Psalm 119:49-80

Dear RTB’ers,

Two verses that together form one thought: When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts. (vv. 59, 63) I had posted two days ago that I liked “His/Your ways” best as a synonym to all those seven other words and phrases (commandments, precepts, etc.). Today I see “my ways” as opposite to “Your ways”. Yes, I have “my ways”, and those ways are often not consistent with His ways. It would be nice if I could turn right away to Your testimonies, as verse 59 suggests, but often it takes me a while to get to that point. Thankfully, I have friends who fear You, who keep Your precepts, who help me to see the error of “my ways” and can direct me to “His ways”. So often I hear, “You can’t do it alone.” A sound truth there…!

I hope and pray that each of you has an accountability group that can help you to move from your own “my ways” to “His ways”.

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 19 (2022) / Psalm 119:49-64
• October 20 (2022) / Psalm 119:65-80

Psalm 119:25-48

Dear RTB’ers,

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways. (v. 37) What worthless things? A new car? A bigger flat screen TV? Your neighbor’s landscaping? A promotion? A salary raise? Porno (or simply bathing beauties)? Fame/respect? Food? They are all covered in I John 2:15-17, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Actually, God, Himself had already advised Moses and the Israelites thousands of years ago on the verse that I picked today (noted above). You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17) Yeah, what worthless things? ALL those “things”!!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 17 (2022) / Psalm 119:17-32 (again)
• October 18 (2022) / Psalm 119:33-48

Psalm 119:1-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Many of you already know, but for some of you this may be new information. As noted in STS, Psalm 119 is 176 verses long, equal to twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each. Each stanza begins with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each verse in each stanza begins with that same letter. Quite an interesting structure…!

The author uses eight different Hebrew words throughout the Psalm that are mostly synonyms for each other, translated in the ESV as the law, testimonies, His (Your) ways, precepts, statutes, commands/commandments, rules, and Your word. These words and phrases are all used in today’s reading. As synonyms, can they be interchanged? Why does the author choose one over the other? Good questions. My Study Bible noted that at least six of these words/phrases are used in each of the twenty-two stanzas. My own preference it to “translate” each of these words to “Your ways”. I prefer to think of “God’s ways” as opposed to rules, laws, etc. Whatever is His way, that’s what I want to follow.

As we read this Psalm the central theme is following God’s commandments. And in our reading, different verses will likely speak to each of us. It would be great to have us share those that touch us. For me today, How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. (v. 9) Or, my own “translation”: according to His ways… I may not be a young man anymore, but it’s still good advice!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 16 (2022) / Psalm 119:1-16
• October 17 (2022) / Psalm 119:17-32

Psalms 117-118

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the last of the “Hallelujah Psalms” (Psalms 111-118). Tomorrow we begin seven days in Psalm 119.

Today’s psalm appears to be a song of victory over an enemy (or enemies). We’ll never know the exact context, but we tend to apply it to ourselves – either individually or corporately. It’s not hard to make it personal: Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. (vv. 118:5, 7b-8, 17)

We can also see this psalm in a bigger picture, except that the mixing of the singular and the plural makes it more difficult – unless the “me” is a leader speaking: All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! (vv. 118:10, 25)

I tend to favor the more personal, individual application. The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD. The LORD has disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death. I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation. (vv. 118:14, 17-18, 21)

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! (vv. 118:1, 29) AMEN!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 14 (2022) / Psalm 118:1-14
• October 15 (2022) / Psalm 118:15-29

Psalm 116

Dear RTB’ers,

Death – Psalm 116:3, 8, 15. Although David expressed fear for his life, I don’t recall him writing of anything like a reprieve from death. Psalm 6 is a lament, with David expressing fear, weariness and weeping, but death is only a mention, not a near occasion. Likewise, in Psalm 41 David speaks of death, but in the third person. By contrast, the author of today’s psalm seemed to be at death’s door:

• The snares of death encompassed me…
• For you have delivered my soul from death…
• Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

His reaction is thanksgiving and praise.

And us? We’ve had a number of deaths at St. Andrew’s the past few years, but with celebrations of resurrection instead of funerals. Death is acknowledged; resurrection is embraced. It’s what we believe – the apostle Paul said it best, For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) We will go at His behest. Until then, we’ve got work to do.

Blessings.

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See also: October 13 (2022) / Psalms 116-117.

Psalm 115

Dear RTB’ers,

God has created us, each and every one of us, with eyes, ears, hands, feet. Not so with idols: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. (vv. 4-7) Someone other than God has made them. And what of their makers? Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. (v. 8)

But our Maker is the Lord and He know us, each and every one of us: The LORD has remembered us; He will bless us… He will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great. (vv. 12a, 13) And our response? But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (v. 18) Yes, praise the Lord!

Blessings.

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See also: October 12 (2022) / Psalm 115.

Psalms 113-114

Dear RTB’ers,

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. (vv. 113:7-8) So often (but not every time) when I read Scripture’s mention of the poor and the needy I think of my own background – coming from “common” roots and, in fact, poor during my childhood, and the Lord has blessed me far beyond what my roots would have predicted.

But today I have someone else in mind – Dolly Parton. Yes, she surely was raised poor and she certainly sat with princes. We honor her today with the memory of her life. God gifted her with musical and business talents and she made life better for millions of people.

All of us were born poor and needy; all of us in need of God’s grace, His saving redemption through Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection. He has raised us from the dust and one day we will all sit with the princes of His people. All of us! GLORY!!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 10 (2022) / Psalm 113
• October 11 (2022) / Psalm 114

Psalms 111-112

Dear RTB’ers,

Two psalms today, one extolling the greatness of God and the other lauding His people (those who actively follow Him). So, one or two verses from each…

The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. (vv. 111:7-8) I noticed the middle sentence, that His precepts are trustworthy. And I thought of the Ten Commandments – and it’s true. Yes, these are Commandments, directives, the Law! But they are also simply good suggestions, good guidance for good everyday living! Yes, trustworthy…!

My verse from today’s second Psalm is a great follow-up to what I just said, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments! (v. 112:1b) But my focus here is the first eight words, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD… Then the psalmist goes on to describe how that man who fears the Lord is blessed – in his wealth, his generosity, his children, even when turmoil hits. Yes, blessed…!!

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart…

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 8 (2022) / Psalm 111
• October 9 (2022) / Psalm 112

Psalm 110

Dear RTB’ers,

For probably the first time in my life I have read Psalm 110 from the beginning with a reasonable degree of understanding. That understanding begins with the recognition that it is King David speaking. So in the first verse, “The LORD” is God, the Father and “my Lord” is Jesus. Then the rest of the Psalm is Messianic. All the second-person pronouns in verses 1-5 apply to Jesus and all the third-person pronouns in verses 4-7 apply to God, the Father. So, read the Psalm reflecting Jesus for the “You” pronouns and it all follows. It is truly a Messianic psalm!

Blessings.

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See also:

• October 7 (2022) / Psalm 110
• May 2 (2023) / Psalms 95, 97-99, 101, 110, 144