Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
--Psalm 119:73 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on July 12, 2013 of Psalm 119:73-80; Colossians 1:21-2:5; 1 Chronicles 14-16:6.
The psalmist continues to seek greater clarity into God's word with the 10th stanza of the 119th Psalm, dedicated to the Hebrew letter Yod. He wants to mature in his faith by better understanding the law. He readily acknowledges that he is God's creation and therefore His possession, as are we all, and by this we can infer that we should want to do as God wants us to do. If we can say we are His possession, we should feel obligated to observe and obey God's law. Of course, God also gives us free will and the freedom to ignore Him, to rebel against His law if we so wish. But is that an action we should really desire to take? Do we want a better understanding of our Father's will for us, as did our psalmist, or would we rather defy the Creator of everything, as does Lucifer?
The psalmist includes one other somewhat surprising aspect in his seeking spiritual maturity and growth. In verse 75 he admits that the Lord's judgments are right and just and because God is faithful to him He has afflicted him! Basically, the psalmist is thanking God for punishing him! As children, we don't really appreciate it when we are punished for doing wrong. But as we mature, we come to realize that punishment for misbehavior is not always so much punitive as redemptive. We are punished for doing wrong in hopes that it will motivate us to do right. We are punished now so that maybe we will not have to suffer even more, be punished far more severely, in the future. The psalmist realizes, as should we, that when we face our afflictions and suffer through them while maintaining a proper attitude and doing what is right in God's eyes, whether our affliction is brought on by God's right judgment or Satan's wicked devices, we can use the experience to further mature in our faith and avoid greater punishment in our final day.
God has made us. We are His. For that reason alone we should obey His word. But mankind wouldn't listen and sinned against its very Creator. Finally, God in His infinite mercy and love made His Word become flesh and Jesus entered our world as one of us. He is still with us, dwelling in us as God's Holy Spirit. We should want to learn from Him, desire to understand Him, long to obey His voice, yearn to do everything He wants us to do. For only in this way, through our faith and our belief, can we ever be received into heaven. Our original sin separated us from our Father and our individual sin keeps us from Him. Only Jesus can bring us back to Him. Only Jesus provides the means for us to avoid eternal punishment, but rather enjoy eternal life with God. Only Jesus. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge You created us. We should long to obey Your Word, Lord, but we are a stiff-necked people and too often rebel against Your sovereignty. Thank You so much, Father, for sending Your Son to us that we might be washed clean by His blood. Thank You for making Your Word flesh so that we might more easily follow Him. Forgive our rebellious nature, loving Father. In the merciful name of Your Word Jesus we pray. Amen.
The psalmist includes one other somewhat surprising aspect in his seeking spiritual maturity and growth. In verse 75 he admits that the Lord's judgments are right and just and because God is faithful to him He has afflicted him! Basically, the psalmist is thanking God for punishing him! As children, we don't really appreciate it when we are punished for doing wrong. But as we mature, we come to realize that punishment for misbehavior is not always so much punitive as redemptive. We are punished for doing wrong in hopes that it will motivate us to do right. We are punished now so that maybe we will not have to suffer even more, be punished far more severely, in the future. The psalmist realizes, as should we, that when we face our afflictions and suffer through them while maintaining a proper attitude and doing what is right in God's eyes, whether our affliction is brought on by God's right judgment or Satan's wicked devices, we can use the experience to further mature in our faith and avoid greater punishment in our final day.
God has made us. We are His. For that reason alone we should obey His word. But mankind wouldn't listen and sinned against its very Creator. Finally, God in His infinite mercy and love made His Word become flesh and Jesus entered our world as one of us. He is still with us, dwelling in us as God's Holy Spirit. We should want to learn from Him, desire to understand Him, long to obey His voice, yearn to do everything He wants us to do. For only in this way, through our faith and our belief, can we ever be received into heaven. Our original sin separated us from our Father and our individual sin keeps us from Him. Only Jesus can bring us back to Him. Only Jesus provides the means for us to avoid eternal punishment, but rather enjoy eternal life with God. Only Jesus. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we acknowledge You created us. We should long to obey Your Word, Lord, but we are a stiff-necked people and too often rebel against Your sovereignty. Thank You so much, Father, for sending Your Son to us that we might be washed clean by His blood. Thank You for making Your Word flesh so that we might more easily follow Him. Forgive our rebellious nature, loving Father. In the merciful name of Your Word Jesus we pray. Amen.
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