Monthly Archives February 2015

Vs. 59 — I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

Prayer:

Father, I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies. In the midst of temptation and trial I almost went astray. Then Thy Spirit reminded me of the ways of righteousness and truth. He reminded me of the snare of the trapper, the vanity of satisfying my flesh, and that I would grieve You. I turned and sought You and Your ways. You, again, delivered me from me. Thank you, Father. Keep me in Your ways and do not let me be lured into the darkness.

Vs. 58 – I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.

Thomas Manton:

When you entreat his favour with your whole heart, that is the evidence God is your portion.
(Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 7, p. 119). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Charles Spurgeon:

A fully assured possession of God does not set aside prayer, but rather urges us to it; he who knows God to be his God will seek his face, longing for his presence. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 254–255). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word. Your grace, Your face, … You, my God, I do seek. May I taste Your glory and see Your face.

Vs. 57 – You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.

John Calvin:

… God being our portion, ought to animate and encourage us to observe his law. We have already noticed in several other passages, that God is denominated the heritage of the faithful, because he alone is sufficient for their full and entire happiness. And seeing he has chosen us for his peculiar possession, it is only reasonable, on our part, that we should rest satisfied with him alone; and if we do this, our hearts will also be disposed to keep his law, and, renouncing all the lusts of the flesh, our supreme delight, and firm resolution, will be to continue in the same.

Prayer:

You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words. I have declared that You alone are my source of existence and my sustenance–I am because You have made me and keep me. But I also declare that You are my source of happiness and peace. I declare that I will not look anywhere else but to Thee. Knowing it is You, in whom I need and desire, I will follow Your word to the very end. You are my portion forever. Amen.

Vs. 56 — This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts.

William Cowper:

As sin is a punishment of sin, and the wicked waxeth ever worse and worse; so godliness is the recompense of godliness. The right use of one talent increaseth more, and the beginnings of godliness are blessed with a growth of godliness. David’s good exercises here held him in memory of his God, and the memory of God made him more godly and religious.

Charles Bridges:

When I hear the faithful people of God telling of his love, and saying—“This I had,” must I not, if unable to join their cheerful acknowledgment, trace it to my unfaithful walk, and say—“This I had not”—because I have failed in obedience to thy precepts; because I have been careless and self-indulgent; because I have slighted thy love; because I have “grieved thy Holy Spirit,” and forgotten to “ask for the old paths, that I might walk therein, and find rest to my soul”? Jer. 6:16. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 252). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

This has become mine, because I kept Your precepts. As I seek You, walk with You, and fellowship with You there is a flow of grace that sustains me. I can say with full confidence through trusting Your word and from personal experience that as I draw near unto You, O’ Lord, You draw near unto me with more grace, more love, and more knowledge of You. You are the reward that I seek from walking in Your ways. Blessed be Your name forever and ever. Amen!

Vs. 55 — I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, And I keep Your law.

John Calvin:

David exhorts that the remembrance of God is the only remedy for preserving us in his fear, and in the observance of his law; and assuredly, as often as his majesty occurs to our minds, it will tend to humble us, and the very thought of it will provoke us to the cultivation of godliness.

William S. Plumer:

There is never a time in which it is not proper to turn to God and think on his name. In the darkness of midnight, in the darkness of mental depression, in the darkness of outward providences, God is still a fitting theme. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 251). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep Your law. In times of heaviness, my Lord, refresh my mind with the glory of Your name. Your name is a strong tower–my strong tower. The night will not last forever, and joy comes in the morning.