Monthly Archives April 2015

Vs. 115 — Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God!

Prayer:

Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will keep the commandments of my God! Father, those who threaten harm to Your covenant people do not know that they are actually threatening You. Those who work and scheme evil against the Redeemed are not facing man, they are facing You. You were the One who slew Goliath. You are the One who brought down the mighty kingdoms of Egypt, Babylon, and Rome. You are the One who showered down fire and brimstone. You are the one will cast the Devil, the Beast, and the false prophet into the Lake of Fire. How dare the ungodly and wicked strike at those whom Christ the Lord has died for and redeemed. He, the King of Glory, is a jealous God and He will have His vengeance. The Lord, He is mighty, and there is no one like Him. He is God, the only true God. Come, Lord and show Your mighty arm and deliver Your people who are tormented and persecuted for Your name’s sake. Show Your power and glory. Your kingdom come, Your will be done! Amen!

Vs. 119:114 — You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

Observe that he does not speak of God’s word as being his double defence, but he ascribes that to God himself. When we are beset by very spiritual assaults, such as those which arise out of vain thoughts, we shall do well to fly distinctly to the person of our Lord, and to cast ourselves upon his real presence. Happy is he who can truly say to the triune God, “Thou art my hiding-place.” (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 355). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. Yes, O’ Lord, my Lord, You are the One whom I run to; You’re the One in whom I find shelter. You will never turn me away from seeking refugee in Thee. You not only welcome me, but You are waiting for me to run and hide in You. May all of this world fall apart; may the superficial structures of this world collapse; may it return to the dust. The kingdoms of this world, along with their gods, economies, and governments may boast and promise security and peace, but they are but a vapor with no substance and no power to keep promises. Their threats are also as dust and hot air before the Lord God Almighty. There is only One God, who holds all and can fulfill what He has promised. Therefore my hope is in You. What You have spoken will come to pass; my hope will not be disappointed. You have spoken and Your word is faithful and true. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.

Vs. 113 — I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law.

Henry William Alexander:

“I hate vain thoughts.” – The Hebrew word has been variously understood. “Divided thoughts. Gesenius renders, ambiguities (or indecisions) in religion; Luther, inconstant fellows; Septuagint, transgressors; Vulgate, iniquitous; and Jerome, tumultuous.”—B.C.B. It is the same as that employed by the prophet Elijah when preparing to test the deity of Baal: “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21); and probably denotes here fluctuating opinions, or distracted thoughts, tending to draw away the mind from its adherence to the law of God. (Alexander, W. H. (1867). The Book of Praises: Being the Book of Psalms, according to the Authorized Version, with Notes Original and Selected (p. 409). London: Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.)

Prayer:

Father, I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. I hate when I am double-minded, and I want to be single minded–always mindful of Your ways and Your word. Instruct me and sanctify this mind to be more faithful. May Thy Spirit take the word of truth and renew this weak mind to be disciplined and joyful in Your word.

Vs. 112 — I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

He chose them as his lot, his portion, his estate; and what is more, he laid hold upon them and made them so,—taking them into possession and enjoyment, David’s choice is our choice. If we might have our desire, we would desire to keep the commands of God perfectly. To know the doctrine, to enjoy the promise to practise the command,—be this a kingdom large enough for me. Here we have an inheritance which cannot fade and cannot be alienated; it is for ever, and ours for ever, if we have so taken it. Sometimes, like Israel at the first coming into Canaan, we have to take our heritage by hard fighting, and, if so, it is worthy of all our labour and suffering; but always it has to be taken by a decided choice of the heart and grip of the will. What God gives we must take. “For they are the rejoicing of my heart.” The gladness which had come to him through the word of the Lord had caused him to make an unalterable choice of it. All the parts of Scripture had been pleasing to David, and were so still, and therefore he stuck to them, and meant to stick to them for ever. That which rejoices the heart is sure to be chosen and treasured. It is not the head-knowledge but the heart-experience which brings the joy. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 344). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end. Yet I have learned through the years that I cannot do this on my own strength. I laugh at any thought that I have such will-power or discipline within myself. But I know that as I learn to rely more on Your grace, Your strength will be present. For when I am weak in myself, surrendered to You, there I will find Your grace and it will be sufficient. Therefore I profess, possibly as much to myself as to anyone else, that I will turn my heart towards following after Your ways. And though I may stumble or foolishly stray here and there, You will keep me to the very end. I know Your endless love and care for me. This I have learned to count on. Amen.

Vs. 111 — Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

The gladness which had come to him through the word of the Lord had caused him to make an unalterable choice of it. All the parts of Scripture had been pleasing to David, and were so still, and therefore he stuck to them, and meant to stick to them for ever. That which rejoices the heart is sure to be chosen and treasured. It is not the head-knowledge but the heart-experience which brings the joy.

The gladness which had come to him through the word of the Lord had caused him to make an unalterable choice of it. All the parts of Scripture had been pleasing to David, and were so still, and therefore he stuck to them, and meant to stick to them for ever. That which rejoices the heart is sure to be chosen and treasured. It is not the head-knowledge but the heart-experience which brings the joy. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 344). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

John Calvin:

Without the Divine word all other things were in his estimation as nothing; so that he could willingly leave to others, riches, honours, comforts, and pleasures, provided he possessed this incomparable treasure. It is not meant to say that he altogether despised the temporal benefits which God bestows, but his mind was not bound fast to them. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 485). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart. You have made Your word a living word to me. You have made Your word a joy to my heart and life. The Spirit has exalted Your testimonies and statutes in my eyes so that it is far greater a treasure than anything of this earth. Please keep this joy in me, and not I alone, but all saints.