Psalm 119:154

Psalm 119:154

According to Your promise

The thing that stands out from this short verse is the broad nature of the requests that are being made. Three requests in fact: -

·      Defend my cause

·      Redeem me

·      Preserve my life

To defend someone’s cause usually means to simply speak on their behalf, to give a valid reason why they should be exonerated from blame or accusations. It can also mean to plead their case, as in a Court of Law. In other words, those who defend our cause speak up and explain their reasons for justifying us. As ever, the writer is well aware of the taunts and accusations of his enemies, his request is that the Lord should take his side and declare his innocence against all the malicious talk that has been thrown at him and about him.

The concept of redemption is at the very heart of the Bible message. It obviously means to pay a price to either buy back or to obtain ownership of something or someone. The greatest act of redemption that the world has ever seen, took place at Calvary where God Himself paid the price of our salvation from sin, He redeemed us by the sacrificial blood of the Lamb. Redemption is at the very heart of God.

There are two strands to the plea to have life preserved. We might make this cry to a captor or someone who threatens us. The words can also mean, “Save me, protect me, stand over me, repel my enemies, build a wall around me, keep me from evil and from mortal danger.” Isn’t this also in the heart of God? As the psalmist says, we can make these requests “according to Your promise.”

The Lord has not changed one bit, He is still there to defend our cause, to redeem us and to preserve our lives. The prayer in this verse can be our prayer too. 

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