Monthly Archives March 2015

Vs. 65 — You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.

Charles Spurgeon:

This is the summary of his life, and assuredly it is the sum of ours. The Psalmist tells the Lord the verdict of his heart; he cannot be silent, he must speak his gratitude in the presence of Jehovah, his God. From the universal goodness of God in nature, in verse 64, it is an easy and pleasant step to a confession of the Lord’s uniform goodness to ourselves personally. It is something that God has dealt at all with such insignificant and undeserving beings as we are, and it is far more that he has dealt well with us, and so well, so wondrously well. He hath done all things well: the rule has no exception. In providence and in grace, in giving prosperity and sending adversity, in everything Jehovah hath dealt well with us. It is dealing well on our part to tell the Lord that we feel that he hath dealt well with us; for praise of this kind is specially fitting and comely. This kindness of the Lord is, however, no chance matter: he promised to do so, and he has done it according to his word. It is very precious to see the word of the Lord fulfilled in our happy experience; it endears the Scripture to us, and makes us love the Lord of the Scripture. The book of providence tallies with the book of promise: what we read in the page of inspiration we meet with again in the leaves of our life-story. We may not have thought that it would be so, but our unbelief is repented of now that we see the mercy of the Lord to us, and his faithfulness to his word; henceforth we are bound to display a firmer faith both in God and in his promise. He has spoken well, and he has dealt well. He is the best of Masters; for it is to a very unworthy and incapable servant that he has acted thus blessedly: does not this cause us to delight in his service more and more? We cannot say that we have dealt well with our Master; for when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants; but as for our Lord, he has given us light work, large maintenance, loving encouragement, and liberal wages. It is a wonder that he has not long ago discharged us, or at least reduced our allowances, or handled us roughly; yet we have had no hard dealings, all has been ordered with as much consideration as if we had rendered perfect obedience. We have had bread enough and to spare, our livery has been duly supplied, and his service has ennobled us and made us happy as kings. Complaints we have none. We lose ourselves in adoring thanksgiving, and find ourselves again in careful thanks-living. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 270–271). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

When I think about where I have come from and where you have me now, I can only say: You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. I see that the way that you have led me, or fed me, chastised me, comforted me, and taught me–whether it be through trial and tests or joy and strength–that they have been according to what You have said in the Scripture. All of Your dealings with me have been well, yes GOOD! I am sorry for the whining and grumbling, for now I see that all hardships have been providential and You are forming me to a unique vessel that will honor Christ. Help, Father, to embrace all of Your dealings with me and my family. Help me to see beyond the now and hold on to Your promises. Teach me to trust and be strong each step of this pilgrimage.

Vs, 64 — The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.

Charles Spurgeon:

David had been exiled, but he had never been driven beyond the range of mercy, for he found the world to be everywhere filled with it. He had wandered in deserts and hidden in caves, and there he had seen and felt the lovingkindness of the Lord. He had learned that far beyond the bounds of the land of promise and the race of Israel the love of Jehovah extended, and in this verse he expressed that large-hearted idea of God which is so seldom seen in the modern Jew. How sweet it is to us to know that not only is there mercy all over the world, but there is such an abundance of it that the earth is “full” of it. It is little wonder that the Psalmist, since he knew the Lord to be his portion, hoped to obtain a measure of this mercy for himself, and so was encouraged to pray, “teach me thy statutes.” It was to him the beau-ideal of mercy to be taught of God, and taught in God’s own law. He could not think of a greater mercy than this. Surely he who fills the universe with his grace will grant such a request as this to his own child. Let us breathe the desire to the All-merciful Jehovah, and we may be assured of its fulfilment.     (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 257–258). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy. Everywhere I look Your mercy is seen, even felt. All the good that we experience internally and externally is because of Your wonderful mercy. I will not be in fear of being out from under such loving mercy, and I will keep my heart fixed on the mercy seat where my Christ is–my propitiation. Such mercy; such kindness teaches me Your statutes. Teach me more about Your mercy. I want to learn the depths and beauty of mercy.

Vs. 63 — I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.

Prayer:

Father, You have made me a companion of those who fear You, of those who love Your law and seek to walk in the way of righteousness. While I was yet a sinner, an obstinate sinner at that, Jesus Christ died for me, making me a son and joint-heir. I belong to the family of God, with the saints of glory, with all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I belong, not with this unregenerate world, but with the angelic hosts, elders, and saints of glory. I belong. I belong! Blessed be the redeeming name of the Savior!

Vs. 62 — At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

A. R. Faussett:

Cares of this world, impatience of wrongs, a bad conscience, keep awake the ungodly and disturb their sleep (Rivetus); but what I awake for is to give thanks to thee. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 266). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. If rest is withheld from me, then I will take the means of prayer and praise. You, Lord, give peace and rest, and when such evades me, I will meditate on You and Your righteousness.

Vs. 61 — The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law.

Charles Spurgeon:

Neither his sense of injustice, nor his sorrow at his losses, nor his attempts at defence diverted him from the ways of God. He would not do wrong to prevent the suffering of wrong, nor do ill to avenge ill. He carried the law in his heart, and therefore no disturbance of mind could take him off from following it. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 256). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At times I have experienced the cords of the ungodly working against me. This society and culture that we live in works diligently to reward godlessness and suppress righteousness and meekness. If walking in the integrity of Your word brings ridicule, so shall it be. If it causes me to be looked upon as weak or strange, so shall it be. My joy and liberty do come from the acceptance of this world or from the paths of this world, but from Christ. Though this world sink into godless mire, I will remember Your law and keep my heart’s eyes on the celestial city, the reward set before me.