Prayer and Praise through the Word

TAU

"169Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word. 170Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. 171My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. 172My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. 173Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. 174I long for Your salvation, O Lord, And Your law is my delight. 175Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. 176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments."

We come to our final section of this lengthy Psalm and we find in v169 that there is an urgent appeal for an audience and then for a true spiritual understanding. The writer confirms to us that the enemy is never faraway and so he continuously cries out for deliverance as the Word promises. There is a constant need to be soaked in the Holy Spirit and full of the Word off God. There is an audience of non-believers out there and they need Jesus, although many will deny this statement. But at least in trying, we are giving them a chance.

As we study God's Word, our increased knowledge should never lead us to be full of pride - a feeling of being puffed up. On the contrary, it should lead us to praise and adoration of the Lord. The writer feels that we should never waste our words on things that don't matter but, on lasting matters such as what Jesus has, can and will do for us. Wasted words never built anyone up but, the Word of God, spoken in faith is pure medicine to our soul.

Remember that we're not only saved to serve but, more to praise God for His great mercy. The writer emphasises v175 'Let my soul - Mind, Will and Emotions - live and it shall praise You.'  Italics mine

Through this Psalm, the writer has led us to see how important God is in our lives,. He has shown us that there is nothing better than praising and living for Jesus and the pitfalls of failing to do this. I hope you have enjoyed reading this Psalm and commentary as much as I have in writing it. In closing I have placed some additional notes on the meaning of certain words in each verse. God Bless

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 119:1 blameless
2. Psalm 119:15 look into
3. Psalm 119:20 is crushed
4. Psalm 119:28 Lit. drops
5. Psalm 119:28 grief
6. Psalm 119:36 Cause me to long for
7. Psalm 119:37 Lit. Cause my eyes to pass away from
8. Psalm 119:37 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; Tg. Your words
9. Psalm 119:42 taunts
10. Psalm 119:45 Lit. in a wide place
11. Psalm 119:69 Lit. smeared me with a lie
12. Psalm 119:70 Insensible
13. Psalm 119:75 Lit. righteous
14. Psalm 119:89 Lit. stands firm
15. Psalm 119:90 Lit. stands
16. Psalm 119:95 give attention to
17. Psalm 119:100 aged
18. Psalm 119:109 In danger
19. Psalm 119:111 inheritance
20. Psalm 119:113 Lit. divided in heart or mind
21. Psalm 119:117 Uphold me
22. Psalm 119:119 destroy, lit. cause to cease
23. Psalm 119:119 slag or refuse
24. Psalm 119:122 guaranty
25. Psalm 119:126 broken Your law
26. Psalm 119:139 put an end to
27. Psalm 119:140 Lit. refined or tried
28. Psalm 119:143 Lit. found
29. Psalm 119:156 Or Many
30. Psalm 119:165 Lit. they have no stumbling block
31. Psalm 119:170 Prayer of supplication

'If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now

Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen
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