PSALM 119: 129- 136 PE
The Word of God is wonderful verse 129
YOUR testimonies are wonderful
THEREFORE does my soul keep them
The Word of God gives light verse 130
The entrance of YOUR words gives light
it gives understanding unto the simple
The Word of God involves a healthy desire verse 131- 132
I opened my mouth – and panted
for I longed for YOUR commandments
look YOU upon me – be merciful unto me
as YOU used to do to those
that love YOUR name
The Word of God gives strength to resist sin verse 133
Order my steps in YOUR word
and let not any iniquity have dominion over me
The Word of God gives hope of deliverance verse 134
Deliver me from the oppression of men
so will I keep YOUR precepts
The Word of God instructs verse 135
Make YOUR face to shine upon YOUR servant
and teach me YOUR statutes
The Word of God causes repentance verse 136
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes
because they keep not YOUR law
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 129 YOUR testimonies are wonderful: therefore does my soul keep them. (6382 “wonderful” [pele’] means marvelous, marvel, miracle, something unusual, something that causes feelings of wonder; often miraculous, admirable or extraordinary)
DEVOTION: The witness of the LORD in our world is something that is extraordinary. If it was only ordinary it would not be something that is coming from the LORD.
HE daily works miracles in the lives of those who make a personal commitment to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. They are now individuals that are not on their way to hell for eternity but are on their way to heaven for eternity. That is just one great miracle that happens in the lives of those who trust Jesus Christ.
Also, we have someplace to turn when things are not going our way because of the works of those who don’t love the LORD. If we turn what is going on over to the LORD HE can send a solution to anything we are facing and it will bring glory to HIM and a smile to our face.
Here the children of Israel have seen the LORD work in the past and they expect HIM to work in the future. This is our hope and it is what we pray for each day. We want to see the LORD help us with anything that is causing us trouble that we on our own are not able to handle.
If we allow the LORD to work in our soul HE will show us the direction we should be heading on a regular basis because through prayer and the help comes from the LORD and HE NEVER lets us down.
Each of us has to allow the LORD to work in our heart and soul and with HIS working we can trust HIM each day to give us what we need to be the servants HE wants us to be.
CHALLENGE: Our goal is to please the LORD and because we please HIM we can trust HIM to keep our body, soul and spirit safe in HIS HANDS.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 130 The entrance of thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple. (6612 “simple” [petayim] means naïve, open-minded, immature, one easily persuaded or deceived, lack of wisdom and understanding.
DEVOTION: The seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet starts this section of this psalm.
We have many types of people in our world. We have individuals who don’t like to read at all or can’t read. We have individuals who like to read and read everything they get their hands on. Then we have those who will only read novels and nothing serious. We have individuals who will only read textbooks for a certain subject. Some people just can’t understand anything complicated.
The problem is that some think that all commentaries are hard to read. Anything to do with the Bible is hard to understand. However, throughout the Word of God we find reference to the fact that those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand the Bible.
In this verse we find a word that means even immature believers can understand the Word of God and that it gives them light while they walk in this dark world.
The second problem we have is trying to convince people that the Word of God has something to say to them that will help them in their daily battles. A resource is available that only a few are accessing on a daily basis. There are good translations and bad translations but there is a good translation for all individuals who want to understand the Word of God. Spread the Word and help those around you to dig into the truths of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Ask your fellow believer friends about their reading habits in the Word of God. If they say they don’t read it- ask them if they will listen to it on CD or some other way. Encourage them to read or hear the Word of God daily. God wants us to mature in our faith!!!
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: 132 Look YOU on me, and be merciful to me, as YOU usest to do to those that love YOUR name. (4941 “usest” [mishpat] means an accepted or habitual practice of long standing, sentence of a judge, decision by arbitration, legal decision, justice, or legal claim.)
DEVOTION: The Psalmist wants the LORD to know that he delights in the LORD at all times. HE wants HIM to know that he is dependent on the LORD to provide direction, blessings, and teaching that will help him grow in his relationship with HIM.
If the LORD is looking on an individual with the idea of blessing him or her than that person can enjoy a life that the LORD has planned from them from before the foundation of the world.
HE knows who is a genuine follower of HIM and because of this knowledge HE can be merciful and use that individual in HIS service to reach others with the message of salvation and growth.
This quote helps us understand more of what this verse is trying to teach us as we walk with the LORD: The psalmist is here claiming the covenant promises that the Lord gave to the nation of Israel (69:36). Had Israel loved the Lord and kept the terms of the covenant, God would have blessed them and exhibited to them His power and mercy. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 133). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
As you think about all the LORD wants to do in your life remember that HE wants to really bless those who are faithful to HIM.
We are still sinners who need to confess our sins daily but HE is there to forgive and bless. HE understands our weaknesses but HE works with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to overcome those weaknesses to bless us in our ministry of helping others.
CHALLENGE: The LORD is looking at us every moment of every day as HE knows HIS children like we know our children and wants to bless us as we want to bless our children.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. (3559 “order” [kuwn] means to be erect, to set up, establish, fix, confirm, faithfulness, fashion, perfect, prepare, set fast, be stable, or establish.)
DEVOTION: The psalmist continues his prayer regarding the importance of the Word of God in his life. In this section he states that the Word of God gives light to the simple. It not only gives light but understanding. Just like a deer pants for water, this psalmist pants for the Word of God when he is thirsty.
He puts himself in the company of those who love the Word of God. One of our prayer requests each day should be this verse of this psalm. Our hearts desire should be to not allow anything or anyone to have dominion over us except the LORD.
For some it is anger, gossip, television, sex, power, sports, computer, games, food, self-righteousness, worry, disciplines of the faith, doctrinal studies, education, exercise, etc. If any of these have control over our time and actions – the LORD doesn’t. Some of these are good but not the best. Doctrinal studies are good unless we study them with our head and not our heart. Some can know about God but not know HIM!
The Pharisees practiced the disciplines of the faith to be seen of men but God knew their hearts. HE knows our hearts as well. We have to apply them to our lives. Too many scholars study the Word but never fully trust the LORD Jesus as Savior.
Each day we need to plan to put the LORD first and let HIM lead us throughout day. Each day is a blessing of the LORD. Enjoy it with HIS company. Is being with the LORD the first establish habit of the day?
CHALLENGE: Our priorities show by our actions. Our actions need to be guided by the Word of God daily. Only we can answer the question regarding who is guiding our daily life. Prayerfully it is the LORD and HIS Word.
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:136 – “Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep YOUR
law.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
Law – 8451 תֹּורָה [towrah, torah /to·raw/] n f. From 3384; TWOT 910d; GK 9368; 219 occurrences; AV translates as “law” 219 times. 1 law, direction, instruction. 1A instruction, direction (human or divine). 1A1 body of prophetic teaching. 1A2 instruction in Messianic age. 1A3 body of priestly direction or instruction. 1A4 body of legal directives. 1B law. 1B1 law of the burnt offering. 1B2 of special law, codes of law. 1C custom, manner. 1D the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Grief can come from many events in our lives. The loss of anyone or thing significant to us can cause the emotions of sorrow to occur. At that point many shed tears of sadness and are not ashamed of expressing their emotions. The psalmist is saddened by the failure of people to no longer heed the Law of God. This realization causes him to shed tears of remorse and to cry out in anguish. While that was true for the psalmist is it true of us today? Our people are dying because a lack of knowledge in God’s word is present. We see an increasingly illiterate church today as the word of God is abandoned. Instead of people carrying and reading their Bibles they come empty-handed to church. Instead of memorizing scripture we are depending on Bible apps and cell phones to provide us with answers. May we realize and reverse the trend of being unlearned and dependent upon the wrong devises? Pick up the Scriptures and learn God’s word!
CHALLENGE: While electronic devises and Bible programs are not the issue, they often represent an easy alternative to doing in-depth personal Bible reading and study. Take time to dig into the Word of God today and learn some truths of God’s character. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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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
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 for light and understanding verse 129- 136
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Rivers of water run down eyes verse 136
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Testimonies verse 129
Words verse 130, 133
Commandments verse 131
Precepts verse 134
Statutes verse 135
Law verse 136
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Face to shine verse 135
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)
Simple verse 130
Oppression of man verse 134
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Iniquity verse 133
Oppression of believer verse 134
Not keeping God’s law verse 136
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Keep the Word of God verse 129, 136
Light given through Word of God verse 130
Understanding verse 130
Longing for the Word of God verse 131
Mercy verse 132
Love God’s name verse 132
Order verse 133
Deliverance verse 134
Servant verse 135
Learning verse 135
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Ver. 135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, &c.] That is, lift up the light of thy countenance on me; favour me with thy gracious presence, and communion with thyself; manifest thyself unto me, and shed abroad thy love in my heart; cause the sun of righteousness to arise upon me, and commune with me, from above thy mercy-seat; restore to me the joys of thy salvation, and let me have the comforts of thy good spirit: this prayer is a part of the blessing of the high-priest, Numb. 6:25. And teach me thy statutes; the more communion a man has with God, the more desirous he is of learning and doing his will. This is a frequent petition; see ver. 124. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 234). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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135. “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant.” Oppressors frown, but do thou smile. They darken my life, but do thou shine upon me, and all will be bright. The Psalmist again declares that he is God’s servant, and he seeks for no favour from others, but only from his own Lord and Master. “And teach me thy statutes.” This is the favour which he considers to be the shining of the face of God upon him. If the Lord will be exceeding gracious, and make him his favourite, he will ask no higher blessing than still to be taught the royal statutes. See how he craves after holiness; this is the choicest of all gems in his esteem. As we say among men that a good education is a great fortune, so to be taught of the Lord is a gift of special grace. The most favoured believer needs teaching; even when he walks in the light of God’s countenance he has still to be taught the divine statutes or he will transgress. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 380). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers)
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“Make Thy face to shine upon Thy Servant; and teach me Thy statutes.” The sun always shines. It shines even on the dullest day. Even when it is pouring rain, the sun is still shining. A breath from heaven can blow away the clouds.
Just so, God’s face never ceases to shine on us. His smile is warm and bright even when circumstances arise that seem to obscure Him from us. Satan can trap us in some error, the flesh can cause us to fall, the world can oppress us, just as it did the psalmist, as he says in the previous verse. Or as the earth, rotating on its axis, takes us away from the sun and plunges us into darkness, so we ourselves can turn away from God, following the natural laws of our wayward hearts. But God does not change.
“Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant.” The psalmist felt that some dark, obscuring cloud had come between him and his God. He wanted that cloud removed.
So might David have prayed after his sin with Bathsheba, when the darkness rolled in, when he sat on his throne terribly conscious that God was no longer shining on him, acutely aware of what had happened to King Saul. After his repentance he was willing once more to be taught of the Lord.
Sun of my soul, Thou Saviour dear,
It is not night if Thou art near;
Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise
To hide me from my Saviour’s eyes. (Phillips, J. (2012). Exploring Psalms 89–150: An Expository Commentary (Vol. 2, Ps 119:135). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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129–136. The verses in this portion form a beautiful reduplication of the same delightful truths. It is Jesus speaking through the whole of them, in his human nature, as the Head and Representative of his people. And when we consider that it is herein he comes home so very sweetly endeared to our hearts, because we see in him the holiness of our nature, and our acceptance in him; nothing surely can be more blessed than to be always looking unto Jesus as the perfection of beauty! But, Reader! think, when Jesus hath thus engaged and entered into covenant agreements for his people, that they shall be accepted in him, and be made comely in his comeliness; how wretched the return, in slighting him and his righteousness! It forms an interesting portrait of Jesus in the days of his flesh, his mourning over Jerusalem: and if this passage refers to him, rivers of water run down, because of the ingratitude and inattention of his people, it may serve to teach us how great is his love. Lamb of God! grant that I may never grieve thy Spirit by a neglect of thy love, and rebellion against thy gracious commands. Oh! for grace to follow thee in the regeneration: and as He who hath called us is holy, so may we be holy in all manner of conversation! (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Job–Psalms (Vol. 4, p. 569). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Make to shine; we have the same verb in the same form and connected with face; see on Ps. 4:6; 31:16; 80:3, 19. The whole verse is a connected prayer for the divine favor, for divine illumination, and for further instruction in the law. (Plumer, W. S. (1872). Studies in the Book of Psalms: Being a Critical and Expository Commentary, with Doctrinal and Practical Remarks on the Entire Psalter (p. 1076). Philadelphia; Edinburgh: J. B. Lippincott Company; A & C Black.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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QUOTES
UNUSED
by Anne R. C. Neale
Unused muscles will get atrophy,
Used spiritual desires will leave you to,
You need to use all the things you have,
Not using them is not good for you.
Have you “used” compassion and forgiveness recently?
Don’t let them disappear as they are great,
Have you talked to God today at all?
Praying is important and praying daily to God really rates.
How is your love level within you?
Do you love your fellow man, family and also your friends?
Don’t let the spark of Love burn out in your spirit and soul
Keep them burning in your heart always, Amen.
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The Jews have no partiality with God because they live for the Law.
INSIGHT
Without God, there is no right and wrong; there is only preference. We can say that we prefer something to be or not to be; but unless we appeal to God, we cannot use the words right and wrong. If one person says something is right and another says it is wrong, their opinions cancel each other out unless they can appeal to a higher authority. Mankind needs God not only for salvation but also for the normal functioning of society. It is sobering to ask, “If everyone were exactly like me, what kind of society would we have?” (Quiet Walk)
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THE AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTLES
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.
1 John 1:1
The declaration of the church comes to us on the authority of the apostles. See 2 Peter 1:16. Our only authority is the apostolic witness, and our gospel is based upon what they have said. In the opening verses of 1 John, John keeps on repeating it. Three times he talks about having “seen” it, twice he says, “we have heard” it, and he also says, we “have handled” it. He emphasizes and repeats that because it is the whole foundation of the preaching of the church, and there is no message apart from it. The message is what the apostles have seen, what they have witnessed, and what they have experienced and shared together.
Now, one of the first things we must recapture is the essential difference between witness and experience. What is our fundamental authority as Christian people? There are large numbers today who would say that it is experience. A man once wrote that he had been listening to a radio discussion between a Christian and a modern scientific humanist. During this discussion the scientific humanist asked the Christian, “What is your final proof of the reality and the being of God?” “And,” said the writer of this article, “the Christian failed badly, in my opinion. He tried to produce certain arguments, but he should have turned to the scientific humanist and said, ‘I am the proof of the being of God.'”
I would have been entirely on the side of the Christian in that argument, for I am not a proof of the being of God, nor is my experience. The only reality of the being of God is the Lord Jesus Christ. Experience is of value in confirming, in supporting, in helping me to believe these things, but I must never base my position upon it.
A Thought to Ponder: The declaration of the church comes to us on the authority of the apostles.
(From Fellowship with God, p. 48, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Whom Do You Know?
“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
A person who thinks he is a Christian, or hopes he is a Christian, probably isn’t a Christian. One should know, when it comes to this most important of all questions. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). It’s a matter of who you know, not what you know. Paul said: “I know whom I have believed”—that is, he knew the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
But just how can we know that we have eternal life? In the first place, we know because He has said so in His Word. Furthermore, He knows us! “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).
We also “know . . . that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:13), which “beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). If the Holy Spirit truly has become a part of our lives (as He surely has if we genuinely came to Christ as lost sinners, trusting Him alone for forgiveness and salvation, and yielding our lives and eternal souls to Him), then we will also come to love the Word which He inspired. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. . . . But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:3, 5).
There are many other things we can know when we know we are saved. Best of all, “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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