PSALM 119: 113- 120 SAMECH
Believers hate vain thoughts verse 113
I hate vain thoughts – but YOUR law do I love
Believers have hope verse 114
YOU are my hiding place and shield – I hope in YOUR word
Believers keep commandments of the LORD verse 115
Depart from me – you evildoers
for I will keep the commandments of my God
Believers have support from the LORD verse 116- 117
Uphold me according unto YOUR word – that I may live
and let me not be ashamed of my hope
Hold YOU me up – and I shall be safe
and I will have respect unto YOUR statutes continually
Believers avoid falsehood verse 118
YOU have trodden down all them that err from YOUR statutes
for their deceit is falsehood
Believers understand that judgment is coming verse 119- 120
YOU put away all the wicked of the earth like dross
THEREFORE I love YOUR testimonies
my flesh trembles for fear of YOU
and I am afraid of YOUR judgments
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
:116 “Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be
ashamed of my hope.” The New King James Version (Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 1982).
Hope: 7664 שֵׂבֶר [seber /say·ber/] n m. From 7663; TWOT 2232a; GK 8433; Two occurrences; AV translates as “hope” twice. 1 hope. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
Devotion: We have hope in many things while we are alive. We hope for a good job and marriage. We desire for that special gift to be given to us and for that dream trip around the world. There are many ways that we use the word hope. Here it is used in the normal way, a looking forward with expectation to a good and beneficial state (Ps 119:116; 146:5+)
Looking forward is common but the question revolves around the source of our hope. The psalmist is basing his hope on the word of God. He hoped in God’s Word because God was his Refuge (sēṯer, “hiding place”) and his Shield. If God’s word could not be trusted then hope was futile. As we learn and memorize God’s word it becomes many things for us, food, light, security and hope. May we continually allow it to uphold us each day!
Challenge: Look expectantly for the promises of God to be fulfilled and to bring fulfillment in your life. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
(5643 “hiding” [cithrah] means covering, covert, privily, protection, or secret.
DEVOTION: The fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used in this section. Hope all are learning the Hebrew alphabet from this psalm. The psalmist uses two words to describe the protective aspect of God for HIS people. The psalmist is looking to the Word to protect him from erring from his stand for the LORD. He is counting on the LORD to take care of those who are wicked in his life. He is asking the LORD to keep him from evildoers. The individuals he wants to stay away from are those who use deceit or lies to try to trick him.
One of the reasons he doesn’t want to fall is that he fears the judgment of God. What are these judgments for those who are followers of God: weakness, sickness, or premature death.
At the Judgment seat of Christ, it could mean a loss of rewards. Is this a concern of ours? There have been many occasions in each of our lives when we have seen the protection of God around us. The Bible sometimes refers to this protection as a “hedge” placed around HIS people. The enemy is real.
We need someone around us and in us to protect us from this enemy. In the New Testament we are told to put on Christ as our armor. HE is our defense against our enemy. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us protection. We still have a protection as we face each day. Our study of the Word shows us this hope. Praise HIS name!!! We have HOPE!!!
CHALLENGE: When trials hit remember where to go for protection. HE is able to deliver!!!)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
Believers hate vain thoughts verse 113
I hate vain thoughts – but YOUR law do I love
Believers have hope verse 114
YOU are my hiding place and shield – I hope in YOUR word
Believers keep commandments of the LORD verse 115
Depart from me – you evildoers
for I will keep the commandments of my God
Believers have support from the LORD verse 116- 117
Uphold me according unto YOUR word-that I may live
and let me not be ashamed of my hope
Hold YOU me up – and I shall be safe
and I will have respect unto YOUR statutescontinually
Believers avoid falsehood verse 118
YOU have trodden down all them that err from YOUR statutes
for their deceit is falsehood
Believers understand that judgment is coming verse 119- 120
YOU put away all the wicked of the earth like dross
THEREFORE I love YOUR testimonies
my flesh trembles for fear of YOU
and I am afraid of YOUR judgments
COMMENTARY:
: 120 My fleshtrembles for fearof thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
(6343 “fear” [pachad] means dread, terror, trembling, stand in awe, make
to shake)
DEVOTION:There are three different Hebrew words used for words meaning an form of fear.
One word is “yare” which is translate “afraid” means to be in a state of feeling great distress. The Psalmist is in this state because he doesn’t want to face the same judgment as those who are outside of Christ.
Another word that is translated “trembles.” The word “camor” means to shiver, have goose bumps or have hair stand on end.
Now we have the Psalmist having a type of reaction that makes him shake. Another way of translating the verse would be to stand in awe of God. Once he looked at the two ways to live his life, he chose to follow the LORD. When he made this choice he realized that God is not someone to treat lightly. He wanted to bring HIM glory. He wanted the LORD to know that he was willing to listen to HIS instructions for his life. He was going to be a faithful follower of the LORD.
We are to have a healthy respect for the LORD. Too often we can make the LORD someone just like us only with more power. Some individuals who claim to be followers of the LORD don’t have a problem living the way they want and expect the LORD to accept it. That is not what the Bible teaches. HE expects complete obedience.
CHALLENGE: Evaluate your comments and actions in relationship to the LORD. Our vocabulary need to change. Our actions need to change. The Christian life is one that shows consent improvement of our life with the help of the Holy Spirit. No change can mean NO LORD!!)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
- Chastity (Purity in living)
- Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
- Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
- Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
- Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
- Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
- Frugality (wise use of resources)
- Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
- Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
- Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
- Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
- Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
- Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer of confidence in the Word of God verse 113- 120
- Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
- Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Law verse 113
Word verse 114, 116
Commandments verse 115
Statutes verse 117, 118
Testimonies verse 119
Judgments verse 120
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 115
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Vain thoughts verse 113
Evildoers verse 115
Err verse 118
Deceit verse 118
Falsehood verse 118
Wicked verse 119
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Love the Word of God verse 113, 119
Hiding place verse 114
Shield verse 114
Hope verse 114, 116
Keep the commandments verse 115
Support in life verse 116, 117
Fear of the LORD verse 120
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)