Monthly Archives June 2015

Vs.168 —I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You.

William Gurnall:

“All my ways are before thee.” Walk Christian, in the view of God’s omniscience; say to thy soul, cave, videt Deus; take heed God seeth. It is under the rose, as the common phrase is, that treason is spoken, when subjects think they are far enough from their king’s hearing; but did such know the prince to be under the window, or behind the hangings, their discourse would be more loyal. This made David so upright in his walking: “I have kept thy precepts, for all my ways are before thee.” If Alexander’s empty chair, which his captains, when they met in counsel, set before them, did awe them so as to keep them in good order; how helpful would it be to set before ourselves the fact that God is looking upon us! The Jews covered Christ’s face, and then buffeted him: Mark 14:65. So does the hypocrite; he first says in his heart, God sees not, or at least forgets that he sees, and then he makes bold to sin against him; like that foolish bird, which runs her head among the reeds, and thinks herself safe from the fowler, as if because she did not see her enemy, therefore he could not see her. Te mihi abscondam, non me tibi (Augustine). I may hide thee from my eye, but not myself from thine eye. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 432). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You. O’ God, my God, You have led me from fearing Your omnipresence and omniscience, to loving it and praising You. I find exceeding comfort and joy when I remember that all my ways are before You. This is a harbor for my whole being. None of my ways are out of Your sight. None of my sorrows, pains, despair, questions, or problems are unknown to You. All the works of my hands. All the failures and futility; they are known. It is all so obvious, isn’t it? That I need Thee every hour. Your grace and mercy must flow over and through me without constraint. And because of Your great love towards me, I know that You will provide all that I need every hour. Blessed be the God who loves and keeps. Blessed is my heavenly Father who knows my every way, thought, and step, even before I plan it. What comfort; what joy; what peace.

Vs. 167 — My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

My outward life has kept thy precepts, and my inward life—my soul, has kept thy testimonies. God has borne testimony to many sacred truths, and these we hold fast as for life itself. The gracious man stores up the truth of God within his heart as a treasure exceedingly dear and precious—he keeps it. His secret soul, his inmost self, becomes the guardian of these divine teachings which are his sole authority in soul matters. “And I love them exceedingly.” This was why he kept them, and having kept them this was the result of the keeping. He did not merely store up revealed truth by way of duty, but because of a deep, unutterable affection for it. He felt that he could sooner die than give up any part of the revelation of God. The more we store our minds with heavenly truth, the more deeply shall we be in love with it: the more we see the exceeding riches of the Bible the more will our love exceed measure, and exceed expression. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 424–425). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly. Father, like David the Psalmist, I love Your testimonies. My soul loves them. I want to remember them and I know that I need to remember all that You have done–how you have shown Your mighty right arm of salvation; Your strengthen in times of weakness, affliction, fear, and despair; Your comforting love in times of sorrow; Your divine guidance when I was confused, without direction, and lost; and the times that You have graciously bestowed Your wisdom, understanding, inspiration, encouragement, refreshing and revival, and even Your rebukes and chastisements. All of Your works are perfectly good and, of course, perfectly at the right time.  I ask that You would keep me in remembrance of Your testimonies for they inspire my faith and help to keep my eyes on You. You are my faithful God and Father!

Vs.166 — Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

Here we have salvation by grace, and the fruits thereof. All David’s hope was fixed upon God, he looked to him alone for salvation; and then he endeavoured most earnestly to fulfil the commands of his law. Those who place least reliance upon good works are very frequently those who have the most of them; that same divine teaching which delivers us from confidence in our own doings leads us to abound in every good work to the glory of God. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 424). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Lord, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. I follow Your commandments because of the hope that I have in Your salvation. This hope is an eternal hope; a secure, anchored hope. It is a hope that is grounded in the promises of my living Savior and in Your covenant with us, through Him. You, therefore, have given me hope and You are the salvation in which I hope! Amen.

Vs. 165 — Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

George Horne:

Amidst the storms and tempests of the world, there is a perfect calm in the breasts of those, who not only do the will of God, but “love” to do it. They are at peace with God, by the blood of reconciliation; at peace with themselves, by the answer of a good conscience, and the subjection of those desires which war against the soul; at peace with all men, by the spirit of charity; and the whole creation is so at peace with them that all things work together for their good. No external troubles can rob them of this “great peace,” no “offences” or stumbling blocks, which are thrown in their way by persecution, or temptation, by the malice of enemies, or by the apostasy of friends, by anything which they see, hear of, or feel, can detain, or divert them from their course. Heavenly love surmounts every obstacle, and runs with delight the way of God’s commandments. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 429). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father of all who are called saints because of Christ Jesus, I profess that there is great peace for those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble. Although we may fall, we will not fall altogether. As You have told us in the Scriptures, no one, nothing, can remove us from Your hand. Jesus said that He will keep us and will lose none of those whom You have given to Him, but will raise all of them up on the last day. Peace, such peace to the soul. Where is fear when I stumble and fall? It is gone. I am secure in Christ, and not in myself. Where is my adversary? He is of no threat! The Gospel of grace and power that saved us, saves us. Great peace and an enduring love for Your word for all who put their trust in You.

Vs. 164 — Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

He laboured perfectly to praise his perfect God, and therefore fulfilled the perfect number of songs. Seven may also intend frequency. Frequently he lifted up his heart in thanksgiving to God for his divine teachings in the word, and for his divine actions in providence. With his voice he extolled the righteousness of the Judge of all the earth. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 424). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments. O’ Father, help me to be conscious of You throughout the day. Whatever I am doing, where ever I am, and whomever I am with, help me to remember that You are with me. Also help me to see that You are needed at the moment, IN that moment. Help me to see HOW You are needed at the moment. Also help me to see Your grace and mercy working at that moment. You are alive in all that we do–everywhere, at all times. You are GOD! Stir, O’ my soul, awaken to the presence of the living God. He is near; He inhabits all of our affairs; He dwells in all of our business. If the sparrow does not fall without Your permission, my Lord, and each hair on our head are numbered by You, then we can be assured of Your intimate involvement in every detail of our lives–good and bad, joyful and sorrowful. How awesome and comforting is such truth. Therefore, I will use my lips to praise You in the morning, the noon time, and the evening. If I awake in the middle of the night, though my eyes be weary, my heart will acknowledge You and praise You, because Your ways are righteous. You are worthy of my constant praise! Amen.