Monthly Archives March 2015

75 — I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

He who would learn most must be thankful for what he already knows, and be willing to confess it to the glory of God. The Psalmist had been sorely tried, but he had continued to hope in God under his trial, and now he avows his conviction that he had been justly and wisely chastened. This he not only thought but knew, so that he was positive about it, and spoke without a moment’s hesitation. Saints are sure about the rightness of their troubles, even when they cannot see the intent of them. It made the godly glad to hear David say this, “And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Because love required severity, therefore the Lord exercised it. It was not because God was unfaithful that the believer found himself in a sore strait, but for just the opposite reason: it was the faithfulness of God to his covenant which brought the chosen one under the rod. It might not be needful that others should be tried just then; but it was necessary to the Psalmist, and therefore the Lord did not withhold the blessing. Our heavenly Father is no Eli: he will not suffer his children to sin without rebuke, his love is too intense for that. The man who makes the confession of this verse is already progressing in the school of grace, and is learning the commandments. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 288). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. I will trust, I will look towards You, and by Your grace I will persevere. Keep me close, so close in my afflictions, that I may see and learn the lessons that You have prepared for me. Amen.

Psalm 119:74 (NKJV) — 74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.

Thomas Manton:

How comfortable it is for the heirs of promise to see one another, or meet together! Aspectus boni viri delectat—the very look of a good man is delightful; it is a pleasure to converse with those that are careful to please God, and awe-ful to offend him. (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 7, p. 280). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word. I thank you for the unique bond that ties all of Your saints together. The Spirit baptizing all whom call upon the name of the Lord into one fellowship–the Body of Christ. The heavenly koinonia; how unwordly; how joyful; how incredible of a work. Praise to the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

Vs. 73 — Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

It is profitable to remember our creation, it is pleasant to see that the divine hand has had much to do with us, for it never moves apart from the divine thought. It excites reverence, gratitude, and affection towards God when we view him as our Maker, putting forth the careful skill and power of his hands in our forming and fashioning. He took a personal interest in us, making us with his own hands; he was doubly thoughtful, for he is represented both as making and moulding us. In both giving existence and arranging existence he manifested love and wisdom; and therefore we find reasons for praise, confidence, and expectation in our being and well-being. “Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”  (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 287). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

My God and Maker, Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. I am what I am by Thy grace. I have not made myself, nor have others fashioned me. You have given me the mind and heart to desire You and Your ways. You have molded my heart, disposition, gifts, and abilities–physical, mental, spiritual, and continue to do so. Even in my rebelliousness and stubbornness You are long-suffering and merciful. There is no one else who can give me the knowledge and desire to know to run to You daily or to fellowship with You as a child to his father. No one is able to understand or to obtain wisdom into the heavenlies apart from You. Continue, my Father, to mold me into the likeness of my Savior. Continue to teach me the hows, whys, and whats of Your commandments and ways. I dare not try to be my own god, You are my God. Continue to make me the vessel of Your perfect choosing. I am but the clay and You are the potter. How blessed to know such wondrous truth. Blessed be Your name! Amen.

Vs, 72 — The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

William Cowper:

This it is that makes us rich unto God, when our souls are storehouses, filled with the treasures of his word. Shall we think it poverty to be scant of gold and silver? An ideo angelus pauper est, quia non habet jumenta, etc.  Shall we esteem the angels poor, because they have not flocks of cattle? or that S. Peter was poor, because he had not gold nor silver to give unto the cripple? No, he had store of grace, by infinite degrees more excellent than it.
Let the riches of gold be left unto worldlings: these are not current in Canaan, not accounted of in our heavenly country. If we would be in any estimation there, let us enrich our souls with spiritual graces, which we have in abundance in the mines and treasures of the word of God.

Prayer:

The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver. Your word, Your instructions are more valuable to me than anything that this world calls treasure. Your word, my God, leads me to You. Your word reveals my dependence upon You and the grace that keeps me. Your word gives me wisdom that this world cannot have. Your word inspires, lifts me up, and feeds me. Your word fills my heart with joy and peace. Nothing in this temporal world, be it gold and silver or popularity and fame, can compare to Your word in my life. Thank You, O’Lord, for the grace to receive and understand Your word.

Vs. 71 — It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

“That I might learn.” “I had never known,” said Martin Luther’s wife, “what such and such things meant, in such and such Psalms, such complaints and workings of spirit; I had never understood the practice of Christian duties, had not God brought me under some affliction.” It is very true that God’s rod is as the schoolmaster’s pointer to the child, pointing out the letter, that he may the better take notice of it; thus he pointeth out to us many good lessons which we should never otherwise have learned.—From John Spencer’s “Things New and Old,” 1658.

Prayer:

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. I admit, Father, that I have not learned to rejoice in tribulation, or give thanks in trials. But I am learning to open my eyes and ask what You are trying to teach me in times of affliction and sorrow. Lead me to embrace affliction knowing that I will learn Your ways. In such times, grace, yes grace to see You.