Monthly Archives April 2015

Vs. 100 — I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts.

Prayer:

Father, Your precepts teach us things that this world cannot discover. Your testimonies and commandments give wisdom beyond our years. Continue to teach us, enlightening our understanding and granting wisdom. Help us to not lean on our age or experience, or even our education, but on You. May we discern the difference between worldly wisdom and counsel from Your wisdom and counsel. I ask that the Spirit of Truth make Your ways clear to us, and in so doing, give us courage and boldness to walk in the light. May He enable us to be strong in our walk against darkness, foolishness, and rebelliousness. It is because of Your precepts that I understand more than the aged.

Vs. 99 — I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

Thomas Manton:

Verses 98, 99, 100.—Three sorts of men he mentioneth, “enemies,” “teachers,” “ancients”; the enemies excel in policy, teachers in doctrine, and ancients in counsel; and yet by the word was David made wiser than all these. Malice sharpens the wit of enemies, and teacheth them the arts of opposition; teachers are furnished with learning because of their office; and ancients grow wise by experience; yet David, by the study of the word, excelled all these. (The Complete Works of Thomas Manton. Vol. 7. London: James Nisbet & Co., 1872.)

Prayer:

Father, I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. Thank You for the grace that opened my eyes to understanding. I humbly admit that I am baffled at how much You have taught me through the years. This stubborn heart and selfish love for self should not, could not, behold such beauty and wisdom that the Holy Spirit has given me. Continue, I plead, to teach me and give me wisdom in this pilgrimage, not for my own exaltation, but to shine the light of the truth into this dark, dying world. Yet, I offer this same prayer on behalf of my wife and children, and yet also for all the saints, everywhere. To Christ be the glory! Amen!

98 — You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.

John Calvin:

He here declares, that he was more learned than his adversaries, his instructors, and the aged, because he was a scholar of God’s law. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 474). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Charles H. Spurgeon:

We learn not only from promise, and doctrine, and sacred history, but also from precept and command; In fact, from the commandments we gather the most practical wisdom, and that which enables us best to cope with our adversaries. A holy life is the highest wisdom and the surest defence. Our enemies are renowned for subtlety, from the first father of them, the old serpent, down to the last cockatrice that has been hatched from the egg; and it would be vain for us to try to be a match with them in the craft and mystery of cunning, for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. We must go to another school and learn of a different instructor, and then by uprightness we shall baffle fraud, by simple truth we shall vanquish deep-laid scheming, and by open candour we shall defeat slander. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 330). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Thomas Manton:

They are ever with me.” God gives knowledge to whom he pleaseth; but those that meditate most, thrive most.

Prayer:

You, O’ God, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. Through Your word You teach wisdom and understanding. You give me insight and discernment. You grant me by grace and mercy to share with others. Please let Your word be with me day and night, in all things and at all times. Continue to open my mind to learn such wonderful wisdom, and I will be wiser than the fools who love destruction and deception. Exalt Your name, O’ God, in wisdom and truth. Amen.

97 — Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“O how love I thy law!” It is a note of exclamation. He loves so much that he must express his love, and in making the attempt he perceives that it is inexpressible—and therefore cries, “O how I love!” We not only reverence but love the law, we obey it out of love, and even when it chides us for disobedience we love it none the less. The law is God’s law, and therefore it is our love. We love it for its holiness, and pine to be holy; we love it for its wisdom, and study to be wise; we love it for its perfection, and long to be perfect. Those who know the power of the gospel perceive an infinite loveliness in the law as they see it fulfilled and embodied in Christ Jesus. “It is my meditation all the day.” (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 330). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, I proclaim as the Psalmist, Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your law led me to Christ. It revealed Your holiness and my wretchedness. Before the law was revealed to me by Thy Spirit I was ignorant of Your wrath against a sinner as me. I walked in self-righteousness, a deception that I was good enough on my own. Oh such a lie! I was dead in my sin, an enemy of righteousness and holiness. Then Your perfect Law killed me! I had no where to look but to Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Christ revealed to this wretched man that Christ can save and save to the uttermost. And indeed Jesus did! Whom the Son sets free is free, INDEED! I proclaim that Jesus is my Christ, for He alone is my salvation, my righteousness, and my wholeness. In Him do I live with my God in peace and joy, forever. Amen!

Vs. 96 — I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

John Calvin:

The prophet again, using other words, commends the same truth which he had taught in the first verse of this part—that the word of God is not subject to change, because it is elevated far above the perishable elements of this world. He here asserts, that there is nothing under heaven so perfect and stable, or so complete, in all respects, as not to have an end; and that the Divine word alone possesses such amplitude as to surpass all bounds and limits. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 4, pp. 472–473). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Great God, ruler of heaven and earth, I have seen man attempt perfection but fail miserably, and yet they still exalt themselves as gods. Their limits are obvious and yet they deny them. Like the Tower of Babel man believes he can obtain greatness on his own. All of creation has its place and boundaries, but Your word is exceedingly broad and stretches beyond generation after generation, beyond the limits of nature, the mind, and time. Great is Your word, O’ God! Alive and transforming–from death to life; penetrating to the heart–to our thoughts and intentions; healing–for the soul and for relationships, and even beyond. Your word is limitless. Nothing can contain or hinder Your word from what You have spoken it to be. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This is my confession, my proclamation, and the anchor of my hope. Amen!