June 14th, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Three Little Words

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Opening Prayer

Caring Father, sometimes I seem to have so much to carry through life. Lighten my load and lift me, dear Lord.

Read PSALM 119:49-72

[49]ז Zayin Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. [50] My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. [51] The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. [52] I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. [53] Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. [54] Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. [55] In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. [56] This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. [57]ח Heth You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words. [58] I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. [59] I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. [60] I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. [61] Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. [62] At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. [63] I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. [64] The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me your decrees. [65]ט Teth Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD. [66] Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. [67] Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. [68] You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. [69] Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. [70] Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. [71] It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. [72] The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

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.

Meditate

“There is no place where God is not; wherever I go, there God is. Now and always he upholds me with his power and keeps me safe in his love” (author unknown). May these words encourage you today and through the coming week.

Think Further

Our first paragraph (49-56) focuses on the word “remember.” Note how many times the psalmist says “remember.” The writer has been going through a difficult time, a time of suffering caused by those who have rejected God’s law, but he will not give up on those laws, because they bring comfort to him. Receiving comfort from the law and refusing to give up on it is his way of declaring that he will not give up on YHWH. God’s law brings hope and preservation, and therefore, whatever happens, he will declare it in song and through the night. He will remember, and he asks God to remember.

The next paragraph expresses the psalmist’s gratitude for the relationship he enjoys with God because he obeys God’s law. When he refers to the Lord as “his portion” (57), he is making a statement that God is everything to him–to have the Lord was to have everything he could possibly need. As a result, nothing the wicked can do to him will make him forget the law (61), and nothing they can do will make him forget God.

Our final paragraph is dominated by the word “good” (65,66,68,71). Everything God does is good, and the psalmist prays that God will continue to do good to him because he does take delight in God’s law. Even his suffering is actually “good,” precisely because it taught him more of God’s law (71). And he concludes with a statement about the priceless nature of God’s law (72).

Three words: remember, relationship, good. Today we are called to remember what God has done for us in Christ that brings us into relationship and an experience of just how good God truly is.

Apply

The psalmist thought that God’s law was more precious than “thousands of pieces of silver and gold” (72). Is that how you feel?

Closing prayer

Heavenly Father, You have given me so much. I praise You for every remembrance of Your grace, for the joy of knowing You, and for Your unchanging goodness.

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