Monthly Archives May 2015

Vs.136 — Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.

William Greenhill, 1591–1677:

The eye is for two things, sight and tears: if we see God dishonoured, presently our eyes should be filled with tears.

Robert Leighton:

Godly men are affected with deep sorrow for the sins of the ungodly.

Prayer:

Father, I am full of sorrow and deeply grieved when I see men neglect Your law. My sorrow is from a heart that knows from practice how easy it is to chase independence away from You. I weep because I have learned of Your wrath and judgment against the ungodly–those who hate You and refuse Your mercy and grace that is in Christ Jesus. Be merciful to them, they do not know, they are blind and walk in utter darkness. But I also pray for myself, for too often I stray from the light and walk in darkness. Lead us back to the way of righteousness and truth. When we put on our boots of self-sufficiency pull the rug out from under us to make us fall upon our knees. When we are lured and enticed to disregard Your statutes, be our Great Shepherd and deliver us, bringing us back to the way, even if due to our blindness we do not understand. Grant us, I pray, a repentant heart that grieves over our sins of pride. Soften our hearts to realize our whole dependence is in You. As it is written, ‘He, speaking of You, gives to all life, breath, and all things.’ and ‘in Him we live and move and have our being.’ Amen.

Vs. 135 — Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.

Charles Bridges:

The believer’s incessant cry is, Let me see “the King’s face.” This is a blessing worth praying for. It is his heart’s desire, his present privilege, and what is infinitely better, his sure, everlasting prospect—“They shall see his face.” Rev. 22:4. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 388). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. It is Your face that I seek. It is Your favor that I desire. Help me to stop seeking to please men when it is You whom I need to please. Help me to stop trying to persuade You when I need to persuade men … of Your love and grace. Teach me how and why from Your word, wherein lies truth and liberty.

Vs. 134 — Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts.

John Calvin:

… we should rest contented with the deliverance which God bestows, and with that alone; and again, that every instance in which we experience the grace of God in delivering us, should be a spur to incite us to follow after uprightness. He delivers us for no other end, but that the fruits of our deliverance may be manifested in our life; and we are too perverse if that experience is not sufficient to convince us, that all who persevere in the unfeigned fear of God, will always abide in safety by his aid, although the whole world may be against them. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 5, pp. 15–16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

When the thoughts, schemes, and actions of man work against Your covenant people, raise up a standard against their oppression. Show Your love for Your people by Your right arm. We, who are called by Thy Name, know that whatever Your providence allows it will end with a crown of glory and a place in the heavenly choir before the Lamb of God. Until that day of arrival in the presence of the One, we resolve to keep Your precepts in the way.

Vs. 133 — Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Thomas Manton:

In this prayer there are two branches:—
1. A petition for grace for the regulation of his life, order my steps according to thy word.
2. A deprecation of the contrary evil, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

The first part of his prayer is by way of prevention, the second is by way of reserve; and the connection of both doth in effect speak thus, Lord, if thou dost not order my goings, surely iniquity will have dominion over me. Therefore he first prays that God will not permit him to err; or if the Lord should by his righteous providence permit him to fall, that he might return again to his duty, that sin may not wholly and clearly carry it in his heart, and have a full power over him: Lord, ‘order my steps according to thy word;’ but if I should fail, ‘Let not any iniquity have dominion over me.’ (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 8, p. 382). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

Father, direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. You have shown me the sting of sin and the poison that it leaves in its victims. Your word exposes the works and enslaving power of iniquity and have given me a hatred of it. Grant me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach that I may flee it and remain faithful to You with a clean conscience. My rescuer, my King–Jesus Christ, I resolve to serve and honor. Help me to keep my resolve in the power of the Spirit.

Vs. 132 — Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.

Thomas Manton:

THE prophet having praised the word, and expressed his affection to it, presents his petition to God for a favourable look from him, upon the account of his grace and mercy, according to the manner and law of his dispensations towards others of his people. They that love the word may with the like confidence expect the grace of God. (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 8, pp. 365–366). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

Father, Your heart towards Your own is brighter than any sun, deeper than the deepest ocean, and more favorable than we have the capacity to fathom. The mercy that you extend, yes pour, upon us through Christ Jesus has no limit and no strings attached. It is all because of Your love for us. This faithful, constant, never-changing view and action towards and for us is shown and proven in the sacrifice of Thy Son that redeemed us to Thee. O’ that we would see and bathe in the knowledge of such love and delight in the joy that You have for us, for those who love Your name.