Remember Your Learnings
Opening Prayer
Lord, regardless of what my eyes see, help me to trust Your Word and Your goodness.
Read Psalm 119:153-176
[153]ר Resh Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. [154] Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise. [155] Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees. [156] Your compassion, LORD, is great; preserve my life according to your laws. [157] Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes. [158] I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word. [159] See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, LORD, in accordance with your love. [160] All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. [161]ש Sin and Shin Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. [162] I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. [163] I hate and detest falsehood but I love your law. [164] Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. [165] Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. [166] I wait for your salvation, LORD, and I follow your commands. [167] I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. [168] I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you. [169]ת Taw May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word. [170] May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. [171] May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. [172] May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. [173] May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. [174] I long for your salvation, LORD, and your law gives me delight. [175] Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. [176] I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In what ways do you identify with the psalmist?This psalmist isn’t immune from suffering (157,161)! These last three stanzas of this great psalm about God’s Word reveal some of the lessons the psalmist has discovered about living life successfully. His discoveries mirror some of the themes about living in a suffering world that we’ve discovered in Job.He suggests we remind ourselves of God’s promises (154,170) and especially God’s love and compassion (156,159). Those are lessons Job learned (Job 3,19). Then, the psalmist says, remember that God knows what’s happening to you (168) and ask him for understanding (169), help (173) and deliverance (170). This reinforces the discoveries of chapters 9, 38 and 40 of Job. Job continued his life of praise and worship regardless of his pain, loss and suffering (Job 1). The psalmist, too, suggests this is a positive way to live life (164,171,172,175). Both Job (Job 2,4,41) and the psalmist (159,160-162,174) tell us to trust God’s ordering of the world rather than our own, and obey his laws that show us the way to live (157,166,167,168; Job 42).
Apply
Consider lessons you’ve learned in painful times that you could not have learned otherwise, and journal about this.
Closing prayer
My faithful God, You are strong enough to hold me through every trial. My eyes are ever on You.
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