Praying on the brink of Disaster

 Read Psalm 119:153-160. 

Resh

"Look upon my affliction and deliver me."  What a mournful cry!

In this twentieth stanza, he continued his appeal for God to intervene on his behalf.  He not only asked to be delivered from his adversity, but three times he prayed "give me life."  Surely, he felt he was on the brink of disaster. 

Notice how this prayer is in strong alignment with what the LORD has said and who He is.

1. "According to your promise." (v.154)
When we know what God has said, and our request is based up His Word, then with confidence we know we are asking according to His will.  "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15)

2. "According to your rules." (v.156)
God is the ultimate judge.  He is always consistent in His decisions because His Word is absolute truth and will not change.  The LORD rules and over-rules the authorities of this world.  So, as we pray, we look beyond the human factors involved and make our appeal to the One who has all power.  This is a claim of Jesus.  "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."  (Matthew 28:18)

3. "According to your steadfast love." (v.159)
We may not feel our difficulty is a loving thing, allowed by a God who loves us.  But no matter our circumstances, the Lord will always act in accordance with His character.  His love is faithful and His character is not altered by what we go through in life.  "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

The good news of the Gospel of Christ is that He has already given us a life that can never be taken away.  "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Colossians 2:13)  And that frees us to enjoy life here and now.  “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b)

 

When our prayers go Unanswered

 Read Psalm 119:145-152.

Qoph

Some threats never go away; most do not go easily.  For the psalmist, the beleaguering persecutors were arrogant unbelievers.  However, danger comes in many forms--health, finances, relationships.  All such intimidations bring emotional and even spiritual upset.  We pray constantly; yet, the issue does not go away.

In this nineteenth stanza, the writer said he cried out to the LORD for help.  He woke up early in the morning before dawn to pray.  Late at night, he continued to pray.  What kept him going?  How could he face another agonizing day?  His prayers were neither complaints nor bargaining with God.

Through it all--
1. He remained faithful to God's Word. (vv.145-146)
His obedience was not influenced by getting what he wanted from God.  He was consistent in his faith no matter what happened to him.

2. He maintained hope in God's promises. (v.147)
Yes, our threats maybe real.  But the promise of God to care for us is greater.  Belief that we are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), that He is control, and that He is fulfilling His purposes in us are the bases of our hope for the future.

3. He meditated on God's promises. (v.148)
Placing a guard on one's thoughts is a key to survival.  For the believer, continually feeding the mind on the Scriptures provides an anchor for our emotions and direction for our decisions.

4. He remembered God's presence. (v.151)
The enemy was near, "But you are near, O LORD."  God is more powerful than any enemy to our well-being.  Knowing His presence, enjoying His fellowship, learning to trust Him, and growing through adversity is the stuff life is made of.

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'  So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

 

6 truths for being right with God

 Read Psalm 119:137-144.

Tsadhe

How much of the Word of God is correct?  Is it God's Word or man's word about God?  Should the view of Scripture change with changing cultures?  Should not other opinions and views be equally considered?

Every generation wrestles in one way or another with the claims of the Scriptures.  Here in this eighteenth stanza the psalmist could not be more clear in addressing those questions.

1. The LORD is right. (v.137a)

2. What He said is right. (v.137b)

3. What He said is based upon His right character. (v.138)

4. What He said has been proven right. (v.140)

5. God's right character will not change. (v.142)

6. God's right Word will not change. (v.144)

This is why the psalmist could state with such confidence, "I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way." (Psalm 119:128)

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35)

Then, how vital for life it is to know and implement the Scriptures in order to be right with God!

 

A crying response to the Scriptures

 Read Psalm 119:129-136.

Pe

How many different ways can the love of God's Word be expressed?  In this seventeenth stanza, we are told the Scriptures are full of wonder, helping us to understand life, and providing stability. 

The psalmist longed for what God had to say.  He ran to it, panting for more.  But while he experienced such a relationship with the LORD and all His benefits, his heart was broken for others.

"My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law." (v.136)

One of burdens a committed follower of Christ carries is for those who are estranged from God.  They do not know the joy of forgiveness, of personal fellowship with the LORD, or have the assurance of eternal life.

The Apostle Paul carried this brokenness for his countrymen.  "...I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." (Romans 9:2-3)

Praying for specific people to come to know the Savior is a natural response to our love for God's Word.

Whom are you praying for today?

 

The three R's of praying

 Read Psalm 119:121-128.

Ayin

Charles Spurgeon called this sixteenth stanza "The just man's prayer against injustice."

Feeling threatened by some unnamed oppressors, the psalmist prayed for God's intervention.  He presented a series of personal requests but they were based upon his solid love for God and His Word.

 1. The rightness of his prayer.
The basis of his requests was his own right standing with God.  With integrity he could ask the LORD to act justly on his behalf.  How could he pray for justice if he was living a life of injustice?  "I have done what is just and right."  Such praying requires a pure heart and clean hands before God.  Second, he prayed according to the will and Word of God--"your law has been broken."  This one loved God's Word more than money.  He believed every word of God to be correct. 

2. The requests of his prayer.
In five verses, he made over a half-dozen petitions.  Yes, he desired deliverance from those who were against him and for God to do something for him.  However, much of this prayer is for God to do something in him.  "Deal with me," "teach me," "give me understanding."

3. The results of his prayer.
He did not pray to complain or to only present his needs.  He prayed expectantly for God to respond.  "It is time for the LORD to act."  Obviously, God has His own timing but this type of confident faith is what pleases the LORD.

"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." (1 John 3:21-22)

 

Love, Hate and Fear

Read Psalm 119:113-120.

Samekh

Part of spiritual growth is learning to love what God loves and hating what God hates.

The psalmist understood spiritual warfare.  One committed to the LORD goes up against the enemy of the soul throughout every day.  Choices must be made regarding the influences all around us that beckon. 

1. Learning what to love.
"I love your law."  The chief way we know about God and His promises to us is through the Scriptures.  There is no substitute for investing personal, daily time getting to know the Bible.  The more we know, the more we will want to know.  The more we want to know, the more in love with God we will be.

2. Learning what to hate.
On the other hand, sin and sinful influences cool our love for God.  The double-minded are mentioned.  These are folks who say they believe in the LORD but their thinking, words, and behaviors are in contradiction.  Then, there are the evildoers, or people who love and live to sin.  God spurns (tosses aside, puts down) those who go their own way instead of living in obedience to Him.  We must be cautious living in a lost world and be certain that we demonstrate the marked change Christ makes in our lives.

3. Learning what to fear.
The LORD is a God of justice.  The psalmist said he trembled just thinking about the judgments of God.  The word literally means the hair stood up on the back of his neck.  Too many treat God and His Word with a casual attitude, as if they could take or leave it, without realizing the dire and eternal consequences. 

Light for my I's

 Read Psalm 119:105-112.

Nun

Verse 105 is one of the best-known statements from the Psalms.  In this fourteenth stanza, the psalmist begins by describing the Word of God as a lamp and light.  The application is very personal.  Here is how the illumination of the Scriptures has impact on one’s daily life.

1. My direction. (v.105)
The "lamp to my feet" shows me clearly where I am.  The "light to my path" clarifies where I am going.

2. My confirmation. (v.106)
There must be a time and place when one decides for themselves to step across the line of faith and embrace this One as LORD of life.  The purpose of such a personal commitment is "to keep your righteous rules."

3. My affliction. (v.107)
Tough times will come.  These may be turned into seasons of spiritual growth.  "Give me life" is a call for reviving the heart and refreshing the spirit during difficulty.

4. My submission. (v.108)
Most often freewill offerings involve financial generosity.  But here it is the sacrifice of praise.  The statement in this verse goes beyond giving; there is receiving as well.  Intentionally investing time to be taught the Scriptures requires submitting our schedules to God.

5. My distraction. (vv.109-110)
Nearly every day there are stresses and threats.  They may be physical, relational, occupational, spiritual, or financial.  If we are not diligent, these can distract us, even derail, our fellowship with God.  Remembering God's Word will anchor us in difficulties.

6. My celebration. (v.111)
Having a heritage (Hebrew=possession) of the Scriptures is something not everyone has.  It should never be taken lightly or for granted.  This prized possession goes to the heart, stimulates our joy, and causes us to celebrate our relationship with God.

7. My inclination. (v.112)
Growth in the knowledge of God's Word and putting it into practice will alter our lives inside and out.  It will change our natural bents and behaviors to a life that is focused on pleasing our Savior.