Psalm 119:146

Psalm 119:146
Save me
The psalmist seems to be trying to do deals with the Lord God here. In the previous verse, he stressed the passion of his cries and pointed out that if the Lord answered him, he would obey His decrees. Now, he attempts another deal! “Save me, and I will keep Your statutes.” Can we do deals with God? Can we bargain with Him? Can we dare to suggest that if He saves us, we will be good, law-abiding people and seek to consistently obey Him thereafter? If that is so, what kind of people might we be if the Lord does not save us?

It seems that instead of trying to drive a bargain, the author is actually just stating a fact. All he is asking is that the Lord gives him some evidence that he has been heard, and that help is available from the corridors of heavenly power. And if he has been heard and the Lord saves him, then he will have future opportunities to obey and keep God’s laws. If the Lord does not hear and rescue him, he fears for his future existence. It’s a bit like the previous verse, if a ship-wrecked passenger finds himself clinging to life in perilous seas he may appeal to the good nature of his approaching rescuers, and he may promise that he intends to be a better person if they save him but, in truth, if they do not save him, he will drown and his pleas will be just empty words. The Lord God saves those He loves out of His mercy and grace, not because we have somehow earned or bought His redemption. Nothing has changed, He is the same God today, just longing to hear the cries of the repentant and when He hears, He rescues! Hallelujah!

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