  “Even to your old age and grey hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  The verse before us continues from the previous verses and we are encouraged to never be in doubt that we protected and cared for way beyond our expectations and our understanding. We are God’s family, His children under His sovereign care, and there’s no way that He will ever let us travel alone. HE WILL UPHOLD US or hold us up – in His arms. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day He is watching over us and guarding us. Whatever the circumstances, the difficulties and the obstacles that face us today, He will deliver us. His deliverance is not just from past sins, or the ravages of eternal darkness,  it is also for the here-and-now, His deliverance covers our daily needs and personal dilemmas, ...

Psalm 119:116 Never give up the fight Fighting in any kind of battle can be an extremely demanding experience. Soldiers get tired, they don’t work to a timetable, they may be required to be awake and alert for hours at a time, with no prospect of time off in lieu, or holidays whenever they choose. The demands of war are endless, and they take their toll on those who are engaged in obeying commands and fighting the enemy.  As we saw in the previous verse, we too fight against a relentless foe, there is no let up and no prospect of respite. Even Jesus grew tired in the battle and would disappear for hours, even whole nights, to spend time with His Father, recharging His spiritual batteries. In the light of this, we all need to ask the Lord to sustain us as He has promised;  “ The   Lord   is my rock,   my fortress   and my deliverer;   my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,   my  shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psa...

Psalm 119:115 Away from me, you evildoers 2024 became a year of spiritual warfare for me, not least because the subject occupied my teaching role in the local church for over half the year, and consequently my studies and personal life became a battle ground. It is easy to put our heads in the sand and pretend that there is no enemy, that what cannot be seen probably doesn’t exist, that the spiritual realm may be the subject of Bible texts but is hardly relevant in our modern culture. Many Christians shy away from the idea of personal battles against demons and would prefer to avoid any confrontation with the spirit world.  Conversely, wherever Jesus went He confronted and drove out evil spirits and He empowered His disciples to do the same. He came bent on conquest, and was prepared to pay whatever cost was necessary to deliver us from the Satan’s power. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ were the ultimate blows in the battle against evil and, as a result of His vict...

Psalm 119:114 Our refuge and our shield There are at least two kinds of defence systems that we all rely upon. The first is corporate and community based, wherever it is we belong, we expect to be protected and guarded from our enemies. That’s why countries have armies and local towns and villages have Police Forces. People are appointed and paid to look after us all and ensure our safety. The verse before us today speaks of a much more private and personal form of security. Some folks have personal bodyguards, many of us will have looked up to an older brother or friend in the school playground who watched out for us. My father certainly took on that role when I was harassed and bullied as a child.  Now consider this, our psalm-writer is able to claim that it is the Lord who is his refuge and shield. When enemies pursue him and evil people threaten, he has no human guardian, but he can turn to God and take refuge in Him. So, does an angel appear with a flaming sword and deadly arr...

Psalm 119:113 Double-mindedness It is now time to savour the delights of 15 th  letter of the Hebrew alphabet – “Samekh.” It means to lean upon, uphold or to support. There is a much-used derivation – “Semikhah” which is the Jewish word for laying on of hands, especially on the head of a sacrificial animal in the Temple or at the ordination of a priest. Today, the ordination of a Jewish Rabbi is performed in a ceremony called “Semikhah.”  The verse before us immediately brings to mind the later writing of the Apostle James who points out that when we approach the Lord with prayer requests, “ We must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ” James 1:6-8.  There are many who are double minded in the church of Jesus Christ and we should all examine ourselves to see that this is not a de...

Psalm 119:112 What is our heart set on? In Biblical language, the heart is the centre of the human spirit. All thoughts, emotions, motivations, courage and actions flow from the heart. Everything we do and say and think, is a consequence of what is in our hearts.  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Proverbs 4:23. ·        If someone acts callously and is cold and hard, it is because that is the state of their heart. ·        If someone is jealous and controlling, this is a reflection of their heart. ·        If someone is warm and welcoming and generous, that is because their heart is warm and welcoming and generous. In other words, we judge people not by what they say but by their actions, and their actions reflect what is in their heart. The obvious truth is that everyone’s heart is different, tempered by upbringing, life influences, events and edu...

Psalm 119:111 This is our heritage Remember that the statutes of the Lord are the “Edot”, the covenant stipulations. The writer, along with his godly contemporaries, had a very special view of God’s covenant and its rules. They were more than just a set of regulations that should be read and digested from time to time, they were his sacred inheritance from the Lord, they were his portion, some translators use the word “homestead.” The Covenant was itself viewed like a familiar building that embraced those who lived within it, this was their home, they were protected, loved and provided for within its walls. The Lord God had built this holy space in which true believers might find refuge, complete acceptance and comfort. In fact, God’s laws fill the whole earth, and there is no need for anyone to leave the security and peace that their protection provides. The psalm-writer understood this and revelled in this with joy at all times. He knew that the statutes would never change and that h...

Psalm 119:110 All about snares In verse 85 we were advised by the writer that the arrogant dug pits for him. The verse now before us accuses the wicked of setting a snare. How do snares work? Nowadays, wire is used but this would not have been available in ancient times, presumably they used rope or any other kind of cord in which you could tie a noose. (Actually, there are plant fibres that will do the job like milkweed or dogbane or even stringy tree bark.) Snares need to be set on a route that an animal uses regularly and where there are bendable saplings to which the cord can be attached. The noose is fixed to the ground so that an unsuspecting animal cannot see it but when its foot or leg is caught it tightens and holds the creature fast.  It's hard to speculate on how the wicked might have set a snare for our friend, they would have known his daily habits, they would have also known what kind of slander or accusation would pin him down and ultimately take him captive. Snaring...

Psalm 119:109 The dangerous Gospel The psalm-writer has spoken before about the occasions when he has dared to publicly declare his faith in the Lord God. As a consequence of doing this, he has been slandered by rulers (v23). He has even tried speaking to kings about the statutes of the Lord (v46) but, in verse 161, he talks about being persecuted without cause by rulers. In other words, this man has stood up for God’s truth and His commands in the highest of places and faced rejection, persecution and ridicule. As we have seen, it follows that there have been times when even his life has been threatened. He reminds us of many of the Apostles who were fearless and bold in their declaration of their faith and cared little for the status or authority of those they addressed. These godly men also took their lives in their hands and demonstrated their fear of God over the threats of men. This all makes for uncomfortable reading as some of us consider our own weak and pathetic efforts to st...

Psalm 119:108 Willing Praise Praise can be a complex business! Using our mouths in praise usually infers that we are either singing or speaking out the attributes of God and His Sovereign ways. But think about it, the fact that we are making a musical noise or voicing some coherent words does not mean that we are actually offering praise! How many times have we mouthed sentences or sung to familiar tunes without giving much thought to the real meaning of what is written? Praise is sometimes no more than a pleasant, personal repetition of familiar words and phrases, or a community sing-along that gives the participants a warm feeling.  The author suggests that there has to be an element of “being willing” when it comes to praise, the kind of willingness that we experience at a football match or some other public event where people lift their voices and nail their allegiances to the mast, for all to see. This kind of praise is purposeful, freely given, authentic and powerful, it come...

Psalm 119:107 There is a way through suffering We have speculated before, on the nature of the author’s suffering. Verse 25 has him,  “laid low in the dust.”  In verse 28 his “ soul is weary with sorrow .” In verse 51 he complains about the unmerciful  mocking of the arrogant  who have “ smeared him with lies.”  V69. And so it goes on, this man is being hit with physical afflictions as well as the social rejection of his contemporaries. His only place of refuge is in the company of the Lord and the sweet comforting embrace of God’s Word.  Many of us have endured long periods of suffering in our lives, for some this has been physical pain and disability that makes every day a test of endurance and faith. For others it has been the long-term psychological pain inflicted by callous, selfish and wicked people who use their brutal ignorance to dominate and humiliate others. Some suffer because of their own sin and failure and live their days carrying the regrets...

Psalm 119:106 Covenants and oaths The Covenant relationship that Israel had with the Lord God expressed itself in many ways. There was the over-riding set of rules, commandments and regulations that was given to Moses and that covered the daily activity and religious observances of the entire nation. But there was also the opportunity for individuals, or families and other groups, to make covenants with the Lord, these were often sealed with an oath and accompanied by an offering at the sacrificial altar. In Nehemiah we read of the reinstatement of the nation following the return of the Jews from Babylon, and the restoration of the Temple and the religion that had guided their ancestors. There were 7 days of renewal during which time Ezra, the High Priest, read from the Torah. The people confessed their sins and then a binding agreement (covenant) was written down and sealed by the leaders, the Levites and the priests. The people, including the children who were old enough to understan...

Psalm 119:105 The lamp and its light And now to 14 th  letter of the Hebrew alphabet – Nun. Nun represents the number 50 and it is an expression of life often associated with a picture of a fish swimming in water! It is first mentioned in Exodus 33:11 where we meet Joshua “the son of  Nun .” Joshua was the man chosen to succeed Moses and he was able to enter the Promised Land where he made incredible progress in conquering the local tribes and clearing the way for Israel’s occupation. Joshua was literally “the son of life” – a representation of Yeshua our Messiah. The words that begin this section of Psalm 119 are the best known in the Psalm , “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  This talk of the author being on a journey and choosing to walk on the right path has been mentioned before, indeed in the previous verse he declares how he hates every wrong path. So, what is the best way to stay on the right path?  By reading and obeying the Word of...

Psalm 119:104 Learning to hate wrong paths What is “understanding”, in biblical terms? It’s obviously far more than just reading the instruction manual that goes with the new washing machine or grasping the way that gravity works! This verse refers to something deeper and something life-enabling. The precepts of God are His rules and commands that put Him in His rightful place in our lives, as our mentor, our guide and our overseer. His precepts teach us that we are accountable but also protected. If we obey them, life will generally go well for us and we won’t take the countless wrong turns and diversions that beckon along the way. The precepts of God, in the psalmist’s opinion, keep us on the right path.  Let’s face it, life is full of options, from what to watch on TV, to how to spend our day, to who we will build relationships with, to which task on the “to do” list we will tackle next, and so it goes on. The precepts of God guide our moral decisions and frankly that covers alm...

Psalm 119:103 Sweeter than honey Israel is a land of honey. The vast arable fields are characterised by their giant irrigation systems and also, in many cases, by the lines of beehives that stretch along the boundaries as far as the eye can see. The honeycombs are so plentiful that they sit in racks on hotel breakfast bars and visitors can just break chunks off and sample the rich, sweet honey that oozes out!  The writer of Psalm 119 finds similar sweetness and pleasure in sampling the Word of God, he reaches out and eagerly devours the succulent riches of the Word, it is more than just bread to his soul, it has an element of purity and luxury, just like a dripping, mouth-watering honeycomb.  This Psalm has turned out to be like that for me and I hope for you too. It loomed like a large, gloomy mountain over me as I waded through the psalms that preceded it, I skipped over them lightly, enjoying the brief respite that they offered before the ascent of the big peak! I had read ...

Psalm 119:102 The Lord is my teacher In verse 99, we thought about the progression from being taught by others, to becoming a teacher ourselves. It’s a long, ponderous journey and we are forever grateful for those who accompany us for parts of it, our mentors, our rabbis, our guides along the way. For many of us it starts with parents, then Sunday School and Bible Class teachers, followed by pastors, ministers, shepherds, elders and others who took us under their wing. It may be many years before we stop and look back and realise that all these different folk have had a genuine interest in our progress and have been deliberately planted to help us on our way. To them all we say a heartfelt, “Thank you.” There comes a day when we realise too, that none of this has been accidental or coincidental, the Lord Himself has been our guide and our mentor, and He has been our principal teacher. The richness of the words that we read and study in God’s Word are flavoured by a divine hand, the Hol...

Psalm 119:101 Keep away from evil paths It is a torturous journey that those who love the Lord are bidden to take. How simple life would be if there stretched before us a beautiful, tree-lined, motorway, stretching as far as the eye can see and offering no deviations or alternative junctions. Sadly, that does not describe the journey of life, particularly the journey that those who want to grow in their faith must take. For us, the route is often slow and ponderous, with endless twists and turns and often rocky outcrops and ravines that have to be negotiated if progress is to continue. The most difficult decisions are the ones that have to be made at crossroads and when a by-road opens up offering an easier and much more scenic route. Too often, we find ourselves attracted by the views on offer and the possibility of “comfort breaks” where very many attractions are on display and there are a thousand reasons to stop and linger. Not all of these side tracks are evil but some are deliber...

Psalm 119:100 The bearded ones! The Hebrew word for elders literally means “bearded ones.” In most ancient cultures a beard was a symbol of wisdom and strength and the longer and thicker it was, the better. Presumably this means that to qualify as an elder of the people you must be an older man, full of experience, known to be wise and having considerable influence. The role was pretty obvious, such men were at an age when they had become the older statemen in their families, clans and tribes and people naturally looked up to them. These were the men who been there, seen it, done it and got the T shirt! They were respected for their knowledge and as such they served as arbitrators in legal and administrative matters as well as being the equivalent of local counsellors. Some would, of course, assist in military maters depending on their experience and skill sets.  We might think that it takes a bit of cheek for the writer of Psalm 119, who obviously had not reached the status of an ...

Psalm 119:99 No limits to learning When someone says that they have more insight than all their teachers, we would probably assume that they are arrogant or deluded! How can we go around boasting that, however much others seek to instruct us, we know more? I will attempt to explain. In my youth I had an immense hunger for learning especially learning about the Word of God. I attended conferences, Bible teaching sessions, house parties and the like, and would hang on to every word spoken by the teachers, making copious notes as I listened. I borrowed books from my father and other friends and loved nothing more than to go to Christian bookshops and buy the latest publications. My bookshelves swelled with commentaries, biographies and publications covering every subject associated with the Bible. These books were not for casual reading, they were for study and learning and ultimately the truths embraced would find their way into countless sermons and Bible teaching sessions.  Many of...

Psalm 119:98 Intelligence gathering One of the most important and coveted aspects of modern warfare is the intelligence gathering that lies behind the actual, physical confrontations. Armies of men and women are fighting in unseen wars around the world, gathering information, spying on enemies, manipulating facts and figures, trying to out-think their adversaries. One of the outstanding accomplishments of Israel in their recent war with Hamas, Hezbollah and ultimately Iran and the bigger players, has been their ability to infiltrate enemy strongholds. Mossad is the name of their foreign intelligence agency and Shabak, the organisation charged with maintaining internal security. Both are rated very highly around the world. The psalm-writer is saying that God’s commands are the agency by which he gained the upper hand over his enemies, in studying and meditating upon those laws he found that his “intelligence” was superior to theirs! What a stunning lesson for us, we can certainly do wit...