Monthly Archives February 2015

Vs. 49 — Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.

Richard Sibbes:

When we hear any promise in the word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are his bonds.

Prayer:

Father, great in mercy and grace, remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. Your promises of eternal life; of keeping me in the Son; of holding me in Your hand in all storms and trials; and sealing me with the Spirit of Life. Upon Your promises my hope rests. I will not be moved. Blessed be the Faithful One. Jesus, Your name if Faithful.

Vs. 48 — My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. 

Joseph Addison Alexander:

“Which I love,” or “have loved,” as in verse 47, the terms of which are studiously repeated with a fine rhetorical effect, which is further heightened by the and at the beginning, throwing both verses, as it were, into one sentence. As if he had said: I will derive my happiness from thy commandments, which I love and have loved, and to these commandments, which I love and have loved, I will lift up my hands and heart together.

Prayer:

With the Psalmist I confess that I will keep Your law continually. I will walk at liberty. I will speak of Your testimonies. I will delight myself in Your commandments. And my hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes. This is my stand. Grant me opportunities to act on my confession, even today. You are my Delight, my joy. Jesus, I love You!

Vs. 47 — And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love.

Prayer:

I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. You have revealed to my heart Your goodness and Your love that is behind and within each of Your commandments. Thank You, Father, for putting a love and delight in me for Your commandments, for the truth. I ask that You would open the eyes of my family members who do not know Your love. Open the hearts of the friends that You have placed in my life and pour this love of God into them to overflowing. Jesus, let them taste of Your goodness and grace.

Vs. 46 — I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.

John Calvin:

In these words he [David] seems to believe that he is in possession of that which he formerly prayed for. He had said, “Take not the word of truth out of my mouth,” and now, as if he had obtained what he requested, he rises up, and maintains that he would not be dumb, even were he called upon to speak in the presence of kings. He affirms that he would willingly stand forward in vindication of the glory of God in the face of the whole world.

Prayer:

Jesus, my King, I will speak of Your testimonies before kings–to those above me in authority in this world, and I will not be ashamed. I will not fear their ridicule or retaliation, nor take rejection personally. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation. Grant me courage and boldness, and the opportunity to share the message of life. Because I know that I have the truth and the King of kings as my God, I will not be intimidated by man. Indeed, You are God, and You are my God!

Vs. 45 — And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

Saints find no bondage in sanctity. The Spirit of holiness is a free spirit; he sets men at liberty and enables them to resist every effort to bring them under subjection. The way of holiness is not a track for slaves, but the King’s highway for freemen, who are joyfully journeying from the Egypt of bondage to the Canaan of rest. God’s mercies and his salvation, by teaching us to love the precepts of the word, set us at a happy rest; and the more we seek after the perfection of our obedience the more shall we enjoy complete emancipation from every form of spiritual slavery.  …

The verse is united to that which goes before, for it begins with the word “And,” which acts as a hook to attach it to the preceding verses. It mentions another of the benefits expected from the coming of mercies from God. The man of God had mentioned the silencing of his enemies (42), power to proceed in testimony (43), and perseverance in holiness; now he dwells upon liberty, which next to life is dearest to all brave men. He says, “I shall walk,” indicating his daily progress through life; “at liberty,” as one who is out of prison, unimpeded by adversaries, unencumbered by burdens, unshackled, allowed a wide range, and roaming without fear. Such liberty would be dangerous if a man were seeking himself or his own lusts; but when the one object sought after is the will of God, there can be no need to restrain the searcher. We need not circumscribe the man who can say, “I seek thy precepts.” Observe, in the preceding verse he said he would keep the law; but here he speaks of seeking it. Does he not mean that he will obey what he knows, and endeavour to know more? Is not this the way to the highest form of liberty,—to be always labouring to know the mind of God and to be conformed to it? Those who keep the law are sure to seek it, and bestir themselves to keep it more and more. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 228–229). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord, and I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. This freedom is in Christ Jesus. I do not wonder about Your view of me, because I am hidden in the Son of Righteousness. I will walk in the freedom wrought by Him. I will stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. Help me not to be entangled with a yoke of bondage to the flesh nature or the things of this world. For whom Christ has set free is free indeed!